Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: President Obama to give states right to set own emissions/fuel economy standards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/report-president-obama-to-give-states-right-to-set-own-emission/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/report-president-obama-to-give-states-right-to-set-own-emission/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/26/report-president-obama-to-give-states-right-to-set-own-emission/#commentsFiled under: , ,

UPDATE: For the sake of clarity, it should be noted that there will be two emissions standards that states can choose - CA and Federal - not the "potentially fifty" that some worry about.

Brace yourselves for a mess. The New York Times is reporting that the Obama administration intends to allow California and other states to set their own emissions and fuel economy standards. Obama is expected to announce his decision this week, maybe even as early as today. The move, which Obama campaigned on during the run up to last November's election, would overturn the prior Bush administration's denial of a waiver to California that allows the Golden State to set its own standards and other states to adopt them.

If the report is correct, it's not clear yet what the implications of the decision will be or how automakers will react. If things proceed in an orderly and organized fashion, it will be a minor miracle. Consumer experiences may well mirror what went on with diesels, most of which were recently unavailable in states adhering to California's stricter emissions standards.

Critics of state-administrated emissions standards fear that the potential for 50 different requirements will result in a costly quagmire. It will undoubtedly cost automakers more to conform to various and differing requirements, eating up profits (not to mention bailout funds) as well.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

REPORT: President Obama to give states right to set own emissions/fuel economy standards originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>california emissionscalifornia waiverCaliforniaEmissionsCaliforniaWaiveremissions standardsemissions waiverEmissionsStandardsEmissionsWaiverobamaobama administrationobama emissionsObamaAdministrationObamaEmissionsstates emissionsStatesEmissionsMon, 26 Jan 2009 01:05:00 EST<![CDATA[California pushing new administration for its own stricter emissions standards]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/22/california-pushing-new-administration-for-its-own-stricter-emiss/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/22/california-pushing-new-administration-for-its-own-stricter-emiss/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/22/california-pushing-new-administration-for-its-own-stricter-emiss/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>california air resources boardcalifornia cafecalifornia emissionscalifornia mpgCaliforniaAirResourcesBoardCaliforniaCafeCaliforniaEmissionsCaliforniaMpgcarbThu, 22 Jan 2009 12:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Showdown between Arnie and the Automakers set for Thursday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/showdown-between-arnie-and-the-automakers-set-for-thursday/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/showdown-between-arnie-and-the-automakers-set-for-thursday/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/06/showdown-between-arnie-and-the-automakers-set-for-thursday/#commentsFiled under: ,

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alliance of automobi...AllianceOfAutomobi...arnold schwarzeneggerArnoldSchwarzeneggercalifornia emissionsCaliforniaEmissionsCARBTue, 06 May 2008 14:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda turning to plasma to beat diesel emissions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/27/honda-turning-to-plasma-to-beat-diesel-emmisions/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/27/honda-turning-to-plasma-to-beat-diesel-emmisions/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/27/honda-turning-to-plasma-to-beat-diesel-emmisions/#commentsFiled under:

In an effort to meet pollution regulations in the United States, Honda Motor Company is breaking out a plasma reactor to curb emissions in its diesel engines.

According to Bloomberg News, Honda has reportedly patented a new method to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by pushing exhaust fumes through electrically charged atoms in a gaseous state. By doing so, it strips the nitrogen oxides, in the process forming nitrogen dioxide that's later absorbed by silver and alkali metals. Uh-huh.

Honda is hoping to be in the diesel passenger car business in America by 2009, but right now there isn't a single company capable of meeting the emissions requirements of California (and those Northeastern states that mirror its standards). The automaker hopes that the new plasma technology could make them the first.

[Source: Bloomberg News]

Honda turning to plasma to beat diesel emissions originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 May 2006 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>california emissionsCaliforniaEmissionsdieselemissionsexhaust fumesexhaust gasExhaustFumesExhaustGasoil-burnerSat, 27 May 2006 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan Altima Hybrid? Only if you live in one of eight states]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/nissan-altima-hybrid-to-only-be-sold-in-8-states/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/nissan-altima-hybrid-to-only-be-sold-in-8-states/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/21/nissan-altima-hybrid-to-only-be-sold-in-8-states/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nissan's first hybrid, the forthcoming 2007 Altima HEV will only be sold in eight states. To put a geographical point on it, the Japanese automaker will sell the eco-friendly sedan in the Northeast and California:  New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey will join the Golden State. All of the states in question have adopted versions of the latter's zero-emissions vehicle program, which in effect will force manufacturers to sell hybrids.

Nissan admits it has the ability to churn out 50,000 hybrids-- more than it expects to divvy up between the eight markets, so it can technically build for other states if demand warrants it.

What do you think, is Carlos 'Hybrids Don't Make Sense' Ghosn missing an opportunity, or just making a good business decision? Sound off in 'comments.'

[Sources: Bloomberg News; Nissan]

Nissan Altima Hybrid? Only if you live in one of eight states originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Apr 2006 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AccordAltimaCalifornia EmissionsCaliforniaEmissionsCamryEarth DayEarthDayFord FusionFordFusionHeVHybrid synergy driveHybridSynergyDriveNissanPriusToyotaFri, 21 Apr 2006 12:35:00 EST