EPA Lets California Be Even More Annoying About Car Emissions
Published Date: 1/6/2025
Notice
Summary
The EPA just gave California the green light to enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II rules, which means car makers selling in California will need to meet tougher pollution and clean car standards. This decision helps push cleaner, greener vehicles on the road, starting soon, and could save money on health and environmental costs down the line. If anyone wants to challenge this, they have until March 7, 2025, to speak up.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
EPA Approves California ACC II Waiver
On December 17, 2024, the EPA granted California a Clean Air Act section 209 waiver allowing California to enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations for new 2026 and subsequent model year light- and medium-duty on-road vehicles in California.
Manufacturers Must Sell More ZEVs Starting 2026
The ACC II ZEV program requires vehicle manufacturers to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles beginning with the 2026 model year; manufacturers may meet up to 20 percent of their sales requirement using plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) that meet specified requirements.
Stricter LEV IV Emissions Standards Applied
ACC II’s LEV IV requirements apply fleet-average exhaust and evaporative emission standards solely to internal combustion engine vehicles (excluding ZEVs from the fleet calculation), reduce the maximum allowed exhaust and evaporative emission rates, and apply emissions standards to a broader range of in-use driving conditions to reduce cold-start emissions.
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