SACRAMENTO, California — The California Air Resources Board on Thursday voted to require major automakers to build more low-emissions cars such as plug-in hybrids. At the same time, the regulators slashed by 70 percent the number of emissions-free vehicles automakers must sell in California in the three years beginning in 2012.

Previously, the seven largest automakers — Chrysler, Ford, Honda, General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen — had been required to produce and sell 25,000 vehicles that emit no tailpipe emissions between 2012 and 2014. The California regulators revised that to 7,500 zero-emissions vehicles.

"Automakers can produce fewer ZEVs, 5,357, if they are long-range fuel-cell vehicles or they can opt to satisfy the requirement by manufacturing 12,500 battery electric vehicles with a range of 100 miles," CARB said in a statement. "The board maintained a second component of the vehicle emissions reduction program that allows the automakers flexibility in their alternative fuel programs by requiring an additional 66,000 plug-in hybrids during that same period."

The controversial move was seen in some quarters as too lenient. The California regulators acknowledged that the development of emissions-free vehicles such as hydrogen fuel cells is lagging. Even before the vote, Tesla Motors, which builds a $100,000 all-electric vehicle, warned that changes "weaken the intended purpose of the zero-emissions mandate, if not make a mockery of CARB itself.

"I assure you that Tesla Motors is in production of road-worthy fully certified battery-powered ZEVs," wrote Tesla Motors President and CEO Ze'ev Drori in an open letter to the California regulators, which was posted Monday on the company's Web site. "I would like to emphasize that these cars are neither a 'pipe dream' nor are they exotic one-of-a-kind creations. We have designed, developed and produced, without benefit of any state or federal aid, a remarkable and commercially viable battery-powered zero-emissions automobile. What's more, we are currently ramping up production that will reach an annual rate in excess of 1,800 cars."

The California regulators insisted that the decision "will lead to more green auto choices for consumers now, while keeping the pressure on the automotive engineers to continue fine-tuning the technologies that will yield an all-electric-drive vehicle fleet for California in the near future."

The zero-emissions program started in 1990 with the goal of reducing smog. The program's initial target was to require that 10 percent of vehicles sold in California be non-polluting by 2003, but that goal was not met.

What this means to you: Looks like Californians will be battling global warming in a plug-in hybrid, not a ZEV, in the near future. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent

from edmunds:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=125370

 

If these politicians think this is so easy, why don't they just build these cars themselves for crying out loud. Since they believe the market is there and it is easier DONE than said (not a mistype), then logically shouldn't they just invent them themselves and make a fortune at the same time? I'm glad I don't live there and I feel sorry for you guys that have to deal with this garbage.

 

Ahhh the left coast. For all the normal folks... I feel for you[&o] but they have made it what it is. Wonder what the price tag on that Zev is. Go for it Cali and to all who are normal americans MOVE! Leave them to their own "de vices".

 

Just like ethanol and everthing else...