DEP Proposes To Require 22% Of Passenger, Light Duty Vehicle Fleet Be Zero Emission

On October 14, the Department of Environmental Protection presented a proposed regulation that would adopt California’s existing Zero Emission Vehicle Program that requires 22 percent of the new passenger and light duty vehicle fleets offered for sale in the state be zero emission vehicles starting in model year 2025.

            The 22 percent requirement equals about six to eight percent of the entire vehicle fleet sold by large automakers.

            The presentation was made to DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee and would make changes to DEP’s existing PA Clean Vehicles Program.

DEP said the proposed rule revision would help ensure that automakers offer for sale in Pennsylvania new zero emissions electric vehicle models that otherwise would be offered in surrounding states that have a requirement.

Eligible zero emission vehicles include: full electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen internal combustion engine, range extended battery electric vehicles and neighborhood electric vehicles.

In addition to the 22 percent passenger and light duty vehicle requirement, the proposed regulation will also add a greenhouse gas fleet average requirement for Pennsylvania sales.

There is no ban on traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

DEP hopes to get the proposed regulation to the Environmental Quality Board for action during the first quarter of 2022.

            Click Here for a copy of DEP’s presentation.  Click Here a copy of draft regulation changes.

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