Zero-emission vehicles (ZEV)

Zero-emission vehicles help reduce greenhouse gases

Transportation in Washington is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and also a major contributor to other types of air pollution.

Under a 2020 law, Washington is required to reduce its overall greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030, 70% by 2040, and 95% by 2050. Since almost 40% of Washington's annual greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, cleaner cars and trucks are essential to meeting these limits.

Increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles on our roads will reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year by 2030.

Zero-emission vehicle basics

A zero-emission vehicle is a vehicle that releases no tailpipe air pollution. (Brake pad and tire wear can be a source of air pollution from any vehicle.) A zero-emission vehicle continues to run clean throughout its life, unlike a standard petroleum-powered vehicle, which typically pollutes more as it ages and parts wear out.

There are two types of zero-emission vehicles:

• Battery electric vehicles run on batteries that are recharged with electricity.
• Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles run on electricity from a fuel cell using compressed hydrogen. These vehicles must be refueled with compressed hydrogen.

Although not entirely zero-emission vehicles, these hybrids are a bridge between gas-only and fully electric:

• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles combine a gasoline-powered engine with a smaller battery that can be recharged with electricity. New plug-in hybrid vehicles with more than 50 miles of all-electric range will meet the 2035 standard and can continue to be sold beyond this date.
• Hybrid electric vehicles combine a gasoline-powered engine with a battery that the engine recharges. These vehicles don't plug in and do not meet the new ZEV standard.

Rulemaking about low-emission vehicles

We adopted new zero-emission and low-emission vehicle standards on Nov. 29, 2021. The requirements will take effect in 2024, with the release of model year 2025 vehicles.

In January 2022, we announced rulemaking to adopt additional vehicle emission standards. Adopted in December 2022, the new rule increases new zero-emission vehicle sales of passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty vehicles to 100 percent starting in 2035. It also requires cleaner, less polluting new heavy-duty internal combustion engines.

Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs)

ZEV vehicles include battery-powered electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles. Washington added these new requirements:

• Passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty vehicles
  • Extends Washington's ZEV program through 2035.
  • Requires increasing percentage of ZEV sales each year.
  • Requires all sales of new light-duty and medium-duty vehicles (such as larger pick-up trucks and SUVs) to be ZEVs by 2035.
  • Adds battery durability and warranty requirements based on the battery state of health.
  • Increases minimum all-electric range to 50 miles for plug-in hybrids.

Low-emission vehicles (LEV)

• Passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles
  • Reduces emission standards for multiple pollutants.
  • Improves vehicle certification requirements to include more driving conditions, like quick acceleration.
• Medium- and heavy-duty trucks (vehicles weighing more than 8,500 pounds)
  • Adopts California's Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Omnibus Regulation.
  • Implements Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas and Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas Regulations.
  • Reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 90 percent.
  • Reduces emissions of particle pollution by 50 percent.
  • Requires extended engine durability and warranty provisions.
• One-time fleet reporting requirements
  • Based on 2022 fleet operations.
  • Applies to private, local, state, and federal fleets and:
    • Fleets with 5 or more medium- and heavy-duty vehicles must report.
    • Fleets with 1 or more vehicles whose corporate revenue exceeds $50 million.
    • Fleets that own their own vehicles, and those that dispatch or contract vehicles must report.
  • Fleets must report fleet entity, facility, or home base, and specifics of vehicles over 8,500 pounds.
  • More information about the fleet reporting portal will be available spring 2023.
  • Portal will open June 1, 2023.