Mary Nichols, of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), is chiding automakers for petitioning for a relaxation of the state’s requirements that 1.4 million electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles be sold by 2025. “Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot, or maybe I could say, tripping over your own halo,” CARB’s chairwoman told the Society of Automotive Engineers’ International World Congress. “Rather than rehashing the same, tired legal battles of our past, why not work together to collectively support and develop this market?”
Indeed, according to Automotive News, California is requiring General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Nissan and Toyota to sell a combined 60,000 plug-in, battery-electric and fuel-cell cars through 2014 and by 2018, the state’s zero-emissions-vehicles (ZEV) mandate will extend to BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
h/t Kevin B
Damn. I hope the Republican states have enough room for all the new bussinesses they will be getting.OR.Maybe,just,maybe,the few independent,thinking people left in Californicated will rise up?
The big carcos should collude – ignore the carb edict up until the last day and then close off all sales in CA.
How does a state government mandate car sales to the public. Just how will that work?
I smell the mother of all car subsidies coming to a sparky car dealer near all Californicated residents.
It is intuitively obvious to the perspicacious person that BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen will corner the automobile market in Kalifornika in the nest four years. Stupid as stupid does. Or as the Duke said “Life is tough, but it tougher when you are stupid.”
As long as the fools in Washington allow the EPA to follow what these California politicians demand…..
Perhaps all California state employees could be required to purchase an electric vehicle at their own expense as a condition of employment — should thin out the lines a bit. Democrat legislators would be expected to set the example (fat chance of that). I’d be curious to know the percentage of electric vehicle ownership amongst those working at the CARB.
How does the state make us buy electric cars? The same way they make us buy the squirrely light bulbs: ban the sale of conventional ones. If anyone thinks that is a stretch they need to wake up from Neverland.
It’s almost at the point where I will buy one of these EVs. Not quite yet, but close. I am waiting for them to be so heavily subsidized and marked down that they are practically giving them away, which by the look of things will be in a year or two. Not a Prius mind you, nor a Volt, but a full on electric car. As a mechanic I can tell you from long experience that hybrids are a complete waste of money no matter how cheap they are. Heavy, under-powered and in constant need of expensive maintenance. The true electrics actually aren’t all that bad really, at least from a mechanical point of view. Their biggest problem is that one must still own a “conventional” vehicle as the EV just does not have the range, even under ideal conditions, to meet with a typical family’s transportation needs. Electrics will always be a luxury item, like a quad or a boat. The manufacturers are getting their just deserts for having fanned the eco-flames for so long when they damned well knew these things could never fill the role.
I agree for the most part.
EVs are basically just electric golf carts….with the same limitations of load and range.
And like electric fork lift trucks….are great until they need a new battery….and there is a tendency to try running the ffaulty battery as far as possible….burning out all manner of switchs etc with low voltage.
That’s why used electric lift trucks are CHEAP…..needing a complete rebuild….new battery, controls, contacts…the works.
There is no problem with EVs except their fuel tanks are too big, too heavy, too prone to fire, leak, take way way way too long to refuel and loose efficiency with usage. All that being said the true problem with EVs is the fuel source and availability. Imagine the power drain on the grid when everyone plugs in the buggy after getting home from work! Of course you could get around that problem by everyone having a gas powered genset in the back yard…..
I guess the fact that nobody wants to own one of these is irrelevant?
Has anyone thought to tell CARB that no one wants these damn things….oops I forgot these earth muffin political types know what’s best for you even if you don’t.
the technically challenged making to rules, what possibly could go wrong?
It is time auto makers rise up and show Cali that they don’t actually have to build the vehicles mandated by CARB, they can simply choose to withdraw from the market! Cali could end up looking like that other bastion of socialism, Cuba.
How does an industry that has received so much government bailout money tell the government they won’t do as they say? They know where the butter comes from. If the government wants them to sell electric cars they will damn well do it…with lots of government subsidy.
How does the state make us buy electric cars? The same way they make us buy the squirrely light bulbs: ban the sale of conventional ones. If anyone thinks that is a stretch they need to wake up from Neverland.Posted by: Smitherenzes
ROTFL
Nobody has the power to ban the sale of petrol vehicles, get serious.
If new ones weren’t available we would make our own. If the state refused to register them, thousands would ignore the state.
Look how successful they were trying to mandate 55MPH speed limits.