California May Pull Plug On Electric Cars

[Kadie]

Mar 27, 2008 11:31 am US/Pacific

California May Pull Plug On Electric Cars


SACRAMENTO (AP) ―
California air regulators on Thursday began considering a major revision to the state's auto emissions program, cutting the number of battery-powered and hydrogen vehicles that automakers must produce for California and 12 other states.

Auto manufacturers say they need more time, but the proposal before the California Air Resources Board has drawn criticism from environmentalists, health advocates and some leading political figures. They question whether the state can afford to relax the rules on automakers in the era of global warming.

"Our goal here today is to emerge with a whole new direction that will get this program on track," air board chairwoman Mary Nichols said. "Our goal is to have California's vehicle program to be the testbed and California be the state where manufacturers first bring their best, cleanest technology."

California adopted its zero-emission vehicle mandate in 1990. The rule required that 10 percent of new cars sold in the state by the country's six major auto manufacturers be completely nonpolluting by 2003.

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