Clean Cars Program

To ensure Californians have the opportunity to drive the cleanest and greenest cars and light trucks, the state is updating its core vehicle programs, known as the Low Emission Vehicle Program and the Zero Emission Vehicle Program. The state is also updating its Clean Fuels Outlet program to ensure the necessary alternative fuels are available to go with our clean cars. The California Air Resources Board is scheduled to vote on its “Advanced Clean Cars” package in January 2012.

Low Emission Vehicle Program

The 2012 update is officially known as “LEV III” and comprises two regulatory paths: LEV III-Greenhouse Gas (LEV III-GHG) and LEV III-Smog. Read the ARB staff proposal for LEV III.

LEV III-GHG

LEV III-GHG or Advanced Clean Cars Program will ensure new cars and light trucks produce fewer emissions that contribute to climate change. The 2012 LEV III-GHG program updates the state’s current vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards, which passed in 2004, and applies to model-year vehicles 2009–2016. The updated rules apply to model-year vehicles 2017–2025.

LEV III-Smog

LEV III-Smog program will ensure that new cars and light trucks produce fewer harmful emissions that contribute to smog and hurt public health. The current standard, LEV II, began in 2004. The updated LEV III rules will apply to vehicles starting in 2014.

Zero Emission Vehicle Program

California’s ground-breaking ZEV Program was first adopted in 1990. It has evolved over the years to align with technology advances and the consumer market, and is largely responsible for the automakers’ development of today’s hybrid vehicles and much cleaner gasoline vehicles.

The revised ZEV Program will make sure that the newest, gasoline-free, advanced clean vehicle technologies—such as electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars—are brought to California in quantities that will help put the state on the path to petroleum independence and carbon pollution reduction necessary to meet our 2050 climate goals. The updated rules will apply to vehicles starting in 2015. Read the ARB staff proposal for ZEV.

Clean Fuels Outlet

ARB adopted the Clean Fuels Outlet (CFO) in 1990 to ensure that fueling stations would be available after a certain number of alternative-fueled vehicles were approved to be on the road in California. At the time, the alternative fuels in the market were methanol, ethanol and compressed natural gas. The program was updated once in 2000.

In 2009, the CFO was determined to be an appropriate way to provide fuels to support advanced clean cars, and is now being updated in coordination with California’s ZEV and LEV programs. The CFO revision will make sure we have the infrastructure — including hydrogen for fuel cells and public charging for electric vehicles — in place to fuel new clean cars coming to California roads. Read the ARB staff proposal for CFO.