Autonomous vehicles: zero emissions.

Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle being operated if the manufacturer meets prescribed requirements, including the submission of an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with specified certifications regarding the features of the autonomous vehicle, among other things. Existing law provides for various programs to promote the use of zero-emission vehicles, including the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, which was established by the State Air Resources Board as a part of the Air Quality Improvement Program, to promote the use of zero-emission vehicles by providing rebates for the purchase of new zero-emission vehicles, and the Charge Ahead California Initiative, which establishes various goals, including the goal of placing in service at least 1,000,000 zero-emission and near-zero-emission vehicles by January 1, 2023. This bill, commencing January 1, 2030, and to the extent authorized by federal law, would prohibit the operation of certain new autonomous vehicles that are not zero-emission vehicles, as defined. The bill would also prohibit the DMV from commencing rulemaking for the adoption of regulations implementing this provision until January 1, 2027.