Clean Vehicles Coming to Washington State

Three transportation regulations will improve air quality, protect public health, reduce carbon emissions

Seattle, WA - Today, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) announced their adoption of three regulations: the Advanced Clean Cars II Rule (ACC II), the Heavy-Duty Omnibus Low NOx Rule, and the Fleet Reporting Requirement. ACC II requires an increasing percentage of new zero-emission (includes battery electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell electric) light-duty passenger vehicles (ZEVs) be made available in Washington State, culminating in 100% new zero-emission sales by model year 2035 and beyond. ACC II also boosts requirements for EV performance and durability and includes incentives to ensure these vehicles reach all communities, including low-income communities and those that are especially impacted by pollution. The Heavy-Duty Omnibus Low NOx Rule requires manufacturers to reduce harmful smog-forming pollution from new heavy-duty fossil fuel trucks. Lastly, the Fleet Reporting Requirement allows Washington to collect essential information on truck fleet operations that will help reduce pollution faster. 

We applaud Washington’s commitment to an equitable and just transportation future by increasing accessibility to zero-emission vehicles and reducing emissions from light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. These regulations address air pollution to improve public health, protect frontline communities, and increase access to electricity as an affordable transportation fuel.

Making Clean Vehicles More Accessible and Affordable, While Addressing Air Pollution

Five million people in Washington live or work near transportation corridors that are exposed to harmful pollution, particularly communities of color and low-income communities. Regulations on clean cars and clean trucks will save Washingtonians $5.9B in public health benefits from 2020-2050, including 15,000 avoided asthma attacks. Transportation contributes to about 22% of total air pollution and 45% of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Adopting these clean vehicle standards will help tackle these issues. 

Benefits of ACC II:

• Consumer choice - creates more affordable ZEV options for consumers
• Increased job opportunities -  about 3,400 Washingtonians are already employed in clean transportation
• Save money on fuel - electric car owners could save between $1,800 and $2,600 in operating and maintenance costs every year, compared to drivers of gas-powered vehicles. 
• According to Washington’s State Energy Strategy, the zero-emission trajectory in this rule is necessary–and the faster this transition occurs, the less costly it will be to meet the state’s climate goals.

Benefits of the Heavy-Duty Omnibus Low NOx (HDO) Rule:

• Reduce toxic air pollutants - trucks and buses are responsible for 59% of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 53% of particulate matter. When both Advanced Clean Truck (ACT, adopted by WA in 2021) and HDO Rules are implemented, NOx can be reduced by 88%.
• Improve public health and livelihood -Together with ACT Rule, the HDO Rule will result in up to 288 avoided premature deaths and 242 avoided hospitalizations statewide.

Benefits of the Fleet Reporting Requirement:

• Identify and prioritize the electrification of trucking operations -  will provide greatest relief in air pollution exposure to overburdened communities. 
• Reduced burden on drivers -  helps ensure that the burden of complying with clean truck regulations is not placed on drivers, who often do not have the resources to transition to ZEVs.

These three rules are important parts of a comprehensive strategy to decarbonize the transportation sector and create a more just and equitable transportation future in Washington.

Quotes From Supporters

"Due to these new policies, Washington residents will experience reductions in air pollution, will have increased access to cleaner vehicles and the affordable fuels they run on like electricity, and will benefit from new data to support a just transition to a clean energy economy," said Annabel Drayton, Senior Policy Associate with the NW Energy Coalition. "We're excited about this new suite of policies that make up the Washington Clean Vehicles Program and appreciate Ecology's ongoing work."

"Washington’s Indigenous peoples and communities of color shouldn’t have to choose between living a healthy life, putting food on the table, and living in the communities where we want to live," said Paula Sardinas, founder of the Washington Build Back Black Alliance and president and CEO of Black-owned public affairs and government relations firm FMS Global Strategies. "With these standards, we can unburden ourselves and the next generation from the dangerous impacts of air pollution and climate change. Cleaner, pollution-free cars and trucks on our roads will ring in a new era of health and prosperity."

“Air pollution remains a major cause of premature death globally and in our state. We are already seeing the adverse human health impacts of the climate crisis on Washingtonians and these impacts will steadily worsen if we do not act quickly and decisively to reduce emissions,” said Dr. Mark Vossler, President of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. “The new clean vehicles rules represent a significant step forward in improving air quality in Washington and for preventing some of the worst consequences of climate change.”

"As Washington transitions to a zero-carbon emitting economy, it must not leave behind communities like the Duwamish Valley, which have borne the brunt of industrial pollution for so long. Comprehensive, accurate, and granular data about the number and kind of trucks that travel through Washington and where they travel and spend time is vital to collect now," said Adrienne Hampton-Clarridge, Climate Justice Policy Manager with the Duwamish River Community Coalition. "The fleet reporting requirement will help Washington develop responsible programs and infrastructure to support the electrification of the state’s transportation systems and to ensure that the most impacted communities benefit from this transition and are prioritized for investment."

“Joining other states in adopting these clean vehicles rules is an important and necessary step along the way to achieving our climate goals, cutting air pollution, and freeing ourselves from dependence on volatile and high gas and diesel prices,” said Leah Missik, Washington Transportation Policy Manager at Climate Solutions. “Accelerating the clean energy transition in the transportation space is critical for our collective health and well-being.”

“For decades we've procrastinated on addressing the impacts of climate change caused by human activity, and now it's an emergency. The solution: a change in humanity's behavior,” said Wes Stewart, Clean Transportation For All Organizer at the Sierra Club’s Washington Chapter. “The road towards a healthy future for people & planet begins with a step, and these new vehicle standards are a monumental move towards revolutionizing transportation - the largest source of air pollutants and carbon emissions in the state and country. Urgency can be a powerful opportunity - it's fitting for the Evergreen State to join California and Vermont in taking bold measures to nurture our environment and plot a trail for the rest of the country to follow.”

“We applaud Washington's adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II rule—a vital policy that will help drive the shift to clean transportation. The auto industry and companies across the supply chain have made it clear that zero-emission vehicles are the way of the future,” said Dave Robba, State Transportation Policy Manager, Ceres. “That's why 45 major businesses, including IKEA USA, Lyft, and Clif Bar & Company, among others, support the state's adoption of ACC II as a pragmatic solution that will help foster the market for clean vehicles and build a better business environment.”

“Transportation is by far the largest cause of heat-trapping emissions and is also a major source of air pollution,” said David Reichmuth, senior engineer in the Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. “Washington’s adoption of the clean car standards and truck rules will drive down the tailpipe pollution that is fouling our air and fueling the climate crisis.”

“Every Washingtonian should be able to get where they need to go without causing harm to their neighbors," said Rebecca Ponzio, Climate and Fossil Fuel Program Director with Washington Environmental Council/Washington Conservation Voters. "The realization of these policies will help make that a reality. Washington is now turning the page towards cleaner fuels and more equitable investments for our transportation system."

“Thank you to our legislators, Ecology, and the California Air Resources Board for shepherding these meaningful policies through to adoption. These policies and actions will help create cleaner air, healthier communities, and more vibrant economies,” said Don and Alona Steinke, Climate Action of Southwest Washington.

“Adopting these common sense standards will help residents of Washington get the zero-polluting cars and trucks they want while curbing the dangerous tailpipe pollution that harms our families’ health,” said Kathy Harris, the lead state clean vehicles advocate at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “With automakers increasing investments in electric vehicles and expanded federal tax credits kicking in, the transition to a cleaner future is accelerating quickly. This action by Washington will help fuel the transition.”

“As more states choose to adopt these standards, consumers will begin to see a greater number of clean vehicle options coming to their communities,” said Dylan Jaff, Policy Analyst at Consumer Reports. “These rules will give more Americans the opportunity to take advantage of the cost savings associated with the ownership of electric vehicles, while supporting critical technology to combat climate change.”