SB 53: Natural gas vehicles.

Existing state and federal law sets specified limits on the total gross weight imposed on the highway by any group of 2 or more consecutive axles. Existing federal law authorizes a vehicle operated by an engine fueled primarily by natural gas to exceed these weight limits, up to a specified maximum, by an amount equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system carried by that vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system.

This bill would authorize a vehicle operated by an engine fueled wholly or partially primarily by natural gas to exceed these weight limits by an amount, up to a specified maximum, equal to the difference between the weight of the vehicle attributable to the natural gas tank and fueling system carried by that vehicle and the weight of a comparable diesel tank and fueling system. The bill would additionally require the University of California Institute of Transportation Studies or the Department of Transportation to estimate the damage caused by vehicles operating pursuant to this authorization and report its findings to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Housing and the Assembly Committee on Transportation on or before October 1, 2018.