What You Need to Know About Compliance and Implementation

California will require metering for all material handling equipment starting on January 1st, 2026. While the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has yet to publish the formal rules surrounding metering for material handling, there are traditionally multiple options for achieving compliance. Here, we’ll explore these options and their respective benefits and drawbacks, helping you prepare for the transition.

Anvil Remote Energy Monitors 

Simple device that is installed at on the DC side of your forklift charger that measures the current with a current sensor and the positive + negative voltage.

Benefits:

• Most cost-effective solution
• Easy to install
• Direct connection to SRECTrade

Negatives:

• Only provides kWh used

AC Meter at the Electrical Panel

Meter such as an EKM or eGauge installed on the AC electrical panel at your facility. This is typically a 3-Phase meter with current transformers attached each phase of your circuit breaker on the electrical panel.  

Benefits: 

• Cheaper if subpanel metering is available for many forklifts 

Negatives: 

• Expensive to deploy at the circuit level 

• Requires an electrician 

• Most complicated option 

Telemetry on Forklifts Paired with Battery Monitoring

Telemetry systems are installed on your forklift that provides key information on the forklifts usage such as operating hours, location, productivity, etc.  

Benefits: 

• Provides additional fleet benefits such as usage statistics, tracking, and battery health monitoring 

Negatives: 

• Expensive systems 

• Forklift-specific and may require newer forklifts 

Smart Equipment (Chargers and Batteries) 

Smart equipment such as chargers and batteries can provide important details on energy consumption, battery health, and power/charging control. These come integrated into these systems 

Benefits: 

• May be enabled on your existing units 

• Options to provide additional benefits such as usage statistics, battery health, and power controls 

Negatives: 

• May require additional expensive hardware 

• Only possible on newer chargers and batteries 

As we await the detailed rules from CARB, it’s essential to begin evaluating these options now. Each method has its distinct advantages and potential challenges and understanding these will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your operational needs and budget constraints. Stay tuned for further updates and insights as we continue to navigate these new regulatory landscapes together. 

With a proactive approach, we can ensure smooth compliance and leverage the benefits that each metering solution offers to enhance our material handling efficiency and sustainability. 

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