The staff had proposed to require 2,500 pure zero emission vehicles, which the board increased to 7,500.  Automakers can produce fewer ZEVs, 5,357, if they are long-range fuel-cell vehicles, or they can opt to satisfy the requirement by manufacturing 12,500 battery-electric vehicles with a range of 100 miles.

The board maintained a second component of the vehicle emissions reduction program that allows the automakers flexibility in their alternative-fuel programs by requiring an additional 66,000 plug-in hybrids during that same period.  If the automakers produce 25,000 ZEVs, there will be no remaining plug-in hybrid requirements.

Additionally, CARB Chairman Mary Nichols directed the staff to overhaul the ZEV program for 2015 vehicles to synchronize with other board tailpipe emission programs such as the Pavley regulations addressing greenhouse gas emissions and the low emissions vehicle program.

"Today's decision will lead to more green auto choices for consumers now while keeping the pressure on the automotive engineers to continue fine-tuning the technologies that will yield an all electric-drive vehicle fleet for California in the near future," Nichols said. 

 
"We must continue to push for all types of technologies--fuel cells, electric vehicles, and hydrogen-powered cars--as we fight our duel battles against smog and global warming," she said.

As a direct result of the ZEV program, more than 750,000 Californians are now driving vehicles with near-zero emissions and an extended emissions warranty of 15 years or 150,000 miles.  The vehicles are 80 percent cleaner than the average 2002 car.