Low and Zero Emission Vehicles programs

Background

Low Emission Vehicles (LEV)

The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation 20 includes certification standards for the emissions of air-toxins under the Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program. Vehicles are subject to assembly-line audits to verify that their emissions of toxins such as Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) are at or below the values set by these standards. 

Starting with model year 2022 (which started on January 1, 2021), all new light- and medium-duty vehicles (less than 14,000 pounds GVWR) made available for sale in Colorado must be certified as Low Emission Vehicles.

• The standard does not apply to vehicles acquired by residents of Colorado for the purpose of replacing their vehicle that was damaged beyond reasonable repair or stolen while out of state.
• The standard does not apply to inherited vehicles or vehicles transferred by court decree.
• The standard does not apply to vehicles that were registered in Colorado before the effective date, and it does not apply to used vehicles (i.e., vehicles with 7,500 miles or more).
• This rule also has no effect on heavy-duty vehicles or non-highway equipment and no change to fuel specifications. 

Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV)

Regulation 20 includes requirements under the Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) program. These requirements for manufacturers will advance electric vehicle sales in Colorado and help the State meet its Greenhouse Gas reduction goals. For model years 2023 through 2025 and 2027 through 2032, automakers must make an increasing percentage of ZEVs available for sale as part of their light-duty vehicle offerings in Colorado.

In January 2022, the requirements took effect for light-duty vehicles (less than 8,5000 pounds GVWR) from model year 2023 and onward. In October 2023, the commission adopted requirements for the model years 2027 through 2032. This also included an amendment to end the current regulations at model year 2025.

ZEV Balances

2024 ZEV Public Data

2023 ZEV Public Data

Reporting requirements

As outlined in Regulation 20 and in the sections below, each automaker must submit the required reports to CDPHE in order to ensure compliance with the LEV and ZEV programs.

Automakers must submit a LEV report on the fleet average non-methane organic gas plus oxides of nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions of its fleet delivered for sale in Colorado. For model years 2022 through 2025 and model years 2027 through 2032 for LEV, each manufacturer must report to CDPHE using the same format used to report this information to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). LEV Reports should be emailed to cdphe_colevzev@state.co.us.

Automakers must submit a ZEV sales report for model year 2023 through model year 2025 and for model year 2027 through 2032, identifying the necessary delivery and placement data of all vehicles generating ZEV credits. Submit your ZEV sales report directly to the Zero Emission Vehicle Credit Reporting and Tracking System (ZEV CRDTS) by August 31 of the calendar year following the close of the model year. For example, ZEV sales reports from model year 2024 are due by August 31, 2025. Along with your ZEV Sales Report, submit a list of VINs using the Colorado ZEV VIN Reporting Sheet template to cdphe_colevzev@state.co.us.

Confidential Information

If your report(s) contains confidential, proprietary, and/or trade secret information, please designate the attachments as such, and division staff will review the content accordingly. Additionally, you must submit two versions of the confidential information. One version will contain all confidential information and will not be released or disclosed publicly. The second version must have confidential information redacted by the submitter. This second version will be available for release and disclosed publicly. 

Contact us

Questions? Contact cdphe_colevzev@state.co.us.
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