Abbreviations and emissions like LEV, SULEV, PZEV, and more

In the world of option fuel and low-emissions autos, there is a patchwork of regulations across the country. While national regulations on automobile emissions do exist, some states have a lot more strict standards. This patchwork has created a veritable storm of abbreviations about automobile emissions. This is what the popular abbreviations mean.

Article Resource: Abbreviations and emissions – LEV, SULEV, PZEV and a lot more By Car Deal Expert

Low emission vehicle – LEV and NLEV

The LEV or NLEV standard was first instituted by California as the “Low Emission Vehicle” standard, and later adopted as the “National Low Emission Vehicle” standard. These standards, for passenger cars, mean emitting less than 3.4 grams per mile of carbon monoxide. This is applied through the 2003 model.

Ultra Low Emission – ULEV

Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standards, in many states, applies to autos that come from the model years 2003 to 2010. These ULEV passenger cars are can emit no more than 1.7 grams per pile of carbon monoxide. Alternately, ULEV cars are required to emit no more than half of the emissions of comparable model-year vehicles.

Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle – SULEV

Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles, otherwise known as SULEV cars, are required to emit no more than 10 percent of the average emissions of comparable model-year vehicles. SULEV automobiles are, most often, ultra-efficient hybrids or alternative-fuel autos.

PZEV is a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle

SULEV and PZEV standards are all the same. However, in order to qualify as a PZEV, a vehicle has to have extra controls on gas evaporation and must maintain low emission levels for 150,000 miles. In 2001, there were numerous engines that qualify as PZEV.

Zero Emissions Automobile – ZEV

Used to refer to hydrogen-fueled or electric cars typically, Zero Emissions Automobiles aren’t always necessarily totally “zero emissions." For example, a car that charges off of the power grid can still be considered ZEV – although the grid does nevertheless puts out many pollution.

Fuel Economy Standards

Though some states use alphabet soup to describe the efficiency of vehicles, the federal government and EPA have opted to go with a different system. By 2016, vehicle makers can be required to build cars that have an average fuel economy rating of 35.5 miles per gallon.