Standard type
Conventional pollutant emission limits
This page presents historical information; please visit the California light-duty emissions page for information regarding current standards.
Categories
History
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) first adopted Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) standards in 1990. These standards ran from the 1994 model year through 2003. At its November 1998 meeting, the Air Resources Board (ARB) amended this set of regulations (now referred to as LEV I) to create the new, LEV II standards, which became applicable with the 2004 model year.
Technical Standards
LEV I California emission standards, which applied through model year 2003, were expressed using the following emission categories:
- Transitional Low Emission Vehicles (TLEV)
- Low Emission Vehicles (LEV)
- Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV)
- Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SULEV)
- Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV)
Car manufacturers were required to produce a percentage of vehicles certified to increasingly more stringent emission categories, according to schedules based on vehicle fleet emission averages for each manufacturer. After 2003, Tier 1 and TLEV standards were eliminated as available emission categories.
The same standards for gaseous pollutants applied to diesel- and gasoline-fueled vehicles. PM standards applied to diesel vehicles only. Emissions were measured over the FTP 75 test and are expressed in g/mile. Additional Supplemental Federal Test Procedures (SFTP) were phased-in in California between 2001 and 2005.
| Category | 50,000 miles/5 years | 100,000 miles/10 years | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMOGa | CO | NOx | PM | HCHO | NMOGa | CO | NOx | PM | HCHO | |
| Passenger cars | ||||||||||
| Tier 1 | 0.25 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.08 | – | 0.31 | 4.2 | 0.6 | – | – |
| TLEV | 0.125 | 3.4 | 0.4 | – | 0.015 | 0.156 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.08 | 0.018 |
| LEV | 0.075 | 3.4 | 0.2 | – | 0.015 | 0.090 | 4.2 | 0.3 | 0.08 | 0.018 |
| ULEV | 0.040 | 1.7 | 0.2 | – | 0.008 | 0.055 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.04 | 0.011 |
| LDT1, LVW <3,750 lbs | ||||||||||
| Tier 1 | 0.25 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.08 | – | 0.31 | 4.2 | 0.6 | – | – |
| TLEV | 0.125 | 3.4 | 0.4 | – | 0.015 | 0.156 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0.08 | 0.018 |
| LEV | 0.075 | 3.4 | 0.2 | – | 0.015 | 0.090 | 4.2 | 0.3 | 0.08 | 0.018 |
| ULEV | 0.040 | 1.7 | 0.2 | – | 0.008 | 0.055 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.04 | 0.011 |
| LDT2, LVW >3,750 lbs | ||||||||||
| Tier 1 | 0.32 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.08 | – | 0.40 | 5.5 | 0.97 | – | – |
| TLEV | 0.160 | 4.4 | 0.7 | – | 0.018 | 0.200 | 5.5 | 0.9 | 0.10 | 0.023 |
| LEV | 0.100 | 4.4 | 0.4 | – | 0.018 | 0.130 | 5.5 | 0.5 | 0.10 | 0.023 |
| ULEV | 0.050 | 2.2 | 0.4 | – | 0.009 | 0.070 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.05 | 0.013 |
| a – NMHC for all Tier 1 standards
Abbreviations: |
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| Category | 50,000 miles/5 years | 120,000 miles/11 years | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMOGa | CO | NOx | PM | HCHO | NMOGa | CO | NOx | PM | HCHO | |
| MDV1, 0-3750 lbs | ||||||||||
| Tier 1 | 0.25 | 3.4 | 0.4 | – | – | 0.36 | 5.0 | 0.55 | 0.08 | – |
| LEV | 0.125 | 3.4 | 0.4 | – | 0.015 | 0.180 | 5.0 | 0.6 | 0.08 | 0.022 |
| ULEV | 0.075 | 1.7 | 0.2 | – | 0.008 | 0.107 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.04 | 0.012 |
| MDV2, 3751-5750 lbs | ||||||||||
| Tier 1 | 0.32 | 4.4 | 0.7 | – | – | 0.46 | 6.4 | 0.98 | 0.10 | – |
| LEV | 0.160 | 4.4 | 0.4 | – | 0.018 | 0.230 | 6.4 | 0.6 | 0.10 | 0.027 |
| ULEV | 0.100 | 4.4 | 0.4 | – | 0.009 | 0.143 | 6.4 | 0.6 | 0.05 | 0.013 |
| SULEV | 0.050 | 2.2 | 0.2 | – | 0.004 | 0.072 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 0.05 | 0.006 |
| MDV3, 5751-8500 lbs | ||||||||||
| Tier 1 | 0.39 | 5.0 | 1.1 | – | – | 0.56 | 7.3 | 1.53 | 0.12 | – |
| LEV | 0.195 | 5.0 | 0.6 | – | 0.022 | 0.280 | 7.3 | 0.9 | 0.12 | 0.032 |
| ULEV | 0.117 | 5.0 | 0.6 | – | 0.011 | 0.167 | 7.3 | 0.9 | 0.06 | 0.016 |
| SULEV | 0.059 | 2.5 | 0.3 | – | 0.006 | 0.084 | 3.7 | 0.45 | 0.06 | 0.008 |
| MDV4, 8501-10,000 lbs | ||||||||||
| Tier 1 | 0.46 | 5.5 | 1.3 | – | 0.028 | 0.66 | 8.1 | 1.81 | 0.12 | – |
| LEV | 0.230 | 5.5 | 0.7 | – | 0.028 | 0.330 | 8.1 | 1.0 | 0.12 | 0.040 |
| ULEV | 0.138 | 5.5 | 0.7 | – | 0.014 | 0.197 | 8.1 | 1.0 | 0.06 | 0.021 |
| SULEV | 0.069 | 2.8 | 0.35 | – | 0.007 | 0.100 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 0.06 | 0.010 |
| MDV5, 10,001-14,000 lbs | ||||||||||
| Tier 1 | 0.60 | 7.0 | 2.0 | – | – | 0.86 | 10.3 | 2.77 | 0.12 | – |
| LEV | 0.300 | 7.0 | 1.0 | – | 0.036 | 0.430 | 10.3 | 1.5 | 0.12 | 0.052 |
| ULEV | 0.180 | 7.0 | 1.0 | – | 0.018 | 0.257 | 10.3 | 1.5 | 0.06 | 0.026 |
| SULEV | 0.090 | 3.5 | 0.5 | – | 0.009 | 0.130 | 5.2 | 0.7 | 0.06 | 0.013 |
| a – NMHC for all Tier 1 standards Abbreviations: MDV – medium-duty vehicle (the maximum GVW from 8,500 to 14,000 lbs). The MDV category is divided into five classes, MDV1 .. MDV5, based on vehicle test weight. The definition of “test weight” in California is identical to the Federal ALVW. NMOG – non-methane organic gases HCHO – formaldehyde |
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| Standard | Model Year | Vehicle Categories | NOx | NMOG | CO | PM | HCHO | Air Pollution Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ULEV I diesel | 2001-2006 | LDV, LDT1 | 0.30 | 0.055 | 2.1 | 0.04 | 0.011 | 3 |
| ULEV I | 2001-2006 | LDV, LDT1 | 0.30 | 0.055 | 2.1 | n/a | 0.011 | 3 |
| SULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV2 | 0.30 | 0.072 | 3.2 | 0.05 | 0.006 | 2 |
| LEV I diesel | 2001-2006 | LDV, LDT1 | 0.30 | 0.090 | 4.2 | 0.08 | 0.018 | 2 |
| LEV I | 2001-2006 | LDV, LDT1 | 0.30 | 0.090 | 4.2 | n/a | 0.018 | 2 |
| ILEV | – | LDV, LDT1 | 0.30 | 0.090 | 4.2 | 0.08 | – | 2 |
| ULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV2 | 0.30 | 0.107 | 2.5 | 0.04 | 0.012 | 2 |
| LEV I | 2001-2006 | LDV, LDT1 | 0.30 | 0.156/0.31 | 4.2 | 0.08 | – | 2 |
| SULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV3 | 0.45 | 0.084 | 3.7 | 0.06 | 0.008 | 2 |
| ULEV I diesel | 2001-2006 | MDV2 | 0.50 | 0.070 | 2.8 | 0.05 | 0.013 | 2 |
| ULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV2 | 0.50 | 0.070 | 2.8 | n/a | 0.013 | 2 |
| SULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV4 | 0.50 | 0.100 | 4.1 | 0.06 | 0.010 | 2 |
| ILEV | – | LDT2 | 0.50 | 0.130 | 5.5 | 0.08 | – | 1 |
| LEV I diesel | 2001-2006 | LDT2 | 0.50 | 0.130 | 5.5 | 0.10 | 0.023 | 1 |
| LEV I | 2001-2006 | LDT2 | 0.50 | 0.130 | 5.5 | n/a | 0.023 | 1 |
| ULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV2 | 0.60 | 0.143 | 6.4 | 0.05 | 0.013 | 1 |
| TLEV I diesel | 2001-2003 | LDV, LDT1 | 0.60 | 0.156 | 4.2 | 0.08 | 0.018 | 1 |
| TLEV I | 2001-2003 | LDV, LDT1 | 0.60 | 0.156 | 4.2 | n/a | 0.018 | 1 |
| LEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV2 | 0.60 | 0.230 | 6.4 | 0.10 | 0.027 | 1 |
| SULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV5 | 0.70 | 0.130 | 5.2 | 0.06 | 0.013 | 1 |
| ULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV3 | 0.90 | 0.167 | 7.3 | 0.06 | 0.016 | 1 |
| TLEV I diesel | 2001-2006 | LDT2 | 0.90 | 0.200 | 5.5 | 0.10 | 0.023 | 1 |
| TLEV I | 2001-2006 | LDT2 | 0.90 | 0.200 | 5.5 | n/a | 0.023 | 1 |
| LEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV3 | 0.90 | 0.280 | 7.3 | 0.12 | 0.032 | 0 |
| ULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV4 | 1.00 | 0.197 | 8.1 | 0.06 | 0.021 | 0 |
| LEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV4 | 1.00 | 0.330 | 8.1 | 0.12 | 0.040 | 0 |
| ULEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV5 | 1.50 | 0.197 | 10.3 | 0.06 | 0.026 | 0 |
| LEV I | 2001-2006 | MDV5 | 1.50 | 0.430 | 10.3 | 0.12 | 0.052 | 0 |
- LEV – Low Emission Vehicle
- TLEV – Transitional Low-Emission Vehicle
- SULEV – Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
Note: See the California vehicle definitions page for information on vehicle categories referred to above.
