SAN JOSE, Calif. – Imagine cars so clean that their tailpipe emissions contain less pollution than the air around some California freeways.

They’re not hybrids, the media darlings of the environmentally correct.

Rather, they’re clean air’s best-kept secret: 31 familiar gas-burning 2004 models that have met a strict new California pollution standard. The Honda Accord, Ford Focus, BMW 325i and Volkswagen Jetta are among the “PZEVs,” which stands for “partial zero-emission vehicles.”

The cars are cleaner because they have a repositioned and more efficient catalytic converter, different tuning and a more leakproof fuel system.

“PZEVs are potentially more significant than hybrids simply because of the number of them that will be on the road,” said Jim Motavelli, editor of E magazine and the book “Forward Drive: The Race to Build the Clean Car of the Future.”

Compared with the basic standards for most cars sold in California, PZEVs put out 90 percent less hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.

They have zero evaporative emissions, the fumes that seep from auto engines and cause smog.

And they must have a 15-year or 150,000-mile warranty for the emissions systems to qualify for the PZEV standard, so owners have an incentive to maintain them.

The new cars leading the clean-air trend are so anonymous that thousands of people buying them – from the Subaru Legacy to the Toyota Camry – don’t even realize they are driving some of the cleanest vehicles ever made.

few drivers are noticing.

Jason Chan of Fremont, a 19-year-old computer student at Mission College, got a 2003 Ford Focus, one of the first cars to meet the PZEV standard, last May.

“I knew it was a PZEV,” he said. “I knew what that meant. To be honest, I was afraid it might compromise the power. But my car actually has more torque and power than older-model Focuses. I’m surprised they could do it.”

Chan said his car leaves his friends vehicles’ in the dust.

“I’m amazed at how well this engine performs. And how it can be so clean,” he said. “I love this car.”

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CALIFORNIA AUTO-POLLUTION STANDARDS

California has the strictest air-pollution standards for new vehicles in the United States. When automakers sell hybrids or very clean gasoline-burning cars, they earn credits toward their requirement to make a small percentage of zero-emission vehicles. The categories:

LEV: Low Emission Vehicles. The basic, least stringent emission standard for all new cars sold in California in 2004 and beyond.

ULEV: Ultra Low Emission Vehicles are 50 percent cleaner than the average new 2004 model year vehicle.

SULEV: Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles are 90 percent cleaner than the average new 2004 model year vehicle.

PZEV: Partial Zero Emission Vehicles meet SULEV tailpipe emission standards, have a 15-year or 150,000-mile warranty on some parts and have zero evaporative emissions. More than 30 models now meet this standard, including some Ford Focus, Honda Accord and BMW 325i models.

AT PZEV: Advanced Technology PZEVs. These are hybrids or compressed natural gas vehicles that meet PZEV emission standards. Examples include the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight.

ZEV: Zero Emission Vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions. They include electric cars and fuel cell cars. Because of high cost and technology challenges, very few exist.

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Pickup trucks, SUVs and vans have until 2008 to comply with the passenger car standards.

2004 cars that meet the PZEV standard:

BMW: 325Ci Coupe 325i Sedan and Sports Wagon

Daimler Chrysler Sebring: Sedan

Dodge Stratus: Sedan SXT

Ford Focus: LX and SE sedans, SE Wagon ZTS Sedan ZTW Wagon ZX3 and ZX5

Hyundai Elantra: GLS 2.0L

Honda Accord: LX and EX Sedans

Mazda: Mazda 3

Mitsubishi Galant: De and ES 2.4L

Nissan: Altima 2.5, 2.5S and 2.5SL Sentra 1.8 and 1.8S

Subaru Legacy: 2.5 GT Sedan and Wagon L Sedan and Wagon/35th Anniversary Edition Outback Limited Sedan and Wagon

Toyota Camry: LE, SE and XLE

Volkswagen Jetta: GL and GLS 2.0L sedans

Volvo: 2.4 S60 Sedan 2.4 V70 Wagon

Source: California Air Resources Board

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(c) 2004, San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.).

Visit MercuryNews.com, the World Wide Web site of the Mercury News, at http://www.mercurynews.com.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

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ARCHIVE PHOTOS on KRT Direct (from KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): 2004 Dodge Stratus SXT, 2004 Mazda 3 hatchback, 2004 Mitsubishi Galant, 2004 Toyota Camry

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