Colorado Officials Announce Agreement to Deliver More Electric Vehicles on Colorado Roads

DENVER — Tuesday, July 30, 2019 – Following more than six months of collaborative conversations and negotiation, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Global Automakers have reached a consensus agreement on a proposed Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulation. The parties are jointly submitting this joint alternative regulatory proposal to the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) for consideration. If approved by the AQCC, it will accelerate availability of ZEV options for Colorado consumers beginning next January while also ensuring a smooth transition into the program for automakers.

If adopted, the joint alternative regulatory proposal would make Colorado the first state in roughly a decade to enter into the ZEV program, and the first ever to do so through a negotiated rulemaking with industry.  

Under the agreement, the parties propose a ZEV standard with provisions for credits to transition into the program and provide incentives for early sales. All other states adopting the ZEV program over the past fifteen years have included credit bank provisions.  The joint alternative regulatory proposal also includes an early action credit option to make more vehicles available to Coloradans sooner and some limitations on the use of credits, designed to ensure greater ZEV sales in Colorado. Under federal law, the rule does not go into effect for two  years, but this early action option will incentivize greater model availability as soon as January 2020.

“Coloradans’ travel needs are as diverse as our landscape, and it is important that consumers have a broad range of highly energy-efficient options when selecting a vehicle,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “The electric vehicle market is maturing rapidly as automakers invest in more electrified models, and this agreement will ensure that Coloradans have access to the range of clean car choices that are increasingly available to consumers in other states.” 

Colorado has already taken action to support a market for electrified vehicles, including offering consumer incentives, more charging stations, and plans for government purchases of electric vehicles.

“Our collaborative efforts in Colorado build on months of hard work and discussion,” said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. “The result of having the two major associations of automobile manufacturers supporting our resulting joint alternative regulatory proposal is unprecedented and a testament to the success of our careful analysis and collaboration.” 

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and Global Automakers, are submitting the joint consensus proposal on behalf of all of their members, who represent about 99 percent of light duty vehicle sales in Colorado.