The California Department of General Services (DGS) released directions for State agencies as to how they should implement the zero-emissions (ZEV) vehicles requirements specified by California Governor Jerry Brown’s executive order B-16-12. DGS' directions outline the three-year implementation plan that State agencies must submit to DGS’ Office of Fleet and Asset Management (OFAM) when those agencies want to purchase new fleet vehicles.

The executive order requires that at least 10% of new fleet vehicle purchases of light-duty vehicles be ZEVs by 2015, and that at least 25% of fleet purchases of light-duty vehicles be ZEVs by 2020. Vehicles that have functions specific to protecting public safety and welfare are exempt from this rule, according to the DGS memo.

The implementation plan outlined by DGS requires State agencies to evaluate and detail in their respective plans all possible opportunities to transition away from using larger vehicles and begin incorporating ZEVs whenever practical. It also requires agencies to identify parking locations for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), work with the entity operating those facilities to develop timelines for installing charging stations, describe the number of ZEVs the agency plans to acquire annually, and include estimates of the number of non-ZEV light-duty vehicles they plan to acquire during the next three fiscal years. Agencies must also, where applicable, describe any special performance characteristics of these vehicles that are necessary to protect public safety and welfare.

The deadline for each agency to submit their three-year ZEV implementation plan is June 30, 2013.