California aims to accelerate commercial insurance options for 'clean fleets'
Insurers will be required to report on how many zero-emission trucks are covered and the losses of these vehicles.
The California Assembly unanimously passed ‘Clean Fleet Insurance Accelerator’ legislation, which would require insurance companies to report data on how many zero-emission trucks are covered, what insurance losses these vehicles had and what types of coverages are available for these vehicles, according to the California Department of Insurance.
The insurance department reported that the data would be used to create a ‘one-stop shop’ to help fleet operators easily find insurance options. It would also be used to find and close any coverage gaps. The reporting requirements will begin in 2024.
“Transportation of goods and cargo is critical to our daily lives, and so is breathing clean air where we live. Access to sustainable, affordable insurance for clean truck fleets is critical to fighting climate change and fixing the damage caused by decades of environmental racism,” California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a release. “Our Clean Fleet Insurance Accelerator legislation is a forward-looking approach to identify solutions proactively, before we face insurance roadblocks.”
The legislation comes on the heels of California’s sweeping Advanced Clean Fleets regulations, which aim to phase out the sale of combustions trucks by 2036 and support the transition to clean-energy vehicles, according to the California Air Resources Board.
According to the resources board, the regulation’s phase-in plan will allow fleet operators to transition to zero-emission vehicles over the coming decades.
“Last year, our state approved one of the world’s first regulations requiring all new car sales to be zero emissions,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a release. “Now, with these actions requiring all new heavy-duty truck sales to be zero emission and tackling train pollution in our state, we’re one step closer to achieving healthier neighborhoods and cleaner air for all Californians.”
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