CARB
shmarb? Incentives not regulations?
Friday, March 28, 2008
The
hybrid wars are coming
So CARB has scaled back its ZEV, or Zero Emission Vehicle,
standards for 2014. Does it really matter?
In the past CARB has done an excellent job of poking and
prodding automakers towards the electrification of the
automobile, but its focus today is becoming irrelevant.
While automakers are lying when they say CARB's original
requirements for 2014 are impossible, it is probably true
that the standard would have been largely ineffective.
While it's possible to produce such a batch of ZEVs by
2014, it's just not cost-effective.
Besides, for automakers the race to zero emissions is on.
Achieving near zero emissions will, ultimately, be the
litmus test for automaker survival. Still, it seems the
quickest way to zero emissions is by putting as many of
today's hybrid
vehicles on the road as possible. Thus, wouldn't
market incentives, rather than market regulations be the
best solution for the quickest results?
Incentives for buying hybrids creates hybrid competition,
and that competition naturally supports and develops
advanced hybrid powertrains, including plug-in
hybrids, range-extended hybrids and even fuel cell
hybrids.
Aren't consumers the next step towards ZEVs? Isn't it time
for incentives, not regulations?
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