California Air Resources Board

The Advanced Clean Cars II regulations will rapidly scale down emissions of light-duty passenger cars, pickup trucks and SUVs starting with the 2026 model year through 2035. The regulations are two-pronged. First, it amends the Zero-emission Vehicle Regulation to require an increasing number of zero-emission vehicles, and relies on currently available advanced vehicle technologies, including battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell electric and plug-in hybrid electric-vehicles, to meet air quality and climate change emissions standards. Second, the Low-emission Vehicle Regulations were amended to include increasingly stringent standards for gasoline cars and heavier passenger trucks to continue to reduce smog-forming emissions.

2022 Advanced Clean Cars II

The Advanced Clean Cars II regulations were adopted in 2022, imposing the next level of low-emission and zero-emission vehicle standards for model years 2026-2035 that contribute to meeting federal ambient air quality ozone standards and California’s carbon neutrality targets.

By 2035 all new passenger cars, trucks and SUVs sold in California will be zero emissions. The Advanced Clean Cars II regulations take the state’s already growing zero-emission vehicle market and robust motor vehicle emission control rules and augments them to meet more aggressive tailpipe emissions standards and ramp up to 100% zero-emission vehicles. View the Official Rulemaking Documents and read our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about Advanced Clean Cars II and zero-emission vehicles.

2017 Midterm Review

When the Air Resources Board adopted Advanced Clean Cars in 2012, they committed to conducting a comprehensive midterm review of three elements of the program: 1) the ZEV regulation, 2) the 1 milligram per mile particulate matter standard, and 3) the light-duty vehicle GHG standards for 2022 and later model years. Staff’s review was conducted at the same time as the U.S. EPA and NHTSA midterm evaluation of the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas standards for 2022 through 2025 model years at the national level.  The Air Resources Board concluded the following at its March 2017 hearing:

• Adopted greenhouse gas standards remain appropriate for 2022 through 2025 model years
• Continue with existing zero-emission vehicle requirements to develop the market
• Direct staff to immediately begin rule development for 2026 and subsequent model years
• Continue and expand complementary policies to help support an expanding zero-emission vehicle market
• The particulate matter standard is feasible but further action is needed to ensure robust control

2012 Advanced Clean Cars I

Advanced Clean Cars I was first adopted by CARB in 2012, including LEV III Criteria, LEV III GHG, and ZEV regulation amendments to address model years 2015-2025. The LEV III GHG component was developed in coordination with the United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for One National Program to harmonize GHG and fuel economy standards.