California's bold move on forklift emissions

Jan 23rd,2025 113 Views

On June 27, 2024, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) officially approved the zero-emission forklift regulations, a move that marks an important step for the forklift industry towards a more environmentally friendly and sustainable direction.

The regulations clearly stipulate that large spark-ignition forklifts will be phased out, and strict restrictions will be imposed on the production and sale of Class IV and Class V large spark-ignition (LSI) forklifts in California. Its ultimate goal is very clear, that is, by 2038, all forklifts in California will be zero-emission, contributing to improving air quality and reducing environmental pollution.

From January 1, 2026, fleet operators are prohibited from purchasing any additional LSI forklifts. Not only that, by March 31, 2026, they must proactively contact power suppliers for in-depth discussions on potential power service installations or upgrades to fully prepare for the subsequent electrification transformation of forklifts.

From January 1, 2028, the existing target forklifts will be phased out year by year according to the model. When a forklift reaches the replacement age, it is only allowed to be replaced with zero-emission equipment to ensure that the emission level of the entire forklift fleet continues to decrease.

The new regulations also have clear time nodes for the elimination of old internal combustion forklifts. Starting from 2025, internal combustion forklifts produced in 2012 and earlier will be completely banned from operation, and the scope of this ban will be expanded year by year. Specifically, forklifts produced in 2013 will be discontinued in 2026, forklifts produced in 2014 will be discontinued in 2027, and so on. By the end of 2035, all regulated forklifts must strictly comply with unified emission standards, otherwise they will not be allowed to continue operating.

Although electric pallet trucks account for a relatively small proportion of non-road emissions, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) still regards their electrification as an effective start to promote environmental protection changes in the forklift industry. Angie Polanco, an engineer at CARB, pointed out that the electrification process of forklifts has greatly promoted the rapid promotion and application of zero-emission vehicles. At present, many forklifts used indoors have successfully achieved zero emissions, laying a solid practical foundation for the smooth implementation of this new policy.

Market research data shows that in the next five years, the market demand for electric forklifts is expected to continue to grow at an average annual rate of more than 10%. This growth trend is mainly driven by increasingly stringent environmental regulations and the unremitting pursuit of sustainable development goals by enterprises. It is worth mentioning that livestock forklift manufacturers have also actively responded to this trend and launched electric models. These new electric forklifts are equipped with more advanced enhanced battery systems and intelligent layout designs, which not only improve work efficiency but also further ensure the safety of operation. In addition, some companies have also increased their investment in the research and development of hydrogen fuel cell forklifts. This type of forklift can truly achieve zero emissions during operation and can quickly complete hydrogen refueling operations during short rest periods, which is particularly suitable for use under high-intensity working conditions.

According to regulatory requirements, forklift operators are responsible for registering all their forklifts with the state government and submitting detailed reports on an annual basis. The report should include specific data such as the brand, model, year of manufacture, lifting capacity, and power type and capacity of each forklift to ensure that the forklift operation fully complies with the requirements of zero-emission regulations and facilitates effective supervision and management by regulatory authorities.

With the rapid development of technology and the continuous increase in market demand, electric pallet trucks and various zero-emission solutions will undoubtedly become the mainstream choice of the logistics industry in the future. This will not only help companies significantly reduce their carbon footprint and practice the concept of green development, but also effectively improve overall operational efficiency and inject strong impetus into the sustainable development of the logistics industry.

In the current context of the attention paid to transportation, logistics equipment and environmental protection, forklift operators must strictly abide by these new regulations to ensure that all equipment meets zero-emission standards, avoid potential penalties for violations, and contribute to creating a cleaner and more environmentally friendly industry environment.

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