Starting with 2026 reporting, California no longer lets forklift operators estimate the electricity their trucks use for Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits. Forklift electricity use must be metered, and LCFS credits from electricity, including e-forklifts, are now subject to third-party verification.

That changes a revenue line many warehouses already collect. In a 2024 stakeholder estimate, forklifts made up about 25% of EV credit generation in the program.

What Changed for Forklift LCFS Credits

Where to Meter Forklift Charging

Meter the charging, not the building. A whole-building meter cannot separate forklift energy from lighting, HVAC and conveyors on the same service. CARB's guidance asks for electricity to be reported by facility or location; it does not require a meter on every charger.

  • Dedicated charging feeder: one meter on a panel or circuit that serves only forklift chargers can report the facility total. Oregon's program states this explicitly, provided nothing else is connected to that circuit.
  • Per-charger circuits: a multi-circuit meter with a current transformer on each charger feed shows energy per charger, which helps when chargers serve different fleets, tenants or non-qualifying trucks.
  • Charger efficiency: a meter on the AC side of the chargers measures energy before conversion losses. CARB's forklift reporting guidance requires that reading to be multiplied by the charger's rated efficiency, or 85% if the manufacturer gives none. Metering at the charger output or on the forklift avoids the adjustment.
  • Records: keep the meter's model, accuracy class, serial number and calibration or certification documents with the site's LCFS files.

Split-core current transformers clamp around existing conductors, so charger circuits can be metered without disconnecting them.

Outside California

New Mexico's Clean Transportation Fuel Program, enforced from April 1, 2026, also credits electric forklifts. Washington and Oregon credit electricity used as a transportation fuel within their programs; facilities there should check each state's current reporting guidance before relying on estimates. For a state-by-state view, see LCFS and Clean Fuel Standard Metering Requirements by State.

Hardware for Forklift Charging Rooms

Emergent Metering supplies the metering hardware for forklift charging rooms:

Emergent Metering supplies equipment. LCFS registration, quarterly reporting and verification sit with the credit generator, its aggregator and an accredited verification body. See also energy monitoring for warehouses and distribution centers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do forklifts need to be metered for California LCFS credits?

Yes. Beginning with 2026 reporting, California requires forklift electricity use to be metered rather than estimated.

When will forklift LCFS data be verified?

Third-party verification of 2026 electricity data, including forklift charging, takes place in 2027.

Does each forklift charger need its own meter?

No. CARB requires forklift electricity to be reported by facility or location. One meter on a circuit that serves only forklift chargers can be used, with the reading adjusted for charger efficiency when the meter sits upstream of the chargers.

How accurate does a forklift charging meter need to be?

The amended LCFS requires electricity metering to meet 5% accuracy and to show that calibration specifications are being followed.

Do other states credit electric forklifts?

Yes. New Mexico's Clean Transportation Fuel Program lists forklifts among eligible electric uses.