ARTICLE 1. Low-Emission Motor Vehicles [43800. - 43806.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 1.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 43800. Section 43800.

As used in this article, “low-emission motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle which has been certified by the state board to meet all applicable emission standards and which meets at least one of the following additional requirements: (a) Is capable of operating on methanol, as determined by the state board, and will have an adverse impact on ambient ozone air quality not greater than a vehicle which meets the requirements of subdivision (c). (b) Is capable of operating on any available fuel other than gasoline or diesel and, in the determination of the state board, will have an adverse impact on ambient ozone air quality not greater than a vehicle operating on methanol. (c) Operates exclusively on gasoline and is certified to meet a hydrocarbon exhaust emission standard which is at least twice as stringent as otherwise applicable to gasoline vehicles of the same year and class. (d) Is capable, in the case of a heavy-duty diesel vehicle, of meeting standards for either oxides of nitrogen or particulate matter that are twice as stringent as otherwise applicable.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 43801. Section 43801.

The Legislature finds and declares that emission of air pollutants from motor vehicles is a major contributor to air pollution within the State of California and, therefore, declares its policy to encourage the development and testing of various types of low-emission motor vehicles, which would contribute substantially to achieving a pure and healthy atmosphere for the people of this state.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 43802. Section 43802.

Low-emission motor vehicles shall be submitted to the state board for testing to determine if such vehicle meets the standard set forth in Section 43800.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 43803. Section 43803.

For each vehicle identified by the state board as a low-emission motor vehicle, the Department of General Services, in consultation with the state board and the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, shall determine if the low-emission motor vehicle meets all of the following requirements: (a) The vehicle can be manufactured or obtained in sufficient numbers for the purpose of proper evaluation. (b) The vehicle meets the performance needs for state vehicles. (c) The cost of the vehicle does not exceed by more than 100 percent the average cost of comparable state vehicles purchased in the preceding fiscal year. (d) If the vehicle is purchased by the state, there would be a sufficient number of servicing and maintenance outlets. (e) The average operating and maintenance costs for the vehicle are comparable to the average operating and maintenance costs for all other state passenger vehicles. In no event, however, shall the average operating and maintenance costs for the vehicle exceed the average costs of operating and maintaining all other state vehicles by more than 50 percent.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 43804. Section 43804.

(a) If a low-emission motor vehicle meets the requirements of this chapter and the performance, cost, service, and maintenance requirements adopted by the Department of General Services for such motor vehicles, and if funds are appropriated for the purpose of purchasing motor vehicles, the state shall purchase, beginning with the next fiscal year, as many of such low-emission motor vehicles as the Department of General Services determines are reasonable and available to meet state needs. (b) If a sufficient number of low-emission motor vehicles are available, the percentage of all such motor vehicles to be purchased in that year shall not be less than 25 percent of all motor vehicles purchased by the state in the preceding fiscal year. In purchasing vehicles pursuant to this section, the state shall seek to acquire a mix of least polluting and least cost qualifying low-emission motor vehicles.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 43805. Section 43805.

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following motor vehicles: (a) Patrol cars of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. (b) Any motor vehicle classified as a special-purpose vehicle by the Department of General Services.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 43806. Section 43806.

On or before January 1, 1993, the state board shall adopt emission standards and procedures applicable to new engines used in publicly owned and privately owned public transit buses, and shall make the standards and procedures effective on or before January 1, 1996. The standards shall consider the engine and fuel as a system and shall reflect the use of the best emission control technologies expected to be available at the time the standards and procedures become effective. In adopting standards, the state board shall consider the projected costs and availability of cleaner burning alternative fuels and low-emission vehicles compared with other air pollution control measures.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026