US state of Colorado adopts California’s zero emission vehicle standards

The US state Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission has voted in favour of adopting California’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) standards.

After the 8-1 vote by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) approving a joint alternative regulatory proposal on Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulation, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE), Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Association of Global Automakers released the following statements:

“With transportation on track to become the number one source of emissions in Colorado, we must reduce congestion on the road and pollution in the air,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “With the adoption of this rule, government and industry will work together to achieve a win- win, by making cleaner vehicle choices available to Coloradans consumers sooner. We are grateful to the automakers for working with us to reach agreement on a negotiated Zero Emissions Vehicle rule — the first of its kind in any state.”

“We are charged up and ready to roll. The adoption of the zero-emission vehicle standard is a clear demonstration of our unrelenting commitment to making sure that every Coloradan has clean air to breathe,” said Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Executive Director Jill Hunsaker Ryan.

“Colorado already has one of the strongest electric vehicle markets in the country, both because we have multiple policies that support EV adoption—and Colorado consumers demand EVs,” said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. “The Zero Emission Vehicle standard just adopted by the Air Quality Control Commission will turbocharge the market here. We believe this will get a million EVs on the road by 2030, which is critical to meeting clean air standards and Colorado's greenhouse gas reduction goals. We look forward to working with auto manufacturers in this cooperative effort.”

“We are appreciative of the Polis administration for working with automakers to develop a plan that will help the auto industry transition into the ZEV program,” said David Schwietert, the interim President and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “Automakers want to put more electric vehicles on the roads in Colorado, and AQCC's decision, coupled with Colorado's extensive investments in consumer incentives and infrastructure, will help pave the way to do just that.”

“This collaboration between automakers and state officials represents a forward-thinking process that addresses the challenges of increasing electrification with smart and innovative regulatory policy,” said John Bozzella, Global Automakers' President and CEO. “As a result, the goals of all parties are advanced and will lead to more electric vehicles in Colorado.”