The Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) program is a state-level regulation designed to accelerate the transition of light-duty passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs to zero emission models.

Adopted by California in 2022, ACC II builds on the Advanced Clean Cars I standards by modifying the Low-Emission Vehicle Program and Zero Emission Vehicle Program. Specifically, ACC II makes the following changes:

• Low-Emission Vehicle Program: Sets increasingly stringent emissions standards for gasoline-powered vehicles to reduce emissions.
• Zero Emission Vehicle Program: Directs manufacturers to sell a growing percentage of zero-emission vehicles, requiring 100% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035. ACC II does not regulate the sale of used vehicles.

Transitioning to zero emission light-duty passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs would provide significant economic, safety, public health, and environmental benefits to our communities. The ACC II program is accelerating this transition.

For drivers, owning an EV can save them between $6,000-$12,000 over the lifetime of their vehicle. This is because EVs cost 60% less to power and half as much to repair and maintain. EVs also provide significant safety features, such as a lower center of gravity that improves handling and reduces the risk of a rollover.

Of course, the benefits of driving an EV go beyond the owner of the vehicle. Removing tailpipe emissions from our communities will result in significant public health benefits, particularly for front-line communities that live near major transportation corridors.The American Lung Association estimates that achieving 100% zero-emission vehicle passenger vehicles sales by 2035 would contribute to $978 billion in public health benefits, including 89,300 fewer premature deaths, 2.2 million fewer asthma attacks, and 10.7 million fewer lost workdays.

Yes! The automotive industry has aligned behind electrification as the most commercially viable way to decarbonize the transportation sector, with companies prioritizing investment in the EV supply chain to meet these goals and more than 40 vehicle models available for purchase.

Federal and state-level programs are also encouraging manufacturing of EVs in the United States and lowering costs for drivers. Incentives found in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are encouraging manufacturers to invest in domestic production, resulting in more than $164 billion in private investments as of March 2024. The IRA also includes the New Clean Vehicle Credit that provides up to $7,500 to help lower the cost of a new EV for purchasers of qualifying zero-emission vehicles—which can be claimed at the point-of-sale.