What Does the Low Emission Car Sign Mean?

I came across a new sign in a parking lot yesterday that caught my attention. It seemed pretty straightforward until I started things about the meaning of the sign. And after doing some internet research, I became thoroughly confused. 

What is a low emission vehicle? 

I did some research. In my mind I was thinking about hybrid vehicles, perhaps. But would the designation low emission include electric vehicles? It should since they have no emissions, right? 

I expected to find a fairly restrictive list of vehicles. As I searched, it quickly became apparent that many, if not most, newer vehicles meet the requirements as a low emission car. Even more exciting, there are multiple lists. 

Apparently the most definitive list is at GreenCars.  I did find another list as well at another site. They do not appear to be the same. I did not find any electric vehicles on the second list. 

Turns out that most new vehicles meet the requirements for low emissions. I found many hybrids and even my favorite electric cars on the lists as well, but the numbers and types of cars which meet the requirement for low emission vehicles is much larger than I ever would have imagined. 

While the large number of vehicles assessed to be low emissions is a good thing, I did not find any of the vehicles I own on the list. 

So check out the list of low emission vehicles because you may, through no fault of your own, have one and can use one of these newly designated parking spots. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD