ZEV & HYBRID FIRST PURCHASING MANDATE FOR MEDIUM- AND HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES - 4121.9-FEB-2020
- ZEV & Hybrid-Electric Alternative Fuel Vehicle First Purchasing Mandate for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
As of July 1, 2020, state agencies are required to prioritize purchasing of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) (including Battery Electric, Fuel Cell, and Plug-In Hybrid) and Hybrid-Electric Alternative Fuel Vehicles (Hybrid AFVs), in designated medium- and heavy-duty vehicle categories where programmatically feasible.
These purchases shall be prioritized over medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that are powered solely by internal combustion engines utilizing fossil fuels and flex-fuel vehicles or bi-fuel vehicles powered by petroleum-based fuels and other alternative fuels, such as ethanol. Designated medium- and heavy-duty vehicle categories subject to this policy are listed on the Department of General Services (DGS), Office of Fleet and Asset Management’s (OFAM) website (https://www.dgs.ca.gov/-/media/Divisions/OFAM/FAMS_FARS/Vehicle-Categories-subject-to-MD-and-HD-ZEV-First-Mandate.pdf).
When submitting a Fleet Acquisition Plan (FAP) to DGS for the acquisition of additional or replacement vehicles, as mandated in SAM Section 4120, state agencies shall select vehicles in medium- and heavy-duty categories subject to this policy based on the following priority structure:
Priority 1: Pure ZEVs (Battery Electric & Fuel Cell Vehicles)
Priority 2: Plug-in Hybrid ZEVs
Priority 3: Hybrid AFVs
Priority 4: Internal Combustion and Bi/Flex-Fuel Vehicles
If requesting a vehicle subject to this policy in a Priority level other than Pure ZEV, agencies must be able to sufficiently demonstrate and justify why their programmatic transportation requirements could not be satisfied with a vehicle from each higher Priority level. Each requested drop in Priority level must be fully justified in accordance with criteria outlined in Section C. ZEV & Hybrid AFV Priority Level Exemptions for Medium-and Heavy-duty Vehicle Categories.
This requirement does not apply to requests for vehicles with special performance requirements necessary for the protection of public safety and welfare as outlined in SAM Section 4121.4.
- ZEV & Hybrid AFV Acquisition Planning for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
To account for the time necessary to plan for and install the requisite charging/fueling infrastructure to support new medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs, DGS has created a medium- and heavy-duty ZEV acquisition planning schedule. The ZEV acquisition planning schedule allows state agencies to plan for appropriate charging and fueling infrastructure by setting the vehicle classes that will be subject to the medium- and heavy-duty ZEV purchasing requirements, two years in advance.
Accordingly, in fiscal year (FY) 2019-20, DGS will establish a list of designated medium- and heavy-duty vehicle categories subject to the ZEV and Hybrid AFV First Purchasing Mandate for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles policy, which will be valid for three fiscal years, or until June 30, 2022.
By July 1, 2020, DGS will establish a new list of designated medium- and heavy-duty vehicle categories subject to the ZEV and Hybrid AFV First Purchasing Mandate for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, which will be valid for FY 2022-23.
By July 1st of each year, thereafter, DGS will publish new designated medium- and heavy-duty vehicle categories subject to the ZEV and Hybrid AFV First Purchasing Mandate for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, which be valid for the FY two years from the creation of the applicable list.
Medium- and Heavy-duty ZEV Acquisition Planning Schedule
Year Designated Medium- and Heavy-duty Vehicle Category List Was Created
Fiscal Year the Designated Vehicle Category List Applies to
2019-20
2019-20
2019-20
2020-21
2019-20
2021-22
2020-21
2022-23
2021-22
2023-24
2022-23
2024-25
- ZEV & Hybrid AFV Priority Level Exemptions for Medium- and Heavy-duty Vehicle Categories
Agencies requesting exemptions from ZEV and Hybrid AFV Priority levels must submit justifications and/or certifications, in accordance with the guidelines below, with the agency’s FAP for each vehicle being exempted. To be approved for exemption from a Priority level, vehicles must meet one of the exemption criteria listed for that Priority level and agencies must provide the certification and/or justification required for that specific exemption.
Priority 1: Pure ZEVs (Battery Electric & Fuel Cell Vehicles)
Exemptions
- Range Limitation Exemptions (for Battery Electric Vehicles only):
- Range Limitations for non-Specialized Vehicles: vehicle requested is used more than 72 times in a 12-month period, or 36 times in a 3-month period, for trips lasting less than 24 hours that exceed 75 percent of the mileage range of the Pure ZEV on the statewide vehicle contract in that vehicle category, or;
- Range Limitations for Specialized Vehicles: vehicle requested has been modified or configured for a specialized function, preventing the use of a temporary vehicle to perform its function, and is used at least once in the previous 12-month period for trips lasting less than 24 hours that that exceed 75 percent of the mileage range of the Pure ZEV on the statewide vehicle contract, or;
- Inability to Install Necessary Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure: it has been determined that the installation of EV charging infrastructure is not feasible at the site where the vehicle(s) will be domiciled.
- Charging/Fueling Availability Exemptions for Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles:
- Onsite Charging Availability Exemption (for Battery Electric Vehicles only): until June 30, 2021, vehicle requested will not have appropriate onsite charging infrastructure to support it, or;
- Charging/Fueling Availability Exemptions for non-Specialized Vehicles: vehicle requested is used more than 72 times in a 12-month period, or 36 times in a 3-month period, for trips lasting more than 24 hours in locations with limited and/or unreliable fueling/charging stations, or;
- Charging/Fueling Availability Exemptions for Specialized Vehicles: vehicle requested has been modified or configured for a specialized function, preventing the use of a temporary vehicle to perform its function, and is used at least once in the previous 12-month period for trips lasting more than 24 hours in locations with limited and/or unreliable fueling/charging stations, or;
- Operational Ability for Battery Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles: vehicle requested has a certain operational use case or need that prevents the use of one of the Pure ZEVs on the statewide vehicle contract. Examples of acceptable use cases or operational needs that would prevent the use of a Pure ZEV are:
- Need for high towing capabilities
- Operation in extreme weather environments
- Operation in mountainous terrain
- Large cargo/passenger/payload capacity need
- Vehicle equipped with Power Take Off (PTO)
Required Certifications/Justifications
- Range Limitations for Battery Electric Vehicles Only:
- Until June 30, 2021, state agencies shall submit Directorate level certification, to be included on the FAP Certification, that the vehicle(s) being requested meets one of the two range limitation exemptions for Pure ZEVs.
- Beginning July 1, 2021, state agencies shall submit vehicle usage reports demonstrating that the vehicle(s) requested met the range limitation exemptions for Pure ZEVs. If the exemption being requested is for Specialized Vehicles, state agencies shall also submit a description of the modification and/or configuration that prevents the use of a temporary vehicle to perform its function in situations where longer range is needed.
- Inability to Install Necessary EV Charging Infrastructure:
- State agencies shall submit a DGS OS-1 form with their FAP that indicates that the installation of EV charging infrastructure at the current domicile site for the requested vehicle(s) is not feasible.
- State agencies shall certify on DGS OFAM-161 B (Fleet Acquisition Certification) that there is no publicly available infrastructure in the area that could be accessed to support the vehicle(s) requested for exemption.
- Charging/Fueling Availability Exemptions:
- Until June 30, 2021, state agencies shall submit Directorate level certification, to be included on the FAP Certification, that the vehicle(s) being requested meets one of the three charging/fueling limitation exemptions for Pure ZEVs.
- Beginning July 1, 2021, state agencies shall submit vehicle usage reports demonstrating that the vehicle(s) requested met one of the charging/fueling availability exemptions for Pure ZEVs. If the exemption being requested is for Specialized Vehicles, state agencies shall also submit a description of the modification and/or configuration that prevents the use of a temporary vehicle to perform its function in situations where charging/fueling infrastructure is not available.
- Operational Ability Exemption:
- Until June 30, 2021, state agencies shall submit Directorate level certification, to be included on the FAP Certification, that the vehicle(s) being requested has a use case or operational need that cannot be met by one of the Pure ZEVs available on the statewide vehicle contract.
- Beginning July 1, 2021, state agencies shall submit narrative justifications or telematics reports, demonstrating that the vehicle(s) requested has an operational use case and need that cannot be met by one of the Pure ZEVs available on the statewide vehicle contract.
Priority 2: Plug-in Hybrid ZEVs
Exemptions
- Operational Ability for Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle: vehicle requested has a certain operational use case or need that prevents the use of one of the Plug-in Hybrid ZEVs on the statewide vehicle contract. Examples of acceptable use cases or operational needs that would prevent the use of a Plug-in Hybrid ZEV are:
- High towing capabilities
- Large cargo/passenger capacity need
- Inability to Install the Necessary EV Charging Infrastructure: it has been determined that the installation of EV charging infrastructure is not feasible at the site where the vehicle(s) will be domiciled.
Required Certifications/Justifications
- Operational Ability Exemption:
- Until June 30, 2021, state agencies shall submit Directorate level certification, to be included on the FAP Certification, that the vehicle(s) being requested has a use case or operational need that cannot be met by one of the Plug-in Hybrid ZEVs available on the statewide vehicle contract.
- Beginning July 1, 2021, state agencies shall submit narrative justifications or telematics reports, demonstrating that the vehicle(s) requested has an operational use case and need that cannot be met by one of the Plug-in Hybrid ZEVs available on the statewide vehicle contract.
- Inability to Install the Necessary EV Charging Infrastructure:
- State agencies shall submit a DGS OS-1 form with their FAP that indicates that the installation of EV charging infrastructure at the current domicile site for the requested vehicle(s) is not feasible.
- State agencies shall certify on the OFAM-161 B (Fleet Acquisition Certification) that there is no publicly available infrastructure in the area that could be accessed to support the vehicles requested for exemption.
Priority 3: Hybrid AFVs
Exemptions
- Operational Ability for Hybrid AFVs: vehicle requested has a certain operational use case or need that prevents the use of one of the Hybrid AFVs on the statewide vehicle contract. Examples of acceptable use cases or operational needs that would prevent the use of a Hybrid AFV are:
- High towing capabilities
- Large cargo/passenger capacity need
- Environmental Impact: vehicle requested has a higher U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions score (1 through 10 scale, with 10 being the best) than the contracted Hybrid AFVs in that vehicle category.
Required Certifications/Justifications
- Operational Ability Exemption:
- Until June 30, 2021, state agencies shall submit Directorate level certification, to be included on the FAP Certification, that the vehicle(s) being requested has a use case or operational need that cannot be met by one of the Hybrid AFVs available on the statewide vehicle contract.
- Beginning July 1, 2021, state agencies shall submit narrative justifications or telematics reports, demonstrating that the vehicle(s) requested has an operational use case and need that cannot be met by one of the Hybrid AFVs available on the statewide vehicle contract.
- Comparison of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fuel Economy and GHG Emissions score for the requested vehicle to the EPA score of the comparable Hybrid AFVs on the statewide vehicle contract. EPA Fuel Economy and GHG Emissions scores can be found by:
- Use the “Find a Car” feature on the U.S. Department of Energy Website (https://www.fueleconomy.gov/) to look up the vehicle for which you would like the score.
- Once at the vehicle’s information page, click on the “Energy and Environment” tab to find the GHG Emissions score.