Definition 1
Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) means a vehicle that emits less than [75g] of CO2 per kilometre travelled as measured by the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
Definition 2
Electric Vehicle (EV) means a vehicle that is capable of being propelled by electrical power derived from a storage battery.
Definition 3
Zero and Low Emission Vehicle (ZLEV) means a car or [Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)] which emits [0 to 50g] of CO2 per kilometre as measured by the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
Definition 4
Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) means a vehicle used for the carriage of goods that has a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
Definition 5
Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) means a vehicle which emits 0g of CO2 per kilometre as measured by the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP).
Drafting notes and guidance
Since 2018, vehicle emissions in the UK and across the EU for new car registrations have been measured using the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). This was specified as the current European type approval test in Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 and was brought into UK law by The Road Vehicles (Defeat Devices, Fuel Economy and Type-Approval) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/673).
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) applies different CO2 standards to different types of vehicles (that is: cars, vans, motorbikes, mopeds and taxis). Depending on the type of vehicle that is relevant to the contract, you may need to amend the level of CO2 in the definition to reflect the relevant standards.
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV)
Different types of ULEVs include:
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) – which have a battery that is charged when connected to the electricity grid and switch between running on electricity and fossil fuels.
- Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) – which do not plug into the electricity grid, have a much smaller battery which is recharged while driving and switch between running on electricity and fossil fuels.
- Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), or ‘all-electric’ vehicles – which use a battery as their only power source.
- Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) – which generate their own electricity onboard from a fuel such as hydrogen.
- Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV) – which charges wirelessly while moving using inductive charging.
The terms ULEV and EV are sometimes used interchangeably, although ULEVs include ‘pure’ EVs (which have zero tail-pipe emissions) and hybrid models (which combine an electric motor with a combustion engine).
Electric Vehicle (EV)
The terms ULEV and EV are sometimes used interchangeably, although note that ULEVs include:
- ‘pure’ EVs (which have zero tail-pipe emissions); and
- hybrid models (which combine an electric motor with a combustion engine).