SACRAMENTO, CA – California’s Senate Environmental Quality Committee has unanimously approved a bill introduced by Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes designed to make zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles more affordable for California’s fleet operators. The Committee passed the bill by consent, a testament to the commonsense nature of the reform.

The bill SB 1213 , which comes as California diesel prices soar past $7 a gallon, addresses a growing disparity in the global marketplace: while electric truck prices in Europe have decreased by 27% in recent years, U.S. prices have climbed by 32%, according to research . SB1213 aims to bridge this gap by fostering a more transparent, competitive marketplace and providing enhanced financial support to fleets transitioning away from volatile fossil fuel costs, according to groups such as NRDC and GreenLatinos.

After approval by the Environmental Quality Committee today, the bill will now go for discussion and a vote at the Transportation Committee on April 21.…