State deals blow to zero-emission vehicle supporters - Los Angeles Times They'll be required to make more plug-ins. So the largest car companies will have to make/sell/lease 7500 EV/hydrogens by 2014 instead of 25,000 by 2012 as stated by the previous rules, but carmakers(I'm not sure if all of them or just one company) will be called to make 58,000 plug-ins in the same period where none were required before. Good compromise? I think the price of oil will affect this issue than any toothless mandate set by CARB.
Here's the CNN.com version of the story: California lowers goal for zero-emission vehicles - CNN.com And, here's the original CARB press release: Press Release: 2008-02-27 ARB approves $200 million for Cleaner School Buses from Proposition 1B Funding (The title of the link shown is wrong. But the link does work, and the title really is "ARB passes new ZEV amendment") And, here's the summary that spells the new requirements out (as clearly as possible, given the different sets of options in the mix): http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/zevreview/summary.pdf So, how should we interpret this? If it really is a concession to the automakers, then does it also mean PHEV's are for real now? Another question I have, related to this, is - Has there ever been a requirement issued by the CARB that has held up over time and was evantually met? After reading the CARB "Fact Sheet" (http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/factsheets/2008zevfacts.pdf) I think the answer is - Probably Not. Please do tell :ear: if that is not accurate. Don't get me wrong - I totally agree with the objectives of CARB, and I do believe the government should be playing a role here. However, I think I have to I agree with the OP that price of oil is... and will continue to be the strongest driving force.
Re: CARB cutes ZEV quotas, but... CARB with all its good intentions, when it comes to automobiles in the car crazy state of california, i fail to see why they even try.
Re: CARB cutes ZEV quotas, but... For an agency that has no teeth to truly enforce its edicts, I guess trying is better than not trying. And when companies don't comply, then environmental groups might use private lawyers to sue the companies to follow the mandates. So redirecting the CARB mandates is the strategy de jour used by car companies in anticipation of not meeting the requirements.
