Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Production Requirements
New passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles are certified as ZEVs if the vehicles produce zero exhaust emissions of any criteria pollutant (or precursor pollutant) under any and all possible operational modes and conditions. Manufacturers with annual sales greater than 60,000 vehicles must produce and deliver for sale in California a minimum percentage of ZEVs for each model year as follows:
| Model Year | Minimum ZEV Requirement |
|---|---|
| 2010-2011 | 11% |
| 2012-2014 | 12% |
| 2015-2017 | 14% |
| 2018 and on | 16% |
Manufacturers with annual sales between 4,501 and 60,000 vehicles may comply with the ZEV requirements through multiple alternative compliance options that include producing low emission vehicles and obtaining ZEV credits. Manufacturers with annual sales of 4,500 vehicles or less are not subject to this regulation.
As of October 2011, the California Air Resources Board is considering changes to the ZEV regulations that focus on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and ZEVs to encourage commercial market penetration of these vehicles. See the ZEV Program website for more information.
(Reference California Code of Regulations Title 13, Section 1962.1)