California Argues Case for Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Limits; Moves for Ruling
16 September 2006
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States adopting the California regulations. |
San Jose Mercury News. California Deputy Attorney General Mark Melnick defended California’s regulations establishing limits on carbon-dioxide emissions from new light-duty vehicles (LDV) starting in 2009 in US District Court on Friday.
A coalition of automakers filed suit against the regulations, approved in 2004, that would cut CO2 emissions from new vehicles by up to 30% by 2016. (Earlier post.) Automakers are challenging the rules as a de-facto mandate on fuel-economy standards, which only the federal government can set.
The state attorney general’s office has urged U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Ishii to rule immediately, while automakers want to proceed to a trial that is scheduled to start Jan. 30. Ishii took more than two hours of arguments Friday and said he would take the state’s motion under submission.
The limits on tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions is an important component of the larger state effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. California is the 12th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.
The state Assembly recently passed, and Governor Schwarzenegger is expected to sign, AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which is intended to bring statewide emissions of greenhouse gases from stationary (i.e., industrial and power-generating) sources back down to 1990 levels by 2020—an estimated cut of 25%. (Earlier post.)
Why would you fight limits on emissions, and mandates for better mileage?? The Big Three are going down in flames precisely because they build mostly trucks. They aren't building efficient cars that people want to buy. Now they are spending money on lawyers to protect their right to continue making wasteful vehicles nobody wants??
Posted by: BlackSun | 16 September 2006 at 11:19 AM
Ironic...huh? US auto makers have opposed just about everything that the government wanted them to do. Seat belts, air bags, steering columns, padded dashes, safety glass were all opposed as too expensive and not necessary. They said they would cause the companies to lose money and have to eliminate jobs. The fact that all automakers were required to do it and thus it would be a "level playing field" had no effect on getting them to do it. Laws had to be passed and then lives were saved.
Posted by: SJC | 16 September 2006 at 11:54 AM
We could save 10,000 lives a year if there was a mandate to put on all cars sold in the US, something that came standard on my 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid.
Stability Control.
Posted by: Lucas | 16 September 2006 at 12:18 PM
U.S.automakers are behind because they haven't put money into R&D; and, you are right; they spent their money on legal challenges and advertisements instead. Truth is now they are a crossroads and I beleive they must merge with other innivative makers to catch up. That would be the Japanese automakers.
Posted by: Ladson | 16 September 2006 at 01:29 PM
I read an article that stated that one of the reasons GM is talking with Nissan is to get Nissan to take over some of the idled plants that GM has. Ford has offered to talk with Nissan if things don't work out with GM. Ford has plenty of plants idle too. It amazes me that we allow management to run the companies into ditches, layoff the workers and give themselves bonuses for making companies profitable once again by laying off the workers. Maybe if we got some good management in US companies we would not have to lay off so many workers.
Posted by: SJC | 16 September 2006 at 02:41 PM
It's truly ironic: The automakers are suing against the very standards that could make money for them in the end.
Posted by: Gerald Shields | 16 September 2006 at 06:18 PM
Too bad the big 3's legal departments get so much money. Probobly more then what the R&D departments get.
I think the Prius has proven people are willing to PAY to get better fuel economy and Toyota cannot make enough of them.
Posted by: hampden wireless | 16 September 2006 at 06:39 PM
The Feds has not done anything to improve fuel economy standard for over 20 years, yet the national security is compromised due to increasing dependency of foreign oil, and the national economy is compromised due to greater trade deficit due to increasing oil importation, and yet furthermore that global warming will prove to be a grave danger for the entire world...
The State of California should be applauded for having the good senses and the balls to do what the Feds should have done years ago...And sadly, the automakers do not have enough sense of national and global responsibility to refrain from filing such a FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT!!!
Posted by: Roger Pham | 16 September 2006 at 07:01 PM
In response to the Frivolous Lawsuit comment above- The bigger they are, the harder they fall... and the harder it is to knock them over. Our American giants can only take baby steps, it seems.
Posted by: dp | 16 September 2006 at 09:28 PM
I hope this passes. My state has already linked their emissions requirements to those of California in regards to CO2.
Posted by: Patrick | 16 September 2006 at 10:03 PM
what if it does pass? will it mean another set of tests and regulations so that cars have to be even more specifically engineered just for california, adding cost for everyone else without adding value?
most automakers already have to design their engines to meet at least 3 different emissions standards (euro or Japan (few sell in both), US, and Ca).
federal standards should be used by all states. I don't personally think the current standards are ideal, but I do think we should move forward as a nation, instead of splitting into factions.
if Ca is so keen on fuel economy being important, why not just add more taxes to the gas and add a state gas-guzzler tax for all passenger vehicles, it'd be at least as effective as regulation and wouldn't require lawsuits, additional engineering or any other dispersion of political capital.
the money raised from the taxes could be used to plant forests as carbon sinks.
Posted by: shaun mann | 16 September 2006 at 10:31 PM
California has Proposition 87 coming up in November. It would impose royalties on California oil like Texas and other states have had for a long time. The money would go to more renewable fuels, which would reduce CO2.
Posted by: SJC | 17 September 2006 at 12:45 AM
California is showing its independence from big business here. If California can induce more big businesses to move their operations out of state, the people living there will breathe much easier. Commerce has had the people of California by the throats for far too long. California can do fine with government employers, tort settlements, and amusement park concessions.
The golden state is saying it doesn't need big business, it's doing fine without it.
Posted by: Lukac | 17 September 2006 at 05:05 AM
Actauly all car makers wewre fighthing it because it makes for a much more fragmented and costly market.
But in the end ford and gm dont actauly care. They are jetisoning thier american operations and concentrating all money on far more profitable venstures outside the us.
The main factors in this are
1 Labor costs and pension costs and health care costs.
2 A change staring back a good while in young buyers bias in car brands.. Simply put all the marketing in the world couldnt face up vs a bias for forien cars even when both cars are made in the same plant;/
3 Alot more money to be had in china and mexico and elsewhere. These are international car companies and they are doing good elsewhere. They wont risk the good markets to invest in a bad market even if its the us.
What responsces you have seen are american workers trying to not get fired as the companies downsize.
Posted by: wintermane | 17 September 2006 at 07:00 AM
Lukac, I think it all depends on what buisiness you're talking about. For instance a big company like BP has thrown its support behind these changes. It all depends on what side of the CO2 fence you are sitting on and how innovative you are.
Posted by: marcus | 17 September 2006 at 10:17 AM
California can do just fine producing wind turbines, solar panels, ethanol plants, solar thermal home heating and a multitude of clean industries. We do not have to give in to the zero sum thinking that we must pollute to survive.
Posted by: SJC | 17 September 2006 at 11:02 AM
The consumer isn't without blame. If we hadn't had such a love affair with SUV's during the 90's regulations wouldn't be required. It was a choice to buy this type of vehicle and the environment had nothing to do with it. i just wokeup one morning in 1995 and said this is screwed up, traded in my 91 TransAm for a tercel and never looked back. i will never again purchase a vehicle that gets less then 40mpg highway with 2 passengers. Whoever makes those vehicles available to me will get my business and screw the rest.
Posted by: Scott58 | 17 September 2006 at 01:01 PM
I just have an epiphany today after rereading this thread:
Instead of filing frivolous lawsuits, all the car makers has to do is to install smaller engines into cars sold in California, and make em' more aerodynamic, lighter, tweaking the fuel control system a bit, and this objective of CO2 reduction of 30% can be achieved without extra cost to the customers and without resorting to the court. Mind over matters, engineering over litigation. Today's cars are way too powerful, much heavier than cars in past years, and aerodynamics of SUV's have worsened even in comparison to the cars of the 50's. We are just regressing in term of fuel efficiency and it take the courage of the state of California to do something about that.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 17 September 2006 at 01:37 PM
My sentiments mirror those of Scott58's. If I were to buy a new car (I barely drive my 1991 Chrysler New Yorker enough to justify my ownership of it, much less a new car), my choice must have most/all of the following:
Engine displacement equal to/less than 2 liters. All SUVs (except the Hyundai Tuscon/Kia Sportage) are automatically disqualified.
At least 27 miles per gallon in the city, at least 33 on the highway.
The ability to run on 87 octane fuel, or a diesel.
Must have a range of at least 300 miles on the freeway between stops. (When I DO drive, I like to take roadtrips to the Rockies/West Coast from Minnesota to snowboard)
At least 95 cu.ft of interior room, and at least enough room (with the rear seats down if necessary) to fit two mountain bikes. or about 45 cu.ft.
Currently, only the Toyota Matrix, Scion XB, Ford Focus Wagon and the Honda Fit satisfy my requirements. I looked at a PT Cruiser, but the 2.4 liter engine is just too BIG. VW Jetta TDI Wagons fit the bill, but they are no longer being imported. If anyone has a vehicle that they know fits my list, let me know.
Posted by: Bike Commuter Dude | 17 September 2006 at 03:14 PM
Lucas, I owned a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid and I am 100% sure mine did not have stability control. ABS, yes, but no stability control. Are you outside of the US market? How did you get one with stability control?
Posted by: zach | 17 September 2006 at 03:47 PM
Fuel efficiency has not worsened...it has improved. It is the fuel economy of vehicles that has become worse.
If you barely drive a vehicle you could always lease...lower cost if the vehicle holds its value well and you don't have to worry about going over on the mileage if you barely use your vehicle (and it makes sense to pay $200/month for a car you barely use rather than $350/month).
The bigger impact will probably be on businesses. Lucky for them California has some decent rebates on energy sources such as PV arrays.
Posted by: Patrick | 17 September 2006 at 03:47 PM
I don't know. Mine - bought in the US - had stability control. I just assumed they all did.
Posted by: Lucas | 18 September 2006 at 11:33 AM
When you think of innovation over litigation then look at the Insight and the Prius. Instead of taking California to court over the ZEV laws, the Japanese got busy implementing some of the same principles that were used in the PNGV program...namely a hybrid car. The Japanese produced them and the US car makers shelved them.
Posted by: SJC | 18 September 2006 at 01:38 PM
No Civic of ANY type sold in the USA has ever had stability control. Period.
Posted by: Sid Hoffman | 18 September 2006 at 11:50 PM
Stability control on Civic? Get real, lads.
Posted by: Andrey | 19 September 2006 at 01:08 AM