Low Emission Vehicles

On January 27, 2009 President Barack Obama requested that EPA issue approval necessary for California and 13 other states including Oregon to set stricter greenhouse gas requirements for motor vehicles. Oregon’s low emission vehicle rules are nearly identical to California’s and already apply for other types of pollution. Once the approval is formalized auto manufacturers will need to meet tougher greenhouse gas emissions standards in states like Oregon that have opted into the California emission standards.

In December 2005, Oregon’s Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) adopted rules to establish the Low Emission Vehicles (LEV) program. Oregon was the 11th state to adopt California's strict emission standards for new vehicles.

Oregon's Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) requirements reduce pollution in several ways. The rules decrease emissions that cause ground-level ozone, promote zero-emission vehicles and reduce greenhouse gases. The program applies only to new cars and trucks (vehicles with fewer than 7500 miles) and began with the 2009 model year. When the rules take full effect in model year 2016 they will reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% and substantially improve fuel efficiency.

• Oregon Low Emission Vehicle Rules
  The official rule requirements
• Fact Sheet: Low Emission Vehicles Program PDF
• EQC Agenda June 2006 (agenda item H)
  Documents related to the legal adoption of these rules
• Governor's Vehicle Emission Workgroup Report to the Governor PDF
  Issues raised during the development of Oregon's LEV rules
• DEQ’s Advancing Technology webpage
  Learn more about technology used to reduce vehicle emissions.

For more information about Low Emission Vehicles, please see these Reference Materials.

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