Emissions & gases

Zero emission

Zero emission usually describes a vehicle or activity with no emissions at the point of use, such as no tailpipe CO2 from a battery electric vehicle. In EV policy, the phrase often refers to tailpipe emissions. A battery electric vehicle does not emit CO2 or NOx from an exhaust while driving because it has no combustion exhaust. That does not mean the complete lifecycle has zero emissions. Vehicle manufacturing, electricity generation and other upstream activities can still produce greenhouse-gas emissions. Use ZEV when referring to a formal zero-emission vehicle classification.