Autoblog

REPORT: Jeep Wrangler safe from CARB "Cool Cars" proposal

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler, Jeep

Remember California's "Cool Cars" regulation? Coming into force in 2012, the rule requires manufacturers to install windows that prevent 45% of the sun's energy from entering a vehicle by 2014, and 60% by 2016. It's the law that no one thinks is cool at all. In a minor victory against The Golden State's increasingly severe environmental regulations (and we live there and love it, but still...), the soft-top Jeep Wrangler has reportedly been given an exemption.

Specifically, any flexible plastic window is exempt. Said a CARB representative, "If the plastic windows are rigid, they must comply with the same standards as glass windows, beginning with the 2012 model year." If not for the flexible-window exemption, Chrysler wouldn't have been allowed to sell the Wrangler in California with the soft top because its plastic windows would have been non-compliant. Chrysler's Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) were also threatened, but are now safe from the regulation as well.

As for the other issue -- radio wave interference that degrades GPS and other signals -- CARB said it hasn't found any such problems in its testing. But who knows, now that the Jeep gets a pass, carmakers might just put flexible windows in every car sold in CA ... and how cool would that be?

[Source: The Detroit News]

REPORT: Jeep Wrangler safe from CARB "Cool Cars" proposal originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CA "cool car" regs to kill Jeep Wrangler, interfere with phones, garage openers, ankle bracelets?

Michael Harley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Technology, Chrysler, Jeep

2009 Jeep Wrangler - Click above for high-res image gallery

New "Cool Cars" regulations adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) could put an end to the Jeep Wrangler soft-top sales in the Golden State thanks to standards so stringent that the popular 4x4 won't be able to meet them. According to The Detroit News, CARB's latest controversial initiative requires automakers to build cars and trucks with windows which prevent 45% of the sun's energy from entering a vehicle by 2014, and 60% by 2016. To meet these provisions, vehicle manufacturers will have to utilize advanced window glazing containing microscopic specs of reflective metal oxide.

Coating vehicle glass with a metallic layer wreaks havoc on any vehicle electronic device relying on a clear "view" of the world outside. Garmin, a leading manufacturer of GPS devices, says satellite reception through coated glass will be degraded. In addition, cell phones, wireless laptop devices, garage door openers, and even ankle bracelets for parolees "may be adversely affected by the metallic reflective standard" as they all rely on signals passing cleanly through automotive glass.

For what it's worth, Honda tried utilizing the same technology in Japan two decades ago, yet dropped it due to problems with radio wave devices. We are assured that the Jeep soft-top won't have those problems simply because the technology cannot be applied to flexible plastic windows. Without an exemption for that model, Chrysler will only be allowed to sell hardtop Wrangler vehicles in California.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4x4

[Source: The Detroit News]

CA "cool car" regs to kill Jeep Wrangler, interfere with phones, garage openers, ankle bracelets? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Will it blend? Not if CARB has anything to say about it

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

Will it blend? If the answer is no - as was the case with the boron steel used to create the latest Ford Fiesta - perhaps all that's needed is a more powerful blender (insert appropriate Tim Allen-esque grunting sounds here) complete with handlebars and a twist-grip throttle? Enter the Party Blender, which uses a gas-powered engine in lieu of a standard wimpy plug-in electric motor.

Unless you live in California, that is. Earlier this month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) fined On the Edge Marketing from Orange County and CSK Auto Inc. from Phoenix, Arizona a whopping $240,000 for selling the blenders in the Far-Left State. Says CARB chairperson Mary D. Nichols:

Gasoline-powered blenders may be this year's tailgate sensation, but drinkers should not be polluting our air while having a good time.

So, let's get this straight... gas-powered blenders are A-OK, just so long as they aren't powered by two-stroke engines from China that aren't approved for sale in California? Does this sound strange to anybody else?

[Source: LA Times]

REPORT: Will it blend? Not if CARB has anything to say about it originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EPA reverses decision, approves California's greenhouse gas emissions waiver

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green

The saga of California's greenhouse gas waiver has come to an end with the EPA deciding that the state can indeed enforce its own GHG emissions standards for new motor vehicles. This means that, at least between now (with current model year vehicles) and when the 2012 MY vehicles arrive, California and the 13 states (and D.C.) that have adopted its rules will use the stricter emission standards to regulate vehicles. In the EPA's statement on the decision, it says it used "the law and science as its guide," in order to "tackle air pollution and protect human health." EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says:

This decision puts the law and science first. After review of the scientific findings, and another comprehensive round of public engagement, I have decided this is the appropriate course under the law. This waiver is consistent with the Clean Air Act as it's been used for the last 40 years. [...] More importantly, this decision reinforces the historic agreement on nationwide emissions standards developed by a broad coalition of industry, government and environmental stakeholders earlier this year.

Here's a short history of the waiver story: CARB asked for the waiver in December of 2005. The EPA announced in December of 2007 that it would deny the waiver (after then Vice President Dick Cheney met with automakers). The day after Barack Obama was inaugurated, CARB asked the EPA to reconsider the denial, a request that the new President supported. When strong national CAFE standards were announced in May, the EPA's waiver lost a bit of its punch, but it still wanted the waiver to bridge the gap between now and when the CAFE rules go into effect with 2012 vehicles. Today, the EPA said "okay." Come to think of it, this saga probably isn't as final as this decision might imply. Check out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: EPA | Image: David McNew/Getty]

Continue reading EPA reverses decision, approves California's greenhouse gas emissions waiver

EPA reverses decision, approves California's greenhouse gas emissions waiver originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California already looking ahead to tougher post-2016 mpg standards?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Government/Legal, Green

California's lead in setting stricter mileage standards for automobiles helped President Obama's administration formulate the new 35.5 mpg requirement for 2016. Since California's voice is so strong in the debate, we can see what might possibly be coming to the whole country in the later half of the next decade by looking at what California thinks will happen after 2016. Reuters did just that, and found that the California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols thinks that "a much more stringent standard" will be announced for 2017 and beyond.

That everyone appears to be happy with the 2016 requirement doesn't mean the struggles between CARB and the automakers have ended. Nichols told the news service that the compromise "doesn't signal any kind of flagging interest on the part of California in being part of a transformation of the auto fleet to something much more efficient than what it is today." A new EPA waiver request will need to be applied for, Reuters believes, but at least there appears to be a new feeling of working together. For now.

[Source: Reuters; Image: Pink Sherbet Photography | CC 2.0]

California already looking ahead to tougher post-2016 mpg standards? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California to require mandatory tire-pressure checks at automotive businesses

Chris Shunk — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Government/Legal, Green, Safety

Keeping your tires properly inflated is a very good idea. An under-inflated radial can increase wear while also decreasing performance and fuel economy. But if the state of California can help it, under-inflated tires may soon be a thing of the past.

California has passed a new law requiring most auto servicing sites to check tire pressure at each visit and add air when necessary. The law will affect 40,000 businesses in the state, although the mandate does not effect body shops, car washes, glass repair shops, or parts stores. The state's government will let the service stations, smog-check stations, oil change places, and so on determine how much to charge for the check, and they must have a high-accuracy pressure gauge on hand. The tire pressure monitoring law will go into effect in July 1, 2010.

California's Air Resources Board says the state-wide law will save 75 million gallons of fuel per year, while also eliminating 700,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses. That sounds mighty impressive, but if the Sacramento Bee is to believed, that's less than 0.5 percent of what California's greenhouse-gas reduction goals for 2020. Better is the CARB estimate that optimized tire pressure will save drivers about $12 per year (about six gallons of gas at today's prices), along with added safety and tire longevity benefits.

Those figures are based off statistics which show that vehicles lose 1% efficiency for every 3 psi a tire is low. Testing by Consumer Reports showed little or no impact on fuel economy when tire pressure is off by 10%, though most agree that low tire pressure will shorten the life of tires. Fewer tires in state landfills figures to be a good thing, too.

Check out CARB's official press release by clicking here, and find more information at the link below. Thanks for the tip, Mark!

[Source: Consumer Reports | Image: Einstein/Getty]

California to require mandatory tire-pressure checks at automotive businesses originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Half of California gas stations could face closure for failing to install costly new nozzles

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green, Technology, Earnings/Financials

According to the Los Angeles Daily News, California gas station operators have known since 2000 that they would have to install new nozzles on their gas pumps by tomorrow's deadline. And yet at least 2,000 of the 3,900 stations in the Southern California region and 60 percent of stations statewide have failed to do exactly that. The California Air Resources Board ruled nine years ago that gas pumps would have to be equipped with enhanced vapor recovery nozzles that capture and recirculate the gasoline vapors that inevitably escape while pumping gas.

Unfortunately, the narrow margins of gas retailing and high cost of the nozzles has made stations owners reluctant to spend the money. The equipment costs roughly $11,000 per pump.

Starting April 1, stations that haven't upgraded will start to face fines that will be ramped up toward the end of this year. Stations that haven't made the changes by the end of 2009 face closure.

[Source: Los Angeles Daily News | Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

REPORT: Half of California gas stations could face closure for failing to install costly new nozzles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FOLLOW UP: CARB says "Just kidding about banning black paint..."

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green

To be completely fair, the California Air Resources Board never intended to ban black paint -- or any color of paint, for that matter. When devising ways to implement the Cool Cars Initiative, CARB couldn't find any dark paints that passed the 20% solar reflectivity test, which others took to mean that CARB would be banning them. Not so, says a CARB spokesman: "We are by no means interested in banning or restricting car colors." For now, CARB is sticking with the reflective glass portion of the initiative, which would add a reflective clear coat to windows and $31-$50 to the price of a new car, and is taking public comments on the proposed new rules. Thanks for the tip, Jason

[Source: LA Times]

FOLLOW UP: CARB says "Just kidding about banning black paint..." originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California to reduce carbon emissions by... banning black cars?!

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green

In a move that will likely get California's consumers in a huff, impending legislation may soon restrict the paint color options for Golden State residents looking for their next new vehicle. The specific colors that are currently on the chopping block are all dark hues, with the worst offender seemingly the most innocuous color you could think of: Black. What could California possibly have against these colors, you ask? Apparently, the California Air Resources Board figures that the climate control systems of dark colored cars need to work harder than their lighter siblings - especially after sitting in the sun for a few hours. Anyone living in a hot, sunny climate will tell you that this assumption is accurate, of course. In fact, legislation already exists for buildings that has proven successful at reducing the energy consumption of skyscrapers.

So, what's the crux of the problem... can't paint suppliers just come up with new, less heat-absorbent dark paints? According to Ward's, suppliers have reportedly been testing their pigments and processes to see if it's possible to meet CARB's proposed mandate of 20% solar reflectivity by 2016 with a phase-in period starting in 2012, and things aren't looking good. Apparently, when the proper pigments and chemicals are added to black paint, the resulting color is currently being referred to as "mud-puddle brown." That doesn't sound very attractive, now does it? Windshields, backlights and sunroofs are also slated to get reflective coatings starting in 2012.

When we first heard of this issue, an internal debate immediately began as to whether this might be an elaborate early April Fool's joke, but it isn't. Read through CARB's complete Cool Cars Standards and Test Procedures here (PDF link) for more. Thanks for the tip, Joaquin!

[Source: CARB (PDF link); Wards | Photo: 7mary3]

California to reduce carbon emissions by... banning black cars?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Obama faces immediate challenges with Detroit

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal

To be fair, the new president faces a lot of immediate challenges. But when it comes to the auto industry, the biggest four challenges could be the bridge loans, fuel economy mandates, the EPA vs The California 14, and the board of czars that will oversee the fortunes of GM and Chrysler. The similarity between these challenges and others on the domestic and global agenda: he doesn't have a lot of time to get them right.

It was clear that the $17.4 billion granted to GM and Chrysler was just the beginning of a process needing a well thought out and long term endgame. Part of that endgame involved the two automakers coming up with viability plans, which are due on February 17. Then Congress and the president will need to decide, based on those plans, whether the car companies should receive more money.

Should the carmakers get more money, the necessary car czar position is looking like a body-of-car-oligarchs instead, which sounds like a more reasonable idea. One name that has popped up to head the group is Steven Rattner, a former NYT reporter turned private equity fund founder. What hasn't been explained yet is how this board of overseers is meant to work with the car companies.

On the issue of fuel economy, some of Obama's campaign pledges might cause additional consternation. He had said he wanted to double the CAFE standard in 18 years, which would mean a 50 mpg average by 2027. He has backed off of that to the more generic "I want to raise fuel economy standards." His other campaign trail pledge was to review the EPA not granting California and 13 other states a waiver to set their own emission standards. His EPA designee has said one of her first priorities will be to review that decision, and she sounds like she intends to overturn if she can. If that happens, as the Obama administration lifts up the industry with one hand, the industry will probably feel itself being choked by the other hand.

[Source: Detroit News]

Obama faces immediate challenges with Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California pushing new administration for its own stricter emissions standards

Dan Roth — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Green

Welcome, President Obama. The Governator and the California Air Resources Board would like you to immediately allow California, and its toady hangers-on like Massachusetts, to set their own emissions standards.

The Bush Administration denied the waiver that would have allowed CARB to set a goal of a 30 percent reduction in tailpipe emissions by 2016, along with requiring an average of 43.7 miles per gallon for cars and 26.6 for trucks by the same year. Now that there's a new administration winding up, the move is on once again to push the waiver through. Lisa Jackson, nominee for EPA administrator, has promised to aggressively review the 2007 decision should she be confirmed.

Automakers argue that the measure would force them to sell vastly different configurations for different states to meet those varied standards. While the "easy" (if cost-intensive) solution may be to make all models meet California emissions, the bigger issue is the mileage requirement. There's already a tough new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard coming up which is likely to be a challenge to meet in the allotted time, let alone containing what it will cost without sending MSRPs skyward.

While environmental responsibility is admirable and serious measures should be attempted, critics of the plan argue that cranking up a CAFE number willy-nilly equates to an unfunded mandate and misdirects efforts at brand-new vehicles - instead of spreading the word about how environmentally and economically friendly it is to keep an old car going in a good state of tune.

[Source: Detroit News]

California pushing new administration for its own stricter emissions standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ironic legislation: CARB ruling to kill aftermarket plug-in hybrids?

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, I.C.E., Technology

The uncertain future of the alternative-powered and alternative-fueled vehicle is being decided by a confluence of old and new technology, big business and start-ups, marketing, vested interests, and public perception. It is no surprise, then, that when it comes to government regulation, we are bound to end up with some conflicting decisions. A company in California that converts regular hybrids to plug-in hybrids has found itself smack in the middle of one of those conflicts.

Last year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) cut its mandated amount of electric vehicle sales in California by 70%. Some thought that might leave an exploitable opening for plug-in hybrids to gain serious market share. A number of start-ups have been established that install additional batteries into cars like the Toyota Prius, rendering them all electric below 34 mph, and allowing them to be recharged in 4 hours from a standard 3-prong outlet. The retrofit turns the 40+ mpg Prius into a 100+ mpg dromedary.

A new CARB proposal would require those start-ups to put their cars through smog tests that run about $25,000 per car, and to warranty their conversions for 10 years or 150,000 miles. The smog test issue has to do with a pollutant buildup issue in the catalytic converter and the gas vapor canister on cars that do a lot of cold starts and that might not use their internal combustion engines for more than three days. The warranty terms are the same as those mandated for any company that sells hybrids in California.

The start-ups say the pollutant issue has already been tested and solved by battery provider A123 systems, and it was approved in Massachusetts, a state that follows the same emissions standards as California. As for the warranty, the start-ups say they aren't altering the Prius, they are adding aftermarket batteries, so it doesn't make sense to force them to match the Prius' warranty. Besides that, the batteries they install are not expected to last ten years, so the warranty would be pointless anyway. The new regulations are expected to come into force next week anyway. Hat tip to reader Daniel

[Source: East Bay Express]

Ironic legislation: CARB ruling to kill aftermarket plug-in hybrids? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automotive X-Prize recommends EPA adopt MGEe rating

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:25:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Contests, Government/Legal, Green, Chevrolet, GM

Click above to view high-res gallery of the 2011 Chevy Volt

Now that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has an agreement with General Motors regarding how to measure the fuel mileage of the 2011 Chevy Volt, our attention turns to the EPA, which now has to decide what official mileage rating will appear on the new car's window sticker and how to determine what that number will be. The first recommendation comes from the Automotive X-Prize, the foundation of which will award $10 million from Progressive Insurance to the winner of its competition to design a production-viable car that people would want to drive that gets 100 MPGe or more.

What's with that little 'e' after the familiar miles per gallon? Basically, the X-Prize crew wants to convert all units of energy to a figure that's equivalent to the power from a gallon of gas. That way, a car's powerplant - regardless of where it gets that energy from - earns a rating that can be easily compared with everything else. So, EPA, the ball's in your court... still.

Psst - GM, maybe you should enter the Volt in the X-Prize competition. Just a thought.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt - Live Reveal

[Source: Automotive X-Prize via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Automotive X-Prize recommends EPA adopt MGEe rating

Automotive X-Prize recommends EPA adopt MGEe rating originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CARB requires all new cars in California to bear "green" labels

Michael Harley — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Green

As of January 1, 2009, all vehicles sold in California will be required to display a window sticker that rates the "environmental performance" of the new car or truck. Initiated by the California EPA Air Resources Board (CARB), the label is designed to "...arm consumers with the information they need to choose a vehicle that saves gas, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps fight smog all at once." Each vehicle will receive two different scores. The first will be a "Global Warming Score" based on greenhouse gas emissions from operating the vehicle and fuel production. The second score will be a "Smog Score" that is determined by the smog-forming emissions from operating the vehicle. The scale, based on a 1-10 rating, allows consumers to see how their vehicle fares when compared to other vehicles in the class. Like the new governmental crash test data now displayed on new car windows, the disclosure will be effective on two fronts: it will educate concerned buyers, and unofficially call-out those manufacturers that fall below the average. In this environmentally-conscience environment, there is nothing quite as effective as public shame...

[Source: The Detroit News]

CARB requires all new cars in California to bear "green" labels originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CARB offering compromise on emissions regulations?

Michael Harley — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

After protests by California auto dealers, the head of California's Air Resources Board (CARB) said she is willing to discuss modifying one aspect of the state's stringent emission regulations. Mary Nichols, CARB Chairwoman, told reporters at an SAE Government/Industry meeting that she is open to "regional" standards for tailpipe emissions, rather than the current standards that create state-by-state standards.

As it stands now, automakers need to cut tailpipe emissions 30 percent by 2016, per regulations established by California in 2002. With 13 states adopting those same requirements and more in the process, a patchwork of regulations is emerging nationwide. Automakers, and auto dealers, have argued that such a trend could force some brands to stop selling vehicles altogether in places like California, because it's too cost prohibitive to build different versions of the same car to meet a multitude of standards. Some also speculate that consumers would just go buy larger vehicles in neighboring states with less stringent regulations. A regional approach to emission regulations might protect auto dealers from watching their business walking out of the state, but we're certain that the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers that represents most major carmakers in the U.S. will continue arguing for California's standards to be disregarded in favor of the more stringent national standards set forth in our nation's new energy bill.

[Source: Detroit News]

CARB offering compromise on emissions regulations? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 May 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Showdown between Arnie and the Automakers set for Thursday

John Neff — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:08:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green

This Thursday has been is the date for a big meeting between the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) that represents General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler LLC, Toyota Motor Co., BMW, Volkswagen, Daimler-Benz, Mazda and Nissan North America. Though Arnie was once a HUMMER drivin' fool and unofficial pitch man for the poster SUV of environmental incorrectness, he's now the gubernatorial head honcho of a state that's been a big PITA for automakers when it comes to emissions standards.

California once had federal approval to set its own emissions standards, and the feds also allowed any other states to adopt California's standards instead of much weaker federal standards if they wanted. Seventeen states now either have or are considering adopting California's emissions standards, which means automakers are faced with the dilemma of possibly building two versions of every vehicle to meet both standards, go bankrupt trying to meet California's standards in time, or even not selling vehicles in those 17 states at all.

The federal government's new energy bill that calls for a raised Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard of 35 mpg by 2020 is what the AAM wants to talk to the Governator about. The AAM hopes to convince Arnold that meeting the new federal standards will be difficult but doable, while California's proposed standard of 40.5 mpg by 2016 is impossible to achieve without losing thousands of jobs and possibly bankrupting vulnerable automakers.

Schwarzenegger is not likely to buy the alliance's argument, however, and this conflict between the automakers and California will likely be settled in federal court a long time down the road.

[Source: Detroit Free Press, Photo by David McNew/Getty]

Showdown between Arnie and the Automakers set for Thursday originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 May 2008 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CARB backs off a bit on ZEV Mandate, orders 66k PHEVs sold by 2014

John Neff — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted last week to revise its ZEV (zero-emissions vehicle) Mandate that was first adopted in 1990 and has since been changed five times now. The newest revisions ease up on automakers, now calling for 7,500 zero-emission vehicles to be sold in California between 2012 and 2014, down from 25,000 that were called for in the last revision made in 2003. A zero-emissions vehicle includes a pure electric vehicle or one powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, though CARB also ruled that the its ZEV Mandate could be partially met with a new category of vehicles it calls Enhanced Advanced Technology Partial-Zero Emissions Vehicle, or Enhanced AT PZEV. These include plug-in hybrids like the Chevy Volt or vehicles with internal combustion engines that run on hydrogen like the BMW Hydrogen 7.

In addition to reducing the number of ZEVs that must be sold between 2012 and 2014, CARB also demanded that automakers sell at least 66,000 plug-in hybrids during the same time period. Ford is working on a plug-in hybrid Escape and GM a plug-in hybrid Saturn VUE, while Toyota is also developing a plug-in version of its popular Prius. While this goal seems somewhat realistic to us depending on how willing consumers will be to swallow the premium price of a plug-in hybrid, achieving 7,500 ZEVs sold in less than five years could be a stretch considering that not one of the major automakers is working on a pure EV to sell in the U.S. and there just isn't a strong enough infrastructure for delivering hydrogen to that many Californians at the moment. Nevertheless, 7,500 sold is easier to achieve than 25,000. These recent revisions indicate to some that CARB is slowly being neutered of its power as the feds work to regain control of setting the nation's energy policy. One set of standards for every state is what the automakers want, and for better or worse they may have it soon.

[Source: CARB, AutoblogGreen, Automotive News - sub. req'd]

CARB backs off a bit on ZEV Mandate, orders 66k PHEVs sold by 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sorry CARB: EPA says states can't regulate their own emissions

Chris Shunk — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Green, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Toyota

If you found it slightly strange that automakers went from being ardently opposed to any new EPA legislation to 100-percent behind the new proposal, you're not alone. Now the picture appears clearer, as the EPA has deemed any new California Air Resources Board (CARB) legislation an unnecessary evil. The significance of the new ruling is so far-reaching that the OEM savings can be heard all across our great land. In short, it means that California and the 17 other states vying for independent CO2 regulations are completely helpless in forcing automakers to be held to a separate, higher standard. Of course, California is now threatening to sue the EPA, which will provide interesting headlines but likely no alternative outcome.

While we will never know if automakers were tipped by the EPA of this eventuality, we can definitely say that every exec in the auto industry is today dancing the jig over this news. Besides, we've been keeping tabs on this situation for some time, so we knew it was a possibility. Having multiple regulations would set back R&D spending for years, as automakers would be chasing their own tails trying to comply with multiple regulations. With no separate standard for green states like California, automakers can now build one car for all 50 states, which will save billions every year. Let's hope that the saved cash will be funneled back into green tech research and development. And let's hope that lawmakers spend more time paving the way for plug-in spots for electric cars, more gas stations with E85, and a proper fuel cell infrastructure, and less time trying to beat on OEMs in an effort to look good for voters.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

Sorry CARB: EPA says states can't regulate their own emissions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California seeing Green: Judge throws out lawsuit, Quebec adopts same emissions standards

John Neff — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:26:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Green

Some big news has happened on the green movement front over the past two days, beginning with a federal judge who has decided to throw out the lawsuit filed by automakers against California that challenges the state's authority to set its own emissions standards. Automakers would obviously prefer a unified federal emissions standard that allows them to sell the same car in every state, but the ruling yesterday means that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is allowed to set its own, stricter standards that automakers have to meet if they want to sell cars in the Golden State, or any of the other U.S. states that have adopted the same standards.

But now automakers won't just have to consider U.S. states with stricter emissions standards when developing their new cars. The Canadian province of Quebec has also recently decided to adopt the same standards as California, making it the first territory outside of the U.S. to do so. While there are some hoops through which this legislation needs to jump in Canadian politics before it becomes law in Quebec, automakers may soon have to decide whether to develop all of their vehicles to meet CARB's standards (not likely), or continue developing a second version of their cars to be sold just in these states (and provinces). The third option is to not sell anything in these areas, but the West Coast market is not one any automaker wishes to give up.

Thanks for the tip, Horatio!

[Source: The Globe and Mail, AutoblogGreen]

California seeing Green: Judge throws out lawsuit, Quebec adopts same emissions standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz first in California with diesel

Siddharth Raja — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Mercedes-Benz

click above image for more high-res pics of the MB E320 BLUETEC

You may remember that despite a promise back in January of 2006 that its E320 BLUETEC would meet emissions standards in all 50 states, Mercedes-Benz announced eight months later that its new diesel sedan wouldn't be sold in California and the contingent of states that have adopted its stricter emissions standard. Mercedes went back and tweaked the BLUETEC design and today marks the first day that the E320 BLUETEC sedan goes on sale in California. It's the first diesel powered model that meets California's strict emissions standards and certainly won't be the last. Mercedes-Benz is offering the car only as a lease vehicle for 2 years/24,000 miles for roughly $600 per month.

Merc chose to lease the car because only about 100 units will be available. This will be expanded next year along with the rest of the diesel lineup when the M, R and GL Bluetec diesels arrive in August. By January next year the E320 Bluetec will be available in all of the other states that have adopted California's stricter emissions standards. These include New York, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

The E-class is expected to go in for a redesign for the 2010 model year and will also be offered with a Bluetec diesel option when it arrives in mid-2009. Click here to view several spy shots of the next E-class including a couple of its interior.

[Source: Automotive News. sub. req'd]

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC

Mercedes-Benz first in California with diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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