Challenging Emissions Cuts | Green Energy News

December 5, 2004 – Vol.9 No.37

CHALLENGING EMISSION CUTS.

You’d think given dire warnings about the consequences of climate change, high gasoline prices, terrorist attacks brought on, in part, by oil policy, and the war in Iraq which could spread beyond its borders to other oil states, that car companies would be more willing to make major changes to increase fuel economy even if it is by mandate.

Nope. It’s business as usual despite the obvious problems with over consumption, over reliance on oil.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, representing its nine car-producing members, has joined a group of California automobile dealers to challenge California’s law that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.

Since most vehicles, in California and elsewhere, run on gasoline or diesel fuel, cutting greenhouse gas emissions is, in effect, an attempt by California to set their own fuel economy standards. The less gas burned the fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

The Alliance claims that Federal fuel economy standards should usurp California’s. California should not have the right to set its own standards they say.

The group, that represents BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen, also claims that consumers should maintain vehicle choice. Demand for high-technology, low-emission vehicles should be driven by consumers, possibly with the help of government incentives like tax credits for hybrid electric vehicle purchases.

They believe that forcing California consumers to purchase high fuel economy vehicles would cost consumers an additional $3000 per car, an outlay that wouldn’t be made up by buying less fuel.

They also say that California’s regulation would reduce greenhouse gases by only 1/10 of 1 percent globally and have no effect on California’s temperature or climate. (Probably true enough, but if other states adopt California’s stance, then emissions reduction would be greater.)

The Alliance clearly makes the point that any reduction in greenhouse gas emissions should be consumer driven, but the organization doesn’t point out that car manufacturers are only voluntarily producing a handful of high fuel economy models. With the exception of Toyota, and Ford’s one advanced technology model, the Escape hybrid, Alliance members are slow off the mark in offering consumers high-technology, highly-efficient cars and light trucks.

Honda, which is the darling among manufacturers for fuel efficient vehicles, is not a member of the Alliance but currently has the largest number of fuel efficient vehicle models from which to choose. Volkswagen, a member, offers high-fuel economy diesels, but cannot sell those cars in California because those cars don’t meet toxic emission standards there.

So, if emissions reduction is to reflect consumer demand, then manufacturers need to step up the pace of introducing new, greener vehicles to the marketplace. Visit the Alliance at http://www.autoalliance.org/ .