California’s Electric Vehicle Revolution is Coming to Los Angeles: What Every Driver Needs to Know About the Advanced Clean Cars II Rule
Los Angeles drivers are about to experience a major shift in the automotive landscape as California’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation takes effect. This groundbreaking rule, approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in 2022, mandates that 100% of light-duty vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2035. For LA motorists, this means understanding how these new requirements will impact vehicle purchases, registration, and the ongoing need for emissions compliance services.
Understanding the ACC II Timeline and Requirements
The ACC II law establishes progressive milestones: 35% of sales must be ZEVs by the 2026 model year, escalating to 43% in 2027 model year, and increasing by 8% annually thereafter, until 2035 model year when it is 100%. Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) are defined as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) or fuel-cell-electric vehicles (FCEVs), while plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can also be counted toward ZEV targets.
Manufacturers are limited in using PHEVs; these vehicles can account for no more than 20% of the overall ZEV sales requirement in any given year. To qualify and earn a full compliance value, PHEVs must achieve a minimum all-electric certification range of 70 miles, which translates to a consumer label range of about 50 miles, and must also demonstrate a minimum all-electric range of 40 miles on the US06 driving cycle.
What This Means for Los Angeles Drivers
The ACC II ZEV regulation is a manufacturer sales requirement and does not require anyone to purchase ZEVs or relinquish their currently owned ICE vehicles. However, the regulation will significantly impact vehicle availability and pricing in the Los Angeles market. Some automakers have indicated they are developing allocation plans which will include sending more PHEV and EV models to states which have adopted ACC II and fewer to those which have not.
For drivers with traditional gasoline vehicles, ACC II implements the Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) IV standards, which reduce the allowable levels of smog-forming criteria pollutants like non-methane organic gas and oxides of nitrogen (NMOG+NOx). This means that existing vehicles will need to meet even stricter emissions standards during smog checks.
The Continuing Importance of Emissions Testing
Even as California transitions to electric vehicles, traditional smog checks remain crucial for the millions of gasoline and hybrid vehicles currently on Los Angeles roads. The state’s smog check program continues to play a vital role in maintaining air quality standards, and drivers will need reliable, CARB Compliant Los Angeles, CA testing facilities to ensure their vehicles meet evolving emissions requirements.
STAR stations are smog check stations that meet higher performance standards established by the Bureau of Automotive Repair, and the DMV has chosen certain vehicles to be inspected at smog stations that are monitored closely by the State of California and must conform to high standards. This enhanced oversight ensures accurate testing as emissions standards become more stringent.
Preparing for the Transition
ACC II benefits Californian communities by reducing emissions from light-duty vehicles by 50 percent by 2040, resulting in improved air quality and health—the American Lung Association estimates that from 2020 to 2050, a zero-emissions transportation sector would help avoid 110,000 premature deaths, 2.78 million asthma attacks, and 13.4 million lost workdays.
For Los Angeles drivers, the transition period presents both opportunities and challenges. As of June 2022, the non-proprietary public charging infrastructure in the US already includes more than 90,000 level 2 chargers in more than 40,000 locations, and almost 10,000 DC fast chargers in more than 4,700 locations, with continued expansion expected through federal infrastructure investments.
Compliance and Penalties
The penalty for missing the target is $20,000 per vehicle, which could be a hefty fine depending on sales. However, the three-year flexibility could delay the fine and perhaps eliminate it, if ZEV sales can be accelerated in subsequent model years.
OEMs have three model years to equalize their deficits through the accrual of vehicle values, and if they fail to adhere to the ACC II percentage targets, OEMs will invoke a civil penalty resulting in a fine.
Looking Ahead
The Advanced Clean Cars II rule represents California’s most ambitious automotive emissions regulation to date. While the transition to electric vehicles accelerates, Los Angeles drivers should stay informed about evolving requirements and ensure their current vehicles remain compliant with increasingly strict emissions standards. Whether you’re considering an electric vehicle purchase or maintaining a traditional gasoline car, understanding these regulations will help you navigate California’s automotive future successfully.
As the automotive landscape transforms, reliable emissions testing and vehicle compliance services will remain essential for millions of drivers throughout the transition period and beyond.