Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) are vehicles that emit no exhaust or other forms of pollutants when operating, such as electric-powered (battery powered) cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles or any other form of vehicle.
Zero emission vehicles have quickly become the go-to choice for tour boat fleets, school bus fleets, commuter rail locomotives and taxi fleets alike. BNEF’s 2022 Zero Emission Vehicle Factbook highlights this rapid shift towards net zero transportation.
Battery Electric Vehicles
Battery electric vehicles (EVs) refers to any electric car, truck, van, SUV or wagon with an efficient electric drive system integrated with high voltage storage batteries, fast-charging systems and onboard electricity generation such as regenerative brakes. Most EVs typically offer 100 miles or more on one charge with fast chargers charging them quickly in three hours or less.
Electric vehicles play an essential role in combatting climate change and protecting the planet. By pairing renewable energy sources with their vehicles, electric cars can cut carbon dioxide emissions up to 60% compared with traditional gas-powered ones – however these vehicles rely heavily on sensitive batteries that must last long-term while being friendly to the environment.
Electric vehicles (EVs) can be charged using electricity generated from renewable resources or produced using zero-emission technology at their point of production, as well as powered with power from wind turbines, solar panels, hydro-power converters or even electrolysis of hydrogen produced via electrolysis – creating an ideal zero emissions lifecycle scenario when both electricity used to charge batteries comes from renewable resources and hydrogen produced via electrolysis is produced via renewable resources.
StoreDot has made strides to extend lithium-ion technology’s capabilities with mass production for their new battery technology expected by 2024.
California Air Resources Board has implemented aggressive standards for zero emission vehicles that go far beyond federal regulations. By mandating large and intermediate volume auto manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of their cars as electric, this puts market forces into action to accelerate this important technology. Other states can voluntarily adopt this ZEV standard for light duty vehicles; California’s Air Resources Board is working with industry to establish heavy duty truck standards as well – these may even include requirements for charging infrastructure as well as equity-targeted incentives to help bring electric transportation benefits closer to low income households.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) offer another form of zero emissions vehicle: driving range comparable to gas or diesel cars and an ability to be refilled more quickly than with traditional gasoline or diesel.
Hydrogen for FCEVs is produced through energy-efficient processes that include wind or solar power generation or through decomposition of plant material, making it safe to transport and store unlike liquid fossil fuels. Unfortunately, its creation still consumes energy so its carbon footprint may be slightly greater than for battery EVs.
At present, there are only three FCEVs on the market from automakers that are based in California – Honda’s Clarity Fuel Cell, Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai. As these models are relatively new to market, no widespread hydrogen infrastructure yet exists for their purchase or lease – most are only available in California for sale or lease.
As of 2022, electric vehicle (EV) sales had surged rapidly with over 6 million passenger EVs on the road worldwide and increasing sales in the U.S. This rapid rise of EV sales testifies to consumer appetite for electrified transportation expanding as policymakers’ efforts to promote its adoption yield tangible results.
Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) refers to any vehicle that utilizes propulsion technology that doesn’t emit exhaust or other pollutants when running. This includes advanced electric vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles, as well as non-traditional propulsion systems like sailboats and wind turbines. ZEVs encompass the next-generation of electric vehicles (EVs), powered by hydrogen fuel cells or other technologies being developed to replace cars, trucks, buses, heavy duty trucks, construction equipment, special purpose military vehicles boats locomotives and aircraft that have traditionally used gasoline, diesel or jet fuel as their propellant. Many states have enacted ZEV requirements with California being one of them and leading in both sales and number of refueling stations worldwide.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
HEVs combine engine and electric powertrain components to generate propulsion, serving as one of the cornerstones of an electrified automotive pyramid topped by fully battery electric vehicles (EVs).
An HEV’s internal combustion engine supplies mechanical energy for driving its wheels and accessories, as well as thermal energy needed to cool its motor, transmission and other systems. Regenerative braking also contributes to this energy storage by recapture some of the lost energy during traditional braking to replenish its electric battery supply.
Some hybrid vehicles can run completely on electricity for short distances, depending on their system and driving conditions. This feature, known as EV mode, involves switching over to an electric motor as a replacement of gas engine use for operation – enabling significantly reduced fuel costs and carbon emissions for shorter trips.
Since full battery electric vehicles are emission-free from wheel to wheel, hybrids may still produce harmful tailpipe emissions during production and other stages of their fuel source’s lifespan – meaning they should not be considered zero emission vehicles unless electricity generated or extracted using renewable energies like wind or solar is extracted and utilized as its energy source.
Some manufacturers now offer plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). You can plug these models into a public charging station and gain enough juice to complete longer trips. While still not as environmentally-friendly as pure EVs, they offer an affordable and reliable way to reduce carbon emissions by driving greener cars.
There are also hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, which use an electrochemical process to convert hydrogen into electrical energy for use by their motor and accessories. Emissions produced by such vehicles include only water and heat which do not harm anyone, making it an environmentally-friendly alternative to vehicles fueled by internal combustion engines or fossil fuels such as cars, trucks, buses, special-purpose military vehicles or machinery that requires oil or fossil fuels for power. Unfortunately, hydrogen used for these fuel cell vehicles often comes from natural gas which releases greenhouse gasses when extracted and refined at power plants resulting in CO2 emissions when extracted and refined at power plants.
Diesel Electric Vehicles
Diesel engines have long been an important feature of automotive transportation. Their durability and fuel efficiency are unrivaled; unfortunately, in recent years the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has cracked down on diesel emissions by setting stricter limits for NOx and particulate matter emissions that cause smog and respiratory illness as well as greenhouse gases produced by diesel vehicles – so much so that we will likely not see many more hybrid diesel cars on our roads.
Good news is that electric vehicles (EVs) are making headway, meaning diesel will no longer be as widely-sold by 2035. Some models now can travel over 150 miles on electricity alone!
As more affordable EVs enter the market, drivers will find it increasingly difficult to justify driving gas cars despite historically low gasoline prices; an EV will prove much less costly to run and maintain.
Electric cars (EVs) have a significantly smaller environmental impact compared to their gasoline- and diesel-powered counterparts due to cleaner electric motors than their internal combustion engine predecessors, saving money while leaving less carbon emissions behind.
However, the environmental benefits of an EV depend on its method of production; if electricity comes from fossil fuel-burning power plants then their impact won’t be as great; but when produced using renewable sources they help to reduce carbon emissions significantly.
The Zero-Emission Vehicle regulation mandates that large car manufacturers bring into California a specified percentage of plug-in hybrid EVs or fully electric cars that satisfy its regulations, such as BMW, Tesla, Ford, Honda, Mercedes, GM, Nissan and Toyota. Manufacturers that must comply include BMW, Tesla, Ford, Honda, Mercedes GM Nissan and Toyota who may meet their obligations by bringing in electric or plug-in hybrid cars; additionally they can earn credits by reporting annual production and sales numbers to CARB and using these credits to offset compliance costs associated with each model they make – saving time and money when bringing these into California!