California Cuts Zero-Emission Vehicle Goals | Zero-Emissions Goals Now Reduced in California

California Not Quite There, Cuts Zero-Emission Vehicle Goals

March 31, 2008 7:47 pm Nadia Cars and Transport, Environment, In the News, Issues

Zero-Emissions Goals Reduced in California
California Cuts Zero-Emission Vehicle Goals
Automakers will be relieved to hear that California has adjusted its goal to cut the number of zero-emissions vehicles on the road by 2014. Environmentalists are not so happy about the decision.

The new rules reduced the number of cars using electric and hydrogen fuel-cell technology that need to be on the road to 7,500, a 70 percent cut from five years ago.

Why Change the Zero-Emissions Goals?

The Air Resources Board that voted to reduce the goals cut the zero-emission vehicles tried to make up for it with the alternative of gas-electric hybrids. Auto manufacturers claimed they could not meet the strict standards California was imposing on them and therefore needed more time to create affordable hydrogen and electric vehicles.

The six largest automakers need to sell around 60,000 plug-in hybrids in California while they develop the technology to mass produce zero-emissions cars. General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan are among those that must comply with the new rules.

According to chairperson Mary Nichols, the board’s decision still moves in the direction of having cleaner cars on the road. “[The plug-in hybrid is] a whole new category of vehicles,” said Nichols. “I don’t think it’s a step backwards at all.”

How California’s Vehicle Goals Affect Other States

This decision could affect 12 other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida and Utah, that adopted California’s zero-emission target.

Vehicles analyst Spencer Quong from the Union of Concerned Scientists said, “we are disappointed. We think this proposal doesn’t take us on the road to meeting the state’s long-term global warming goals.”

California started its zero-emission policy in 1990 as part of an on-going effort to reduce smog emissions like nitrogen oxide. Ten percent of new cars sold in the state needed to be nonpolluting by 2003. Hybrids and hydrogen cars are now acceptable in the state’s mandate, but the rules have been revised four times since its inception. These new rules lower the requirements further, although the hope for the future rests in the ability of lawmakers and automakers to compromise on a deadline instead of continuing to push back the dates.

Check out more on California’s revision of zero-emissions cars here.

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