California lawmakers push for 1.4M zero-emissions vehicles on the road

TheDetroitBureau.com reports that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is out to change the zero-emissions-vehicle (ZEV) game again, this time revising its desired numbers for vehicle sales and prodding industry to make alternative fuels more available. From 2018 to 2025, CARB wants ZEVs to number 1.4 million sales every year. According to its numbers, by 2025, that would result in a decrease of 52 million metric tons of emissions.

But what good is a car that runs on hydrogen without convenient places to refuel? The Cleans Fuels Outlet part of its plan "would require oil companies to install hydrogen refueling stations." That part of the plan sounds like it will be rather expensive for someone, but according to CARB, somehow it won't be the consumer: CARB says residents will save $22 billion on fuel costs, 21,000 jobs will be created because of the move to different fuels, and a car buyer in 2025 would save $4,000 over the life of the car even with the extra cost of the tech.

What's more, in 2017, CARB – in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency – has released an emissions-level limit of 166 g/km for cars sold in the state. That would represent another 34 percent drop from the emissions levels targeted in 2016.