By Matthew Choi, Politico Morning Energy New Jersey is trying to recreate California’s aggressive framework for electrifying commercial trucks — and in only a fraction of the time, reports Pro’s Ry Rivard. What took California several years, New Jersey wants to emulate in several months, but truck manufacturers are calling it an unrealistic plan that would be ineffective at best and financially punishing at worst. Still, Trenton asserts that ambitious action is necessary to cut down on greenhouse gases and local pollution that causes thousands of hospitalizations per year. And to pull it off would be a huge win for California in leading the national charge to lower vehicle emissions. Related electric truck news: Why the grid is ready for fleets of electric trucks Amazon’s Move to Electric Trucks Is a Very Big Deal What’s cool about Ford’s historic Electric F-150 DOE Announces $162 Million to Decarbonize Cars and Trucks California approved new rules last summer to require big truck manufacturers to sell more diesel-free buses, delivery vans, and semi-trucks. It hopes to force about a third of new trucks to be electric by 2030, with even tougher goals afterward. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection unveiled its own version of the rule this spring and wants it adopted by the end of the year, with gradual increases in electric truck sales requirements starting in 2025. If New Jersey pulls it off, it’ll be a testament to the climate commitment Gov. Phil Murphy communicated when he said in 2017 that the state could become “the California of the East Coast.”

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. | Noah K. Murray/AP Photo

Critics say it isn’t enough to mandate electric trucks into the market. Consumers and manufacturers need incentives to cover the significant upfront costs of electric trucks (though the long-run costs in maintenance and repairs are lower than for conventional vehicles). A large proportion of commercial trucks in the state also come from elsewhere, and charging stations aren’t at a scale that could support a mass conversion to EVs. New Jersey is attempting to remedy those concerns. The Board of Public Utilities and Murphy have pushed for more electrification infrastructure, and the state has a $15 million pilot program offering buyers $100,000 per truck. California has been pushing ahead of federal regulations on tailpipe emissions under EPA-contingent waivers allowed by the Clean Air Act, hoping other states will adopt its rules. Mary Nichols, who previously led the California Air Resources Board, said other states signing on to California’s regulation model could help the Golden State make its case to EPA that the trucking industry needs to be pushed into change quickly. “If California is alone against the auto companies in front of EPA in a contentious waiver proceeding, it’s helpful to have other states say we want what California’s got,” Nichols told Ry. Read Ry’s full dive into the New Jersey electric truck push here. (Subscription) If you liked this post you’ll love our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Don’t take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.