State law aligns gross weight for EV commercial vehicles

Act 145 of 2022, which Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed into law, increases the maximum allowable gross weight for electric-powered commercial vehicles from 80,000 pounds to 82,000 pounds.

This aligns Pennsylvania law with federal law and does not impact road and bridge conditions.

“There is a burgeoning market demand for alternative fuels to power the nation’s supply chain management,” state Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R- Bedford/Cambria), Senate Transportation Committee chairman, said. “The pervasive diesel shortage –stemming from President Biden’s failing energy policies – requires innovative solutions, and my newly enacted bill will create competitive advantages for the commercial trucking industry in this Commonwealth.”

The U.S. Congress passed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act in 2015. The bill authorized natural gas-powered commercial vehicles to operate at 82,000 pounds.

Langerholc sponsored what became Act 31 of 2017. The legislation required state standards to comply with the federal provision.

Two years later, the U.S. Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act. The legislation allowed electric-powered commercial vehicles to operate at 82,000 pounds. This increased the weight allowance permitted without additional permits.

In Pennsylvania, electric and natural gas commercial vehicles must pay the Alternative Fuels Tax. Tax proceeds are added to the Motor License Fund for road and bridge improvements.