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It is normal in environmental policy to divide the polluters into "sources". There is a basic division in sources: point source and non-point source. It is pretty self explanatory but if I'm a "point source" of pollution I can be identified as the point of origin for the pollutant. That allows the policy-maker to draft regulations that make the polluter responsible for their wastes.
Since the ICE of automobiles is an identifiable source of pollution it has been regulated with things like requirements for unleaded gasoline, required technologies (antivent gas tanks) and generalized standards such as mpg minimums.
The idea behind "zero emissions" is that the auto itself is required to meet a generalized standard. If it is "low emissions" that would enable interpretations of the standard that might not result in the intended result. In this case the goal is total elimination of petroleum as a fuel for transportation.
The problem of what to do with coal is separate in the sense of establishing such regulations. For them and the electric sector in general, we attack the problem at their points of origin. It isn't the electricity per se that the auto uses, it is the manner of production of the electricity.
It does confuse the lay debate since the distinction disappears when the common-sensical standard of total emissions is applied.
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