Green Technology

There are quite a few terms to describe the various "grades" of green vehicles .... from clean to cleaner to cleanest.

Do you know your PZEV from your SULEV? LEV from TLEV?  Confused?  Then read on ...

Here's the lingo:

• TLEV: Transitional Low Emission Vehicle
  Least restrictive in California; phased out in 2004
  

• LEV: Low Emission Vehicle
  New minimum for California in 2004
  

• ULEV: Ultra Low Emission Vehicles
  "50% cleaner than the average new model year car."
  

• SULEV: Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
  "90% cleaner than the average new model year car."
  

• PZEV: Partial Zero Emission Vehicle
  meet "SULEV tailpipe emission standards, have zero evaporative emissions and a 15 year / 150,000 mile warranty."  "They have fewer emissions while being driven than a typical gasoline car has while just sitting."
  

• AT PZEV: Advanced Technology PZEVs
  meet "PZEV requirements and have additional "ZEV-like" characteristics. A dedicated compressed natural gas vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle with engine emissions that meet the PZEV standards would be an AT PZEV."
  

• ZEV - Zero Emission Vehicles
  "98% cleaner than the average new model year vehicle."  Battery electric and fuel cells are in this group
  
  

 
Via:  DRIVECLEAN.CA.GOV   Link