California pulls back on zero-emission cars

Disappointing environmentalists, California’s Air Resources Board voted Thursday to substantially reduce the number of emission-free vehicles carmakers will be required to sell in the state in the next few years.

But in a move that could in the long term lead to the production of many more “clean” vehicles, the board adopted a motion to overhaul its entire Zero Emission Vehicle program to conform to tougher greenhouse-gas emission standards enacted in California in recent years. The overhaul, though, won’t happen until the end of next year at the earliest.

Under the new standards, approved unanimously after six hours of public comment, the board voted to require the largest companies selling cars in the state to produce 7,500 electric and hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles for sale, lease or loan in California between 2012 and 2014 – down from 25,000, as required in previous regulations.

In addition, they will be called upon to market about 58,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the same period, fewer than the 75,000 called for in a staff proposal.

Environmentalists and transportation activists denounced the board’s decision, calling it a victory for carmakers, who had lobbied vigorously against the mandates.

“It’s a huge blow,” said Chelsea Sexton, executive director of Plug-in America, a transportation advocacy group based in California. “They sent the message to the carmakers that they can always get what they want from the board.”

Automakers, though, were reserved.

“We’re going to have to take some time and study it,” Ford spokeswoman Jennifer Moore said. “The question is still what technology is ready and what is going to be commercially viable.

Ford is one of six automakers – along with General Motors, Toyota, Chrysler, Honda and Nissan – subject to the mandates.

The vote was preceded by a long day of commentary from representatives of the major automakers, environmental and transportation activists and interested private citizens.