Preserve Statewide Zero Emission Vehicle Program

from "American Lung Association of California Sets Public Policy Priorities", Public Policy Update, Breathe Easy news magazine, Spring/Summer 2001

The zero emission vehicle (ZEV) program is a landmark public health policy that is constantly under attack by an auto industry reluctant to manufacture and market electric vehicles on any large scale. The American Lung Association of California will continue to fight these efforts and protect this vital part of the overall effort to improve air quality in California.

In January, the American Lung Association of California successfully worked with other health and environmental groups to preserve the program despite a well-funded auto industry campaign to oppose any requirement for true ZEVs. More than 40 doctors and medical professionals from the California Thoracic Society, the association’s medical section, signed on to a letter in support of a strong ZEV program to protect public health. Thomas Dailey, MD, a board member for the American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito Counties, provided powerful testimony on the health reasons to support ZEVs.

In the end, the ZEV program was scaled back, but still requires more zero-emission vehicles on the road, about 15,000 per year by 2012, which is double the number recommended by CARB staff. The board also broadened the ZEV program to promote a range of near-zero advanced technologies, while retaining a growing "true ZEV" requirement.

Continued advocacy efforts will be needed to sustain the ZEV program against ongoing attacks even after CARB’s actions.