Clean Car Standards - Pavley, Assembly Bill 1493

This page last reviewed October 4, 2010

Background

On September 24, 2009, the ARB adopted amendments to the “Pavley” regulations that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in new passenger vehicles from 2009 through 2016. These amendments are part of California’s commitment toward a nation-wide program to reduce new passenger vehicle GHGs from 2012 through 2016.  ARB’s September amendments will cement California’s enforcement of the Pavley rule starting in 2009 while providing vehicle manufacturers with new compliance flexibility.  The amendments will also prepare California to harmonize its rules with the federal rules for passenger vehicles.

The U.S. EPA granted California the authority to implement GHG emission reduction standards for new passenger cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles On June 30, 2009.

The first California request to implement GHG standards for passenger vehicles, known as a waiver request, was made in December 2005 and was denied by the U.S. EPA in March 2008.  That decision was based on a finding that California’s request to reduce GHG emissions from passenger vehicles did not meet the Clean Air Act requirement of showing that the waiver was needed to meet “compelling and extraordinary conditions.”

The ARB’s Board originally approved regulations to reduce GHGs from passenger vehicles in September 2004, with the regulations to take effect in 2009. These regulations were authorized by the 2002 legislation Assembly Bill 1493 (Pavley).

The regulations had been threatened by automaker lawsuits and were stalled by the U.S. EPA’s delay in reviewing and then initially denying California’s waiver request. The parties involved entered a May 19, 2009 agreement to resolve these issues.  With the granting of the waiver on June 30, 2009, it is expected that the Pavley regulations will reduce GHG emissions from California passenger vehicles by about 22 percent in 2012 and about 30 percent in 2016, all while improving fuel efficiency and reducing motorists’ costs.

ARB has adopted a new approach to passenger vehicles – cars and light trucks – by combining the control of smog-causing pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions into a single coordinated package of standards.  The new approach also includes efforts to support and accelerate the numbers of plug-in hybrids and zero-emission vehicles in California.  Find out more on the Advanced Clean Cars web portal.

Rulemaking Activity

Rulemaking to consider amendments to new car greenhouse gas emission standards for model years 2012-2016 and permit compliance based on federal greenhouse gas emission standards (February 2010)

• Notice of Modified Regulatory Text
• Public Comments Received

ARB Board-approved amendments to the originally proposed regulatory text for new car greenhouse gas emission standards and test procedures for 2001 and subsequent model passenger cars (December 2009)

• 2009 Modified Regulatory Text
• Resolution
• Public Comments Received

ARB Board Adopted Regulation (September 2004)

• 2004 Regulatory Text
• Board Hearing Agenda

Latest News!

• Latest developments for greenhouse gas standard development 2017-2025
• New approach will link formerly separate car standards to reduce toxic tailpipe emissions (LEV III) and GHG emissions (Pavley) into a single regulatory framework (March 1, 2010)
• California completes its commitment to a national greenhouse gas standard for cars.  Regulation is final step in agreement announced in Rose Garden last year (February 25, 2010)
• ARB Restates Commitment to Establishing a National Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Standard (January 20, 2010)
• U.S. EPA Grants California GHG Waiver (June 30, 2009)

• Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds U.S. EPA Decision Granting California Authority to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (June 30, 2009)
• President Obama Announces National Fuel Efficiency Policy (May 19, 2009)

Technical Assessments

Interim Joint Technical Assessment Report (U.S. EPA, NHTSA, ARB)

• Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2017-2025
• U.S. EPA Notice of Intent

Addendum to February 25, 2008 - Enhanced Technical Assessment:

• COMPARISON OF GHG REDUCTIONS FOR THE U.S. AND CANADA UNDER ARB GHG REGULATIONS AND PROPOSED FEDERAL 2011-2015 MODEL YEAR FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS (posted: May 8, 2008)

Enhanced Technical Assessment:

• COMPARISON OF GHG REDUCTIONS FOR THE U.S. AND CANADA UNDER U.S. CAFE STANDARDS AND ARB GHG REGULATIONS (posted: February 25, 2008)

Addendum to January 2, 2008 - Technical Assessment:

• COMPARISON OF GHG REDUCTIONS FOR ALL FIFTY U.S. UNDER CAFE STANDARDS AND ARB REGULATIONS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO AB 1493 (posted: January 23, 2008)

Technical Assessment:

• COMPARISON OF GHG REDUCTIONS UNDER CAFE STANDARDS AND ARB REGULATIONS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO AB 1493 (posted: January 2, 2008)

Fact Sheets

Mobile Source Portal

• Climate Change Emissions Control Regulations
• Reducing Climate Change Emissions from Motor Vehicles (Spanish version)
• FAQ: Reducing Climate Change Emissions from Motor Vehicles (Spanish version)
• Backgrounder: The Greenhouse Effect and California (Spanish version)
• Climate Change AB 32 Scoping Plan
• Conversion of 1 MMT CO2 to Familiar Equivalents
• Other Climate Change Fact Sheets

Related Efforts

• Amendments to the Low-Emission Vehicle Program - LEV III
• Advanced Clean Cars

Archive of Public Meetings

• Past Meetings / Workshops