Proposed Amendments to 

Zero Emission Vehicle 

Program

March 27, 2008
Overview

• Current ZEV program• Regulatory process• Summary of proposed amendm• Issues• Summary and staff recommend
Program Goals

• Achieve significant air quality be• Push research, development an

deployment of zero emission ve

• Encourage ZEV commercializat

through introduction of ZEV-enatechnology
30 % 

“10%” Mandate 42% by volume

2 %11% AT PZ

~1%

ZEV

ZEV Program (2012 – 2014)
Existing ZEV “Gold”

Requirements

1

Years Fuel Cell Vehic

2015 – 2017 50,0002012 – 2014 25,0002009 – 2011 2,5002005 – 2008 250

1 Alternative Compliance Path
Program Achievements

• Introduced Bronze in 1998• Promoted hybrid electric vehicl

through Silver provision in 2001

• Focused research and develop

of battery electric and fuel cell vehicles 
Program Achievements

1

Bronze - PZEV Conventional 67

10

Hybrid/Compressed Natural Gas Silver – AT ZEVNeighborhood electric 2Battery electric 4Fuel cell 

Gold - ZEV

Vehicle Type Qu

1 Estimated placements through 2006
Timeline

• Expert Panel review 2006 – 200• ZEV Status Report, May 2007• Public workshop, July 2007• ZEV concept paper, November • Initial Statement of Reasons, 

February 8, 2008 
Rationale for Proposed 

Amendments

• Respond to Board’s direction a

May 2007 hearing

– Align program requirements to re

Expert Panel’s findings and marstatus

– Create opportunities for emergin

technologies

– Simplify program requirements
ZEV Challenges

• More development needed before go

vehicles ready for commercialization

• Existing requirements

– force premature, large scale fuel cell pr– limit flexibility and technology options

• Pace of future development difficult t

predict, requiring regular course corr
Summary of Significant 

Amendments
Summary of Proposed Amendments:

Significant Changes

• Creation of New Path (2012 and 

onward)

• Revise credit system• New categories for emerging go

technologies
Summary of Proposed Amendments:

Other Changes

• Revise Silver credits• Increase credits for NEVs• Extend Travel Provision• Extend transition for intermedia

volume manufacturers

• Increased transparency of 

manufacturer credit
Creation of “New Path”

1990 to 2004 2012 

“Alt” Path

Base Path 

Original Path “New 

2005 to 2011

Battery EVs / NEVs 

battcellhyb

fuel cell/banked credit

Result:
Gold Requirements

25,000 50,0

Current Requirements

minimum 

gold with 

Silve

minimum 2,500 

gold with 75,000 

Silver +

Allowable Option 

2012 – 2014 2015 – 
Silver Plus Category

• Silver earning one or more 

credits

• Use of ZEV fuel• Examples:

– Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles– Hydrogen internal combustion 

engine vehicles
Gold and Silver+ Option

Gold Only 25,000 5

2

+8

2,500

+75,000

Minimum Goldwith Silver Plus

1

Total Vehicles =77,500 =10

2012 – 2014 2015 – 2

1 Assumes a 22-mile electric range blended HEV. Number of veh

will vary if vehicle has different credit values.
Two New ZEV Types

• Type I.5

– City battery electric vehicle– 75 to 100 mile range

• Type IV

– Advanced fuel cell vehicle– Minimum 200 mile range/fast refu

capable
Credit Per Vehicle

Fv(2

1

2

3

4

Fuel cell veh

(current)

BEV

(100 mile)

NEV

PZEV

BEV

(50 mile)

Blended HEV

(22 mile)

0

AT PZEV

BEV

(75 mile)
Significance of Credits

Compliance example: 2,500 FCV200 ne

NEV

I

I.5

II

III

IV

NEV 0.3 not allowe

BEV 50

2 6,250

BEV 75 2.5 5,000

BEV 100

3 4,167

FCV 100

4 3,125

FCV 200

5 2,500

ZEV Type Credit Number of Ve
Treatment of Battery Electric Vehicles in the Alt Path

000

Proposed C

Type I 50 percentType II 50 percentType I.5 N/A

Current Cap 
Increase Credits for NEVs

• Double existing credit per vehi

from 0.15 to 0.30

• Reflects positive environmenta

benefits

– Reduced cold starts– Zero emissions for short trips

• Limited functionality and range
not met not met

Carry 

Back

Only used for meeting Silver Plus, Silver and Bronze requirements

Gold ZEV credit earned Carry Forward

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 

Carry Forward/Carry Back

Retains Full Credit
Public Disclosure of 

Production and Credit Data

• All production data to be made 

public beginning in 2009

• Release of ZEV credit bank 

balances in model year 2010

• Disclosure will allow more 

complete participation by all stakeholders 
Section 177 (Travel) 

Provision

• Other states able to adopt LEV/ZEV 

regulations

BEV 75

20172011

FCV

Proposed 2014 

Existing N/A 

ZEV BEV 50 BEV 100 

Provision Sunset Year
Transition for IVMs 

Silver 0% 25% 33% F

P

67%

0%

10 to 12

Ramp Up 2

Bronze 100% 75%

Gold 0% 0%

7 to 9

Ramp Up 1

1 to 6

“Lead Time” Years
Summary and Staff 

Recommendation
Expected Number of Vehic

– for the purpose of meeting the requirem

*Includes probable credit use

Bronze 700,000 1,260,000 1,2

Silver 107,000 95,000 15

Silver+ 30,000 75,000 83

0 5,000 50

Or Gold City EVs

250 2,500 25

Gold Fuel Cell Vehicles 

Type 2009-2011* 2012-2014 201
Number of Gold and Silver 

Plus for 2012 to 2017

Proposal Existing

75,000

0

75,000

Maximum use of FCVs

Total 75,000 185

Silver Plus

0 158

Gold 75,000 27

Minimof FC
Air Quality Impacts 

(tons in thousands)

7 5,55

Average Emission Reduction

10 15,4

Proposed AmendmentsCurrent Regulation 17 21,0

ROG + NOx CO
Issues
Minimum Number of Gold 

ZEVs In 2012 and Beyond

Staff proposal: 

Allows 25,000 vehicle gold requirement to be red2,500 if backfilled with silver plus vehicles

Issue: 

Should minimum number of ZEVs (“floor”) be inc

Pro: Accelerate commercialization of ZEVs Accelerate fueling infrastructureCon: FCVs not ready for commercialization Costs too high
Credits for FCVs Relative 

BEVs

Staff Proposal: 

FCVs get 4 or 5 credits; BEVs get 2-3.

Issue: 

Should credit for FCVs relative to BEVs be increa

Pro:  Helps assure continued investment in FCVs de

higher cost than BEVs

 Helps overcome greater barriers to commerciaCon:  Continued investment in FCV seems certain Emission benefit doesn’t justify difference
Public Disclosure of 

Production and Credit Data

Staff proposal:

All production data to be made public beginning i2009; release of specified ZEV credit bank balanmodel year 2010

Issue: 

Should trades be made public?

Pro: Provide all interested parties with all data for aCon: Could compromise and reduce trades Disclose could impact credit monetary value
Transition for Intermedia

Volume Manufacturers

Staff proposal: 

Extend phase-in from 6 to 12 years, with silver requirement ramping up over last 6 years

Issue: 

Should phase-in be shortened? 

Pro: All but one IVM already demonstrating ZEVs Requirement known for a long timeCon:  May cause BMW to abandon H2ICE developm
Number of ZEVs Required 

Other States (“Travel”)

Staff Proposal: 

ZEV numbers not affected by other states until 201BEVs and 2017 for FCVs

Issue: 

Should Silver Plus vehicles be included within this 

Pro: Softens introduction ramp of new technologyCon:  Reduces numbers of vehicles in California Technology ready for full commercialization Infrastructure not an issue
Staff Recommendation

• Approve the proposed amendments

– Increase air quality benefits– Encourage emerging technologie– Maintain progress in transforming 

California’s vehicle fleet to zero emissions
Additional Activities

• Alternative Fuel Incentive Program• AB 118• California Fuel Cell Partnership• California Hydrogen Highway Netw• Driveclean.ca.gov
Staff Presentation Conclud