California all but abandons electric car requirements
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| March 5, 2003 |  View for printing |
In a historic shift, the state of California announced today a series of new rules that largely abandon the state's 12-year commitment requiring automobile companies to build and sell electric cars.
By the Mercury News
The California Air Resources Board said electric car technology has not lived up to its promise, and that instead, state smog officials will allow hybrid cars, including the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic and other soon-to-be released models, to qualify under its clean car rules.
Since 1990, California has led the nation in pushing for purely electric cars. But after spending billions, automakers still could not build an electric car that could travel more than about 100 miles without needing recharging and sell for under $35,000.
Hybrid cars, by comparison, cost about $20,000, run on a gas-electric system that delivers 50 miles per gallon or more, emit almost no smog, and don't need recharging.
Today's move, which was criticized by some environmentalists, also is expected to help the state overcome a lawsuit by the automakers and the Bush administration, which argued that California was forcing Detroit to build costly electric cars that had little consumer interest.
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/5307732.htm 
Reader Comments:
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The consumers interest is the window of opportuity. We have to make it feel like there will be no drastic chang in there every day lives. Our local gas stations will just have to offer cell replacement fees. Charging service fee for quick replacement of cell and amount of kilowatt hours investid in the replacement. this cast will verry do to california power companys. I am interestid in conversation on this topic vpe9 |
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I am looking back on this article I wrote more than a year ago. I am now in north eastern Maine. Moving from San Diego CA has been a big chang. There is no smog law here In Maine and cars can smoke as much as they want. This "CAN" be solved. We all know that it can. For my kids Mia & Christian. Vance Emery vanceemery@yahoo.com |
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