The California Air Resources Board has lowered the number of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) automakers must produce from 2012 through 2014, but not as much as what the board’s staff had suggested. The CARB has changed its requirement for ZEVs from 25,000 to 7,500 pure ZEVs (PZEVs) during the three-year span. But automakers need to produce only 5,357 if they are long-range fuel cell vehicles. Or they can opt to meet the requirement by manufacturing 12,500 battery electric vehicles with a range of 100 miles, according to the board. The board, because of changes in the marketplace and air regulations, has looked at the ZEV program every few years since its inception in 1990. The last time it was reviewed was 2003, and Gennet Paauwe, CARB spokeswoman, says an expert panel gave the board feedback last year. “They said many of the technologies that fit in our zero emission vehicle category were not coming online as quickly as when we changed the rule last in 2003,” she says. “And we also want to make sure that the vehicles we require manufacturers to make are going to get into the hands of consumers. And that’s really important because if they’re not, we’re not getting the emission reductions we want.” The CARB kept part of the program that allows automakers flexibility in their alternative fuel programs by requiring an additional 58,000 plug-in hybrids during that same period. If the automakers produce 25,000 ZEVs, there are no remaining plug-in hybrid requirements, it reports. Part of these changes, according to Pauuwe, is because of the changing technologies and that there are more clean vehicles on the road. She says the CARB also asked its staff to by the end of 2009 clean up the regulation by addressing clean gas, greenhouse gas emissions and low emission vehicles, which no longer are new technology. “They’re looking past the 2015 model year with the next round for 2009,” Pauuwe explains. The California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) attended the meeting, and reiterated its stance that it backs the ZEVs and PZEVs, but takes issue with the extended super-warranties – 15-year/150,000- mile warranties. Norm Plotkin, CAWA legislative advocate, says other states have adopted similar regulations but without the super-warranties. “What we want CARB to recognize is that other states recognize the value of lower emission warranties, but they’re not going to do undue economic harm to the aftermarket,” he says. |
