I recently got an "Action Gram" from Plug In America, regarding modifications the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is proposing to the Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) Program. Since I've been focusing my limited time more on alternative fuels (hydrogen, natural gas/methane, ethanol, methanol, and biodiesel) than on plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles, I had to do some research. Here's what I've learned:

Back in 1990, the CARB adopted the Low-Emission Vehicle and Clean Fuels (LEV) regulations. A part of this was a mandate on the manufacture and sale of ZEVs. At the time, battery-electric was the only technology expected to meet the 1998 deadline specified in the regulation. The CARB also wanted status updates at least every two years, along with proposed modifications.

The original regulations required auto manufacturers to meet increasingly strict "fleet average" emission requirements, and include a certain percentage of ZEVs for purchase in California, starting in 1998 and ramping up through 2003. Auto manufacturers could make qualifying vehicles prior to 1998 and earn early credits toward the mandate.

In 1996, the regulation was modified to eliminate the 1998-2002 "ramp up" years, but still leaving a ten percent requirement for 2003 in place. In 1998, the regulation was again modified to allow partial credit for extremely clean vehicles and were not, strictly speaking, zero-emission.

In 2001, the regulation was modified, yet again, allowing large manufacturers to meet the ten percent requirement with two percent pure ZEV, two percent "Advanced Technology Partial ZEV" (AT PZEV - e.g., state of the art hybrids), and six percent Partial ZEV (PZEV). Now, that does, indeed, add up to ten percent, but only two of that ten percent is truly zero-emission.

In 2002, the auto industry sued CARB and a federal district judge issued an injunction preventing the regulations from being enforced. CARB adopted more changes to the regulations, and the plaintiffs dropped the suit. The changes:

• pushed the 2003 ten percent requirement out to 2005
• knocked warranty coverage of the drive battery from 15 years down to 10
• decreased the necessary PZEV all-electric-range for a zero-emission vehicle miles traveled (VMT) allowance to 90
• increased the VMT allowance
• changed qualifying criteria for hybrid advanced component allowance to drive system voltage and peak power output, instead of CO₂ reduction, increased fuel economy, or maximum available power from "electric storage device" (i.e., battery)
• tripled the multiplier for VMT allowances for 2007 model year cars, and expanded the model year range from 2007 only to 2000 through 2008
• doubled the VMT allowance multiplier for 2008-2011 model years and changed the span to 2009-2011

Now, there are more proposed amendments to the regulation. It's difficult to wade through the legalese on the CARB website. There are seven parts to the proposed regulations, the first of which appears to eliminate the basic ZEV requirement entirely (though the seventh seems to put it all back). Regardless, every change that has ever been made to this mandate has made it more lenient.

Of the handful of electric cars produced since 1996, many are still on the road, owing to their low maintenance requirements (GM did recall all of their EV1's and scrap them). Also, virtually everyone who owns an electric car loves it! If The People speak loudly enough, both the government and the auto industry will hear... and, just maybe, listen. Here are some resources: