The California Air Resources Board voted on Thursday to revise the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate for the fifth time since its inception in 1990. It was decided to cut the required amount of ZEVs the top six automakers are required to build every year starting in 2012 to 7,500 from 25,000, representing a 70 percent reduction. The vote came after a revision of CARB’s proposal last month that called for cutting the vehicle count by 90 percent, from 25,000 to 2,500 due to a lack of infrastructure and technology for ZEV vehicles such as hydrogen-powered ones. CARB also announced it will simplify the ZEV mandate and better coordinate with its greenhouse gas rules in the future.
The old requirements called for GM, Toyota , Ford , Chrysler , Honda and Nissan to build 25,000 ZEVs per year starting in 2012, with that number doubling from 2015 to 2017, according to Automotive News. The revised mandate also calls for 66,000 plug-in electric hybrids to be produced by each manufacturer that fall under the Partial Zero Emission Vehicles and Advanced Technology-PZEV categories.
“We must continue to push for all types of technologies — fuel cells, electric vehicles and hydrogen powered cars — as we fight our dual battles against smog and global warming,” said CARB chairwoman Mary Nichols.
The six automakers, represented at yesterday’s vote, maintain the production numbers still aren’t realistic, due to the high cost of batteries and lack of hydrogen filling stations. GM is developing the fuel-cell Chevrolet Equinox that qualifies as a ZEV, and Honda started leasing its fuel-cell FCX Clarity in Southern California.
This isn’t the only aspect of CARB’s proposed regulations automakers are opposing.
