RVs and California Emissions Regulations

Above, North Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The implementation of California's CARB regulations that could ban the sale of new motorized RVs has not been modified after the outcry when it was announced.

The regulations would affect new Class A, Class B and Class C motorhomes. 

The Travel has posted an article on what people need to know about the new regulations.

They begin it with:

California has some of the best national parks in the U.S. for scenery and road trip adventures, but a new emissions law is about to shake things up. The upcoming regulation will impact RV travel and camping trips across the state— and now, it’s also reshaping how RVs are sold in the state.

If you’re in the market for a motorhome or thinking about upgrading before your next trip, the new standards could limit your options in the not-so-distant future. Although it’s become a touchy topic among RV and camping enthusiasts, California is not banning RV sales outright, but new environmental regulations are making it significantly harder to buy and sell certain models.

Here’s what’s really happening, which vehicles are affected, and how RVers can still navigate the changing landscape.

To read more, go here. 

California May Back Off Plan To Ban Motorhome Sales

It looks like the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is backpedaling on their proposed emissions regulations that could ban motorhomes in the state.

This is a step in the right direction, but there is still uncertainty.

RV Travel reported:

Early this week, California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) withdrew its request to move forward with regulations that could force a total ban on big diesel trucks in 2036. CARB had asked the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant them authority for the ban under its Advanced Clean Fleets program, which would’ve required truckers to buy zero-emissions trucks. CARB’s backpedaling could have implications for the so-called California motorhome ban. The CARB reversal is big news. But it’s too early for the RV industry to rejoice—the devil is in the details.

CARB reversal—”Uncertainty presented by the incoming administration”

The move, which surprised many industry insiders, comes just days before the inauguration of Donald Trump as president. Trump has vowed to roll back California’s air pollution rulings somehow, and the message got through to CARB. Yesterday, CARB’s Chair Liane Randolph said this in a statement: “Withdrawal is an important step given the uncertainty presented by the incoming administration that previously attacked California’s programs to protect public health and the climate and has said will continue to oppose those programs.”

While it will make a difference, the battle involving RVs in California—and other states that follow its lead—is far from over.  

To read more, go here. 

Trucking Industry Fights For Regulation Reprieve

Trucking industry associations are fighting back against state regulations that would effectively ban new motorhome sales as there is not the technology available for zero emissions.

They have issued a letter to several state governors asking for a delay in the implementation of those regulations.

According to RV Travel:

It may well be too late for California, but sales of motorhomes in eight other states could be spared the Golden State’s fate. Commercial trucking associations have banded together and are pleading with eight state governors (and one governor-elect) to slow down the implementation of ACT—California’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulation. If those states listen, it might affect the potential motorhome sales shutdown in those states.

On December 17, eight state trucking associations issued a letter to governors in states adopting Advanced Clean Trucks rules, expressing their concerns regarding the new requirements.

Unless something unforeseen happens, new sales of motorhomes in California will dry up in 2025. But other states, ones that adopt those same California regulations, will see the same problem. Since ACT affects big trucks, the big trucking associations are trying to get those states to slow the regulation down. The states include Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.

Of those states, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington are slated to start the rule in 2025. Vermont jumps on board in 2026, and the rest in 2027. The coalition of trucking associations wants the states not to quash the ACT regulation entirely, but to delay implementation. The letter cites the fact that engine manufacturers just don’t have the technology yet to make the ACT regulations feasible.

Note that the states adopting the ACT regulations are all blue Democrat states.

To read the full article, go here.

EPA Backs California's RV-Killing Plan

Above, Class A motorhomes at the California RV Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thank God that Donald Trump won the election. 

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) backed Commiefornia's plan to enforce new and RV-killing regulations by the California Air Resources Board.

Once the Trump is inaugurated on January 20, many loony regulations will likely be rescinded.

RV Travel reported:

This week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted California approval to move forward on two regulations. If the EPA puts the California waivers in place, they are sure to hit RVers hard. These regulations are in addition to the rule that some say would effectively ban new motorhome sales. Tow a car? Pull your trailer with a pickup? Hang on, these other regulations will put the brakes on. By 2035, sales of these vehicles, if not “zero emissions,” will be turned off in California—and other states across the country.

To read more, go here. 

Supreme Court Hearing Could Shape Future of Motorhome Sales “Ban”

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) may have to face the U.S. Supreme Court over its regulations on emissions including those that could effectively ban the sale of new motorized motorhomes.

RV Travel reported:

The Supreme Court and motorhomes? Is there a connection? Possibly, because the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging the authority of a California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulation. While the regulation is not specific to the one that will effectively shut down the sale of new motorhomes in California, decisions in the case could have a bearing on motorhome sales. 

To read more, go here.

California: GOP Introduces Bills To Curb CARB's Regulations

The California Air Resources Board's recent "tweaking" of emissions regulations could potentially ban the sale of gasoline and diesel recreational vehicles and jack up the price of gasoline.

There's a glimmer of hope for California. Republican lawmakers have introduced bills that would curb CARB's regulations with a review process. 

That is, if the Democrats who control the state legislature pass them and Gov. Newsom signs them.

RV Travel reported:

In early November we reported that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) had tweaked regulations applying to state oil refineries. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) was designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the Golden State moves toward a 2045 goal of zero emissions. The fine-tuning of LCFS requires oil companies and other polluters to buy credits to avoid pollution penalties. Critics say the tweaks could blast gas prices up by as much as $1.50 per gallon in the long term. But some California lawmakers want to curb CARB. Bills before the legislature would kill the CARB regulation—and more.

California lawmakers want to curb CARB with a review process

Republican Senator Brian Jones (R-San Diego) and Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) introduced legislation taking aim at CARB’s action. SB2, crafted by Brian Jones, would kill the CARB tweak. Jones told California media abc10.com, “It has an urgency clause in it. So if it passes the senate and the assembly and the governor signed it, which would be great, then it goes into effect immediately.”

The other bill, AB34, would require any new CARB regulations would have to be analyzed by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) prior to going into force. Joe Patterson, the bill sponsor, commented, “Take a look at their proposals and then tell the legislature and the public how much that’s going to increase the cost of gas, or potentially the cost of electricity as well.”

To read more, go here. 

Democrats Declare War On RVs

Above, this will be a thing of the past at the California RV Show if the Democrats have their way. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, a website (besides here) has come out and said it: Democrats declare war on RVs. 

Six blue states (you know, ones run by Democrats) have effectively banned the sale of new diesel and gasoline motorhome that don't comply with their new air emissions regulations.

Voz Media wrote:

Six states with Democratic leadership plan to follow California's lead by banning RV sales starting in 2025. The focus of the ban is on diesel-powered recreational vehicles, which serve as homes on wheels for over three million Americans.

The website RV Travel claims that the states of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington have taken steps to ban sales if these vehicles do not meet certain emissions requirements based on new environmental regulations.

These measures are based on California's initiative from October, when the California Air Resources Board (CARB) revised its Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulations. The updated rules aim to promote zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and mandate that all vehicles over 8,500 pounds meet zero-emission standards.

According to RV Travel, this regulation will require manufacturers of heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks and motorhomes, to increase their sales of zero-emission vehicles. As a result, they will gradually halt the production and supply of new internal combustion engine models.

While it was initially expected that regulations like California's would not apply to recreational vehicles, this has proven to be untrue. As a result, RVs and vans designed for livability are also affected by these measures.

To read more, go here. 

RV Travel: CARB Pollution Rule Portends Disaster

Above, San Diego's Campland On The Bay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two blog posts on the California "ban" on Class A, Class B and Class C RVs have already been posted here.

For more in-depth information on the coming CARB (California Air Resources Board) emissions standards has been posted at RV Travel. It is by RV lemon law attorney Ron Burge.

It begins with:

The new California Air Resources Board (CARB) rule that becomes effective in 2025 will cause major changes to the RV industry and that means motorhome buyers, too. Originally aimed at the tailpipe pollution levels of fossil fuel emission engines — gas and diesel — of big rig trucks, the new emissions level mandate will hit the RV industry hard, too, with an industry-wide and nationwide impact.

To read the article, go here. 

California: Buying A New Large Motorhome May Soon Be Impossible

Thanks to non-elected regulators, California's "ban" on new motorhome sales will be taking effect next year, which is only weeks away.

The pretext is due to emissions regulations that were revised by the California Air Resources Board. 

According to The Autopian:

The RV industry may soon be delivered a gut punch, and weirdly it’s not going to be from demand swings. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has amended its regulations and will require the manufacturers of motorhomes with a gross weight of over 8,500 pounds to sell an increasing number of EVs. There’s just one problem: No RV manufacturer currently sells a heavy electric motorhome. In effect, California and five other states may inadvertently ban the sale of new motorhomes in only a few weeks’ time.

This news comes to us from SFGate and paints a dark picture for the battered but recovering RV market. RV sales hit all-time records during the COVID-19 pandemic, then fell off a cliff after people stopped buying RVs for numerous reasons. The RV Industry Association expects America’s RV builders to ship 324,100 units this year, far down from 2021’s all-time record of 600,240 shipments. To illustrate the change in demand, RV sales have plummeted to a level not seen since 2013.

This is all brought to you by the tyrannical Democrat state government. No wonder people are fleeing the state.

To read more, go here. 

California's New Vehicle Engine Rules and RVs

Above, well, at least it's a Jeep.

The lunacy that dominates many state governments in voting to phase out gasoline vehicles to deal with climate change is running rampant, predominantly in blue (or Democrat) states. Welcome to the new socialism!

California's unelected California Air Enforcement Board has enacted new rules that will ban the sale of new gas-fueled vehicles by 2035. That's only 13 years away, folks. The only way to stop this craziness is to vote out every damn Democrat!

RV Travel takes a look at how this affects RVs.

They begin with:

Earlier this week, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) enacted new rules with huge implications. Come 2035, with few exceptions, only new “zero emissions” cars and pickups can be sold in the Golden State. That will include many Class C motorhomes. It’s expected that another 15 states will follow California’s lead.

By 2045, most Class A motorhome sales will see the same fate. The only “gas burning” engine vehicles exempted from the ban will be “plug-in hybrid” units that will still be allowed under the 2035 ban. What will happen to RVers? What about other related services that could have a deep impact under the new regulations?

As for my own state of New Mexico, the lunacy is as follows:

• New Mexico: Last month the state’s Clean Car Rule became the standard. The state will start phasing out gas engine powered cars, trucks, and SUVs in 2026.

That's only four years away! New Mexico is not a rich state. There's a lot of poverty here. How are people going to afford electric vehicles, especially those in tribes? For starters (pardon the pun), how are people going to afford to replace EV batteries? 

Here's an example (and this is for a current hybrid vehicle):

We can start fighting against this insanity by voting out Michelle Lujan Grisham and every Democrat legislator in November!

To read the full article, go here.

California RV Generator Rules Having Impact Already

Above, dry camping on the Keene Ranch near Tehachapi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since California announced its new ban on small gasoline-powered engines such as leaf blowers and lawnmowers, the RV industry has been keeping a close watch on how it may affect RV generators.

It looks like new RVs sold from 2024 on will not come with generators as the manufacturers cannot meet the emissions standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

From RV Travel:

As we reported in December, new generator rules by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) could affect the RV industry. The ruling doesn’t ban the use of portable generators in the Golden State, but it does significantly hamper generator sales come 2024. Date aside, the RV generator industry giant, Cummins, has already frightened RV manufacturers with an announcement on the matter.

The principal manufacturer of frame-mounted motorhome generators is Cummins. Even before CARB voted in the final generator rules, the RV industry gave the governing board a warning. Citing CARB’s new generator rules standards, industry officials wrote that while the standard might be “technologically feasible” to reach, “it is unlikely to be complied with by Cummins-Onan, given the cost of developing a compliant engines[sic] cannot be supported by the very small generator business in California.”

The statement “it is unlikely” has now become true. Earlier this month, Cummins wrote to its RV industry customers a to-the-point letter. The gist of the letter is in two sentences: “Cummins understands the requirements and continues to investigate potential options / responses, while continuing to support the needs of our joint end customers. However, given the current regulatory timeline, differing standards between CARB and EPA, and the significant changes to the generator the standards would necessitate, Cummins will not have any gas/LP/EVAP product(s) that meets the new regulations readily available on January 1, 2024.”

Fallout for industry—and consumers

What does Cummins’ decision mean for the RV industry? The RV Industry Association says that some 10,000 RVs equipped with generators are sold in California each year. Of those, close to 80% are gasoline- or LP-fueled units. Translated, come 2024, thousands of RVs normally equipped with generators will be without them.

Unless things change that are favorable to the RV industry in California, in other words, if you want a new RV with a generator, you'd better buy it before 2024.

Boy, I am sure glad I moved out of that wacko state four years ago.

To read the whole story, go here. 

California Generator Ban: What it Means For RVers

Above, dry campers most often rely on their RV generators for power to run appliances. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 

In a follow-up to Saturday's Newsletter, RV Travel discusses the ramifications of California's ban on small gasoline-powered equipment such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, along with RV and portable generators.

They start it with:

Thursday’s decision by the State of California Air Resources Board (CARB) has angered RV manufacturers and worried RVers. But the seeming generator ban may mean much more to industry than to RVers on the ground.

On RV generators, they wrote:

For now, absolutely nothing changes. RV retailers in the Golden State can go on selling RVs with on-board generators to their heart’s content. But by 2028, the music stops. Industry representatives complained long and hard. They said this could easily spell the shutdown of a third of the state’s dealerships once the new rule goes into effect. Others testified that RV dealers would relocate across the border in neighboring states and sell RVs with smoggy generators.

The RV industry made a concerted effort to get CARB to rule that RV-mounted generators should be classified as “stationary.” This would have exempted them from the new rules. Industry threw towable RV owners under the bus with their stand, but no matter – CARB wouldn’t hear the argument anyway.

But for you and me, the new rules will take a while to have much of an effect. Even when 2028 rolls around, a “generator ban” there won’t really be. For folks visiting California, your generator, no matter how old, is still lawful. For California resident RVers, your existing generators can continue to be used – and repaired. That goes on until they finally die their own death. However, with the increase of ZEE equipment, it will be interesting to see if there’s an impact on repair shops in California. Will they still have service departments that can handle repairs? The testimony of some equipment retailers suggests some are downright worried that they’ll be able to keep service departments operating.

Keep in mind, all of these new rules apply only to GASOLINE-powered units. If you fancy an RV with a diesel-fired generator, this so-called generator ban has no effect.

To read the full article, go here.