SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- California regulators have drastically cut the number of zero-emission vehicles required to be sold in the state by the year 2014, a decision that frustrated environmentalists but came as a relief to auto manufacturers.
The rules adopted Thursday put the number of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles that automakers sell in California at 7,500 by 2014 -- a 70 percent reduction from the 2003 target.
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Auto manufacturers said they could not meet the California standard and needed more time to make affordable hydrogen and battery-powered cars.
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The decision is expected to affect 12 other states that had adopted California's target for zero-emission vehicles.
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The air board said the six largest automakers must sell nearly 60,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles in California while they develop the more advanced technology that will allow mass production of pure zero-emission vehicles.
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more:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/03/28/zero.emission.ap/index.htmlBefore you can ask ... about 1.5 million new vehicles are sold in the state each year.