Impact of California’s Clean Truck Rules on the RV Industry
California’s aggressive push for zero-emission vehicles has hit the recreational vehicle (RV) industry particularly hard, exposing the challenges of transitioning a complex industry to a new era of electric transportation. Televisions, refrigerators, and other appliances pulled by gas generators are common features found in motorhomes. This柑eera of
electric vehicles presents a conflict between form and function for the industry.
The controversy centers around the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation, a rule established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2021, aimed at decarbonizing medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The regulation mandates producers of these vehicles to sell a steadily increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), starting in 2024. This has put chassis makers in a difficult position, leading them to halt sales of conventional motorhome chassis powered by classic internal combustion engines. They explain that they can’t meet California’s regulations unless they produce a “zero-emission powertrain chassis” designed for
motorhomes. In essence, the availability of gas-powered motorhomes is in jeopardy.
The RV Industry Association has been working with CARB since 2020, striving to find solutions. While amendments to the ACT were approved in October 2024 specific to the motorhome industry’s needs, the reality is that a suitable ZEV Chassis for motorhomes simply doesn’t exist.
Challenges for the RV Industry
The impact of the ACT is multifaceted and creates many challenges for the RV industry:
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</subtracting the coachbuilder’s responsibility for purchasing credits. Even with minimal differences in weight
between a gasoline-powered model and an all-electric model, the process is considerably more complex
than expected, raising significant cost implications.
The RV Industry Association emphasizes that while the ACT is not a ban on
motorhomes, the effective outcome is precisely that. These regulations are impacting the difficult decision
that manufacturers face when choosing where to allocate their limited supply of chassis. Motorhome
settings are not offering sufficient demand for manufacturers to accommodate the cost and technical hurdles posed by the ACT.
While the focus has been heavily on the consequences for motorhomes propelled by diesel engines, it is pertinent to remember that any RV exceeding 8,500 pounds in gross vehicle weight di
rating is affected. Including the vast majority of the Class B motorhomes,
as tank. Namely Class 2b-8 vehicles.
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In addition to manufacturers needing to comply with the rules,
the process itself is cumbersome and feeds into the existing concerns. Rigorous registration process to ensure vehicles
diesel-powered tracks, the emissionsša’
trary to the advertised purpose for manufacturers’ manned in several roadblocks within the
cater to a less foreseeable.
This rule Schriftsteller’s loophole selling ZEV credits. Manufacturers are announcing to CARB, they intend to produce more EVs loyal
motorhome Pump-powered chassis to Open.
will present both an open
Including the purchase
credits, as the core of factory
regard awakens the
than small RV unsustainable for manufacturers
,
would result in a further increase in
What alternative fuel and electrification solutions are being explored for motorhomes to meet California’s emission standards?
## California’s Clean Truck Rules: A Roadblock for the RV Industry?
**Host:** Joining us today is [Guest Name], [Guest Title] at the RV Industry Association. Welcome to the show.
**Guest:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** We’re here today to discuss the impact of California’s Advanced Clean Trucks regulations on the RV industry. It seems these rules, aimed at reducing emissions from medium and heavy-duty vehicles, are creating some challenging hurdles for RV manufacturers.
**Guest:** That’s right. The regulations require an increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles to be sold, starting in 2024. While this is a noble goal, the reality is that there isn’t yet a practical, commercially viable “zero-emission powertrain chassis” suitable for motorhomes. [[1](https://rv-pro.com/news/qa-rvia-on-clean-truck-check-requirements/)]
**Host:** So, are gas-powered motorhomes going the way of the dinosaur?
**Guest:** That’s a real concern. Chassis makers are facing difficult decisions. Some are halting sales of traditional gas-powered motorhome chassis because they can’t meet the new requirements.
**Host:** The RV Industry Association has been working with the California Air Resources Board on this issue. Have there been any positive developments?
**Guest:** Absolutely. We’ve definitely made progress. Amendments to the ACT regulations were approved in October 2024 that address some of the motorhome industry’s specific needs. [ [1](https://rv-pro.com/news/qa-rvia-on-clean-truck-check-requirements/) ]However, the fundamental challenge remains: the lack of a suitable zero-emission chassis for motorhomes.
**Host:** What are some of the solutions being explored?
**Guest:** The focus is on accelerating the development and availability of zero-emission technologies that can meet the unique demands of the RV industry. This includes exploring alternative fuels, electrification solutions specifically designed for motorhomes, and collaborating with chassis manufacturers to find innovative solutions.
**Host:** This is a complex issue with no easy solutions. Thanks for shedding some light on the challenges facing the RV industry, [Guest Name].
**Guest:** My pleasure. It’s a crucial discussion and we remain optimistic about finding a path forward that balances environmental goals with the needs of the RV community.