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CARB holding public workshop on amendments to the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is holding a public workshop to inform potential updates to the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations. Staff will discuss and seek input on several topics, including:

  • A preliminary proposal for regulatory updates to CARB’s light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emission standards.

  • Light- and medium-duty vehicle smog-causing criteria air pollutant requirements.

  • Zero-emission vehicle assurance measures.

  • Next steps and rulemaking timeline.

Background. CARB adopted regulations in 2012 to control motor vehicle emissions through the 2025 model year, collectively called Advanced Clean Cars. These include the:

  • Low-emission vehicle regulation for smog-causing criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases (LEV III).

  • Zero-emission vehicle regulation.

In 2022, CARB adopted the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations to establish the next phase of regulations beginning with the 2026 model year. Advanced Clean Cars II:

  • Increases the stringency of the smog-causing criteria pollutant standards, known as LEV IV.

  • Updates the zero-emission vehicle regulation to require 100% of new passenger vehicles to meet zero-emission standards by the 2035 model year.

  • Establishes a suite of assurance measures to ensure zero-emission vehicles can provide enduring emission reductions.

CARB did not amend the LEV III greenhouse gas emission standards during the 2022 Advanced Clean Cars II regulatory process.

In March 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established more stringent greenhouse gas and criteria air pollutant emissions standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles for the 2027 through 2032 model years. CARB staff have been reviewing these standards to understand their implications for light- and medium-duty vehicle technology deployment, assess the appropriateness of aligning with the various provisions, and develop additional recommendations to reduce emissions beyond what CARB’s regulations currently require.

Building on the November 2023 Advanced Clean Cars II Amendments workshop, staff plan to discuss developments in their proposals and analysis. Staff will seek feedback on a preliminary proposal for amendments to CARB’s greenhouse gas standards and areas of proposed alignment with US EPA’s updated rules for greenhouse gases and criteria air pollutants. Staff will also seek feedback on several zero-emission topics, including interoperability between electric vehicles and charging equipment and changes to the consumer-facing informational window sticker. Staff will also discuss other minor topics related to Advanced Clean Cars II implementation.

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