Multiple bills in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would adopt a federal weight exemption for electric-powered trucks. The rule is already in place i

Pennsylvania House panel approves electric-powered trucks rule

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2021-05-19 07:07:33

Multiple bills in the Pennsylvania General Assembly would adopt a federal weight exemption for electric-powered trucks. The rule is already in place in the majority of states.

Passed by Congress in 2015, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act raised the weight limit for natural gas and electric battery-powered tractor-trailers to 82,000 pounds. The rule authorizes states to raise the weight on interstates within their borders.

The House Transportation Committee voted unanimously to advance a bill to put into statute the federal rule on electric battery-powered trucks. Specifically, HB722 would increase the maximum gross vehicle weight for commercial vehicles powered by electric battery power by 2,000 pounds to 82,000 pounds.

During the 2020 regular session, state House and Senate lawmakers approved different versions of the bill. Time ran out on the session before legislators were able to work out their differences in the bill.

The 2020 version was ultimately derailed because of a House change made to the bill intended to ensure that more vehicle owners pay for the roads they use.