California air board to vote on landmark electric-car rules

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 1/25/12 | Paul Rogers

[SmithL]

In a move that could reshape the American automobile industry, California regulators Thursday are expected to approve sweeping new rules requiring that 15 percent of new cars sold in California by 2025 run on electricity, hydrogen or other systems producing little or no smog.

The regulations by the California Air Resources Board, dubbed the "advanced clean car rules," would start in 2018, ramping up each year and ultimately resulting in 1.4 million "zero emission" vehicles on California roads by 2025. Today there are only about 10,000 such vehicles in the state.

"This is a really large step. It's transformational," said Tom Cackette, an engineer and chief deputy director of the air board. "Ten years from now the market is going to look quite a bit different."

The rules are the latest example of California's huge role in reducing tailpipe pollution across the country. The Golden State was the first to ban leaded gasoline, require catalytic converters and limit vehicles' greenhouse emissions.

This time around, however, the auto industry isn't fighting the ground-breaking California rules in court.

Apart from electric cars, the latest rules also affect vehicles that run on gasoline and diesel, requiring a 75 percent reduction in smog-forming emissions from new cars, SUVs, pickups and minivans. And they require a roughly 50 percent reduction in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. That would force carmakers to build more fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel models.

The air board estimates that those regulations will add $1,900 to the price of a new car by 2025-but will save $5,900 in gasoline costs over the life of the average vehicle.

Environmental groups and the auto industry both predict that the upshot of the 15 percent "zero emission" mandate will be that vehicles such as...plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt will become as commonplace...

[Avid Coug]

If the California legislature would just allow electric golf carts to be licensed for street use, they could have their 15% quickly and easily.

[funfan]

That sounds about right.

[TexasRepublic]

Does California plan to build a Berlin Wall to keep its victims from escaping? As the state becomes loonier, the smart ones will leave and the not-so-smart won’t be able to afford those expensive electric toys.

[Loyal Sedition]

Well, since they already have a “Green Energy” percentage mandate, I guess they will pay a premium for Nevada Geothermal electricity.

There are also a couple of solar projects here.

So Kalifornia users will pay extra for electricity that should have been generated locally at cheaper rates.

Rich libs don’t care, trust fund greens don’t care, the “Poor” don’t care as they are subsidized.
Only the working stiff has to worry, and he has no real say in the matter.

[jiggyboy]

In all seriousness, this really looks to me like an advanced version of either a two-year-old’s tantrum or a teenage girl’s daydream. Just wish that it were so and that’s the end of the train of thought.

[ApplegateRanch]

considering taking out 4 hydroelectic dams on the Kalamoth River,

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COPCO, I assume, is one; but what/where are the other three? How much generation will have to be replaced total?

I’m guessing this is one of the ‘whys’ they were able to exempt hydro from the “green” generation definitions.

[athelass]

And our slow suicide continues, but this time we're taking you all with us. California sets the standard for every car sold in America.

I'm the proud owner of a perfectly serviceable vehicle which I can't drive because it can't pass smog. But I still have to pay the registration, which they won't give me until it passes. I can't even junk it without up to date tags, not that I would, it's only 10 years old and paid for!

They say the mileage standard will offset the cost of the car, but they keep increasing the amount of ethanol in the gas which decreases the mileage by half, and ruins your engine.We already have the most expensive gas on the mainland. This is just part of their diabolical plan to force us all out of cars and onto trains. These so-called Progressives want to take us back to trains and windmills, horses and buggies.Nothing progressive about them.

I don't know if any pressure can be brought on Gov. Moonbeam, but you all should call your Senators and Governors and scream bloody murder about this because it affects you all. Maybe they can prevent him from signing it.