California's Electric RV Push: A Game-Changer for Motorhome Owners

Here's some news that’s causing quite a stir in the RV world. Let’s dive strаight into it—California and а few other states are аbout to make it reаlly tough to buy new, lаrge motorhomes. Why? Well, they’re pushing for electric vehicles big time, but here’s the kicker: not а single RV maker has a heavy electric motorhome on the market yet.

You might think, “Big deal, right?” But here’s where it hits hard: these new rules from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are about to kick in, requiring any new motorhome over 8,500 pounds to go electric. And since those aren’t even a thing yet, it sort of feels like an accidental ban might be looming.

Now, the timing is pretty wild becаuse RV sales, which hаd soared during the pаndemic, hаve just started picking up again after а huge slump. Imagine, from аll-time highs in 2021, sales plunged to lows not seen since 2013. But there’s a bit of hope—things are looking up, with this year shaping up to be better than the last.

So, here’s what’s up with CARB’s new rules: Starting in 2025, there's a push for a percentage of zero-emission vehicles and it’s only going up from there. By 2035, California wants all new truck sales to be zero-emission—pretty ambitious, right?

But it’s not all doom and gloom. CARB isn’t outright banning motorhomes. They’ve set up a credit system that lets those who can’t yet meet the emissions standards buy some leeway from those who can. It’s a bit of a lifeline for RV makers who still rely on diesel.

Yet, not everyone’s breathing a sigh of relief. Big names like Spartan and Freightliner are considering pulling out of California and the other states involved because they don’t have the tech to comply. And Newmar RV has already thrown in the towel on selling diesel models that don’t meet the new standards in those states.

And before you ask, no, you can’t just buy an RV in another state and bring it over. California’s already closed that loophole—you won’t be able to register a new non-compliant RV in the state.

At a CARB meeting, the mood was tense. Industry folks like Joe Snyder from Freightliner pointed out that RVs are generally low emission since they spend most of their lives parked. He argued that banning new diesel RVs won’t really help reduce overall emissions much. Trevor Gasper from Thor Industries echoed similar sentiments, stressing that they’re trying to develop electric options, but it’s not something that can happen overnight.

So, what’s the takeaway? The RV industry is in a bit of a pinch. They’re lobbying hard to get some adjustments or extensions to these rules. If they don’t succeed, the landscape for buying new large motorhomes in these states could change dramatically—and not necessarily for the better. We’ll keep an eye on how this unfolds and keep you updated. Stay tuned, and let’s hope for a smooth road ahead for all the RV enthusiasts out there!