Colorado announced the it has voted to adopt Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) standards for cars and trucks. Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission voted 8-to-1 for ZEV standards, joining 10 other states such as California and New York. A move the state hopes will provide crucial climate, public health, and economic benefits for its citizens.
The vote also marks the first time that a state was backed by the auto industry as it adopts the new standard. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Global Automakers, which together represent 98 percent of the market, support the move.
The Alliance stated in a written submission that it is, “committed to vehicle electrification and working with Colorado.”
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), one of many advocacy groups that pushed for the standard, commissioned an analysis which says that the adoption of the clean cars program will save Coloradans up to $2.1 billion per year in 2040, adding that owners of a model year 2025 ZEV will save more than $5,000 over the life of the vehicle based on net lifetime fuel savings.
In further analysis, the program is also projected to reduce 2.7 million metric tons of climate pollution. This still leaves a 45 to 48 million metric ton gap between 2030 projections, according to EDF.
A draft regulation to meet the state’s new targets is required by next July.
