Six Dem-led states move to prohibit sale of motorhomes in 2025 to comply with California emissions standards

In October, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) amended its Advanced Clean Truck (ACT) regulations, which aims to promote zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and will require all vehicles over 8,500 pounds to have zero emissions. The regulations will force medium and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturers to increase the percentage of ZEVs they sell each year and manufacturers will stop supplying internal combustion engine chassis.

According to National Review, emissions in states around the country are regulated by the Clean Air Act, however, they can opt into the emissions standards set by California’s Advanced Clean Cars II program, with rules set by the CARB. The program has the goal of all new motor homes and medium-duty trucks having zero emissions by 2035, but the impact is set to take place staring next year.

Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington follow California’s regulations, and as a result, these states will see a shutdown of sales of most diesel or gas motorhomes. Vermont will see a similar shutdown in 2026, and in 2027, the same regulations will go into effect in Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, and Rhode Island.

The Center Square reported that Washington's trucking industry is appealing to Democratic Governor Jay Inslee not to move forward with the regulations because they will also impact the sale of trucks.

The new regulations are the latest in California’s green energy policies and the Biden-Harris administration has pushed other various electric vehicle (EV) regulations as part of its climate agenda. Despite this, many American automakers have scaled back EV production due to a lack of consumer demand. Jack Hollis, Toyota’s North American Chief Operating Officer, called many EV and Green Energy restrictions on automakers “impossible” standards.

Some other industries are purchasing “clean air credits” that would allow them to continue to exceed air pollution limits. According to a fact sheet from the RV Industrial Association, “CARB insists that this regulation gives flexibility to chassis manufacturers in being able to buy and sell ZEV credits to allow them to build combustion engine chassis. The amendments approved last month will also permit secondary vehicle manufacturers to buy and sell these credits.”

Pre-owned motorhomes are exempt and the regulation would likely impact those that live out of RVs. States, including California, Washington, and New York have massive homeless populations that will often live out of old broken-down RVs.

According to the RVIA fact sheet, “CARB said that a used vehicle, defined as one with more than 7,500 miles on the odometer, could be brought in and registered. Any motorhome with less than 7,500 miles would be considered a new vehicle and would have to be compliant in order to be registered.”