Climate & Environment

Zero-Emission Vehicle

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Definition

A zero-emission vehicle is one that emits no regulated pollutants or carbon dioxide from its tailpipe during operation. The category originates in California's ZEV programme, which requires manufacturers to sell rising shares of ZEVs, and includes battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles; plug-in hybrids typically receive partial credit under separate rules.

References

Source organisationSupporting reference

This reference provides supporting context for how “Zero-Emission Vehicle” is defined and used.

ww2.arb.ca.govBulk import source

Source imported for editorial provenance.

Overview

How it is used

Regulators set ZEV sales requirements and fleet CO2 targets; fleet operators electrify under total-cost and emissions rules; cities grant ZEVs access privileges; lifecycle assessment informs comparison with internal combustion vehicles.

Why it matters

Road transport is a leading source of emissions and urban air pollution; ZEV deployment is the central decarbonisation pathway for light-duty transport.