When consumers are looking to purchase a more environmentally-friendly car, they may quickly realize that there are acronyms being used that just don’t make much sense. A few of these popular emissions standards are PZEV, SULEV, ULEV and LEV. Today I’m going to help you navigate the myriad acronyms.

Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV)
Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles are available thanks to California. California has the strongest emissions restrictions in the United States and manufacturers have had to tailor their offerings to meet California’s standards. PZEV vehicles are gasoline engines that are modified to offer the cleanest emissions with no evaporative emissions. Some popular PZEVs are the Honda Civic GX, Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid.

Super Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV)
Super Low Emission Vehicles have anywhere from a 76 to a 97 percent emission reductions over the vehicle’s base model. A car that meets the SULEV standard will have .01 grams/mile hydrocarbon emission, 1.0 grams/mile of carbon monoxide emissions, .02 grams/mile of nitrous oxide and .01 grams/mile of particulate matter emissions. Some Toyota Prius models sold outside of the state of California are SULEVs as opposed to PZEVs. The 2008 BMW 3-Series also meets the SULEV standard.

Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV)
This designation is also a result of the strict California emissions regulations. Some 2008 models that qualify as an ultra low emission vehicle include the Smart Fortwo, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. None of these cars are hybrid models but have reduced their emissions to a level that meets the California requirements for ULEVs.

Low Emission Vehicle (LEV)
The final emission standard being discussed today is the Low Emission Vehicle (LEV). Again, this comes from California and LEVs must have a 50% reduction in emissions. Some LEV vehicles available today include the Mini Cooper, Honda Fit, Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and the Ford F-150.

If you don’t have plans to purchase a hybrid or electric vehicle, you can still green up your driving by purchasing a vehicle that meets one of these emissions standards. When shopping, look for the designation on the window sticker or ask your salesperson about the vehicles emissions rating.

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