Natural gas and electric battery vehicles: weight limits.

Existing state and federal laws set specified limits on the total gross weight imposed on the highway by a vehicle with any group of 2 or more consecutive axles. Existing federal law authorizes a vehicle operated by an engine fueled primarily by natural gas or powered primarily by means of electric battery power to exceed these weight limits 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. Under existing federal law, the maximum gross vehicle weight of that vehicle may not exceed 82,000 pounds. Existing state law, to the extent expressly authorized by federal law, authorizes a near-zero-emission vehicle or a zero-emission vehicle, as defined, to exceed the weight limits on the power unit by up to 2,000 pounds. This bill would, to the extent expressly authorized by federal law, instead authorize a natural gas vehicle or electric battery vehicle, as defined, to exceed the weight limits on the power unit by up to 2,000 pounds. Existing law prohibits a weighmaster from certifying the gross weight of a vehicle if the scale is located at the site where the vehicle is loaded, the vehicle is weighed before entering a highway, and the vehicle's gross weight exceeds 80,000 pounds, except if a special permit is issued. Existing law permits a weight limit of 82,000 pounds for a near-zero-emission or zero-emission vehicle. This bill would instead allow a weight limit of 82,000 pounds for a natural gas vehicle or electric battery vehicle.