updates
issues
resources
action
about
Last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a landmark regulation requiring automakers to reduce global warming pollution from new vehicles. The historic regulation, adopted by unanimous vote, limits the amount of greenhouse gas emitted by new cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks sold in California starting in model year 2009. These new standards will cut average greenhouse gas emissions by about 22 percent by 2012 and about 30 percent by 2016 from new cars and light trucks in the state.
California's effort is the first in the country to regulate motor vehicles for their contributions to global climate change. Seven other states including New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine are also considering following California's lead, having already adopted California's tighter tailpipe standards for smog. New York Governor Pataki and Massachusetts Governor Romney have both announced their support for adopting the regulation in their own states. Across the border, Canada is considering adopting the historic standards as well.
For more information, check out the CARB press release.
In support of CARB's landmark decision on reducing vehicle greenhouse gas pollution, Environmental Defense has released, "Automaker Carbon Burdens in California. "According to the report, automakers are responsible for nearly 40% of the annual carbon burden - the total carbon emissions- in the state, the single largest portion of the state's greenhouse gas pollution. This marks a significant opportunity for automakers to apply existing and developing technologies to reduce their share of the state's carbon burden.
View the report, "Automaker Carbon Burdens in California."
Ford's Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid SUV, began making its way into dealerships this summer. The hybrid Escape boasts a fuel economy improvement of 50% over its conventional V-6 counterpart, achieving an estimated 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg in highway driving. It also meets the nation's tightest possible tailpipe pollution standard other than the zero emissions of battery-only cars. The Escape Hybrid is the first hybrid made in the U.S. available to the consumer market. Demand for the hybrid SUV is so high, Ford recently decided to quadruple the number of vehicles it plans to produce this year, bringing total production to 17,000 vehicles.
Find out more about the Ford Escape Hybrid.
Honda has announced a new addition to its hybrid line-up, the Accord Hybrid, which will reach showrooms on December 3. With a 3-liter V6 engine, the 2005 Accord Hybrid has the biggest gasoline engine yet in a hybrid vehicle. It's also the first hybrid to be more powerful than its conventional counterpart: 255 hp vs. the gasoline-only V6's 240 hp. The Accord Hybrid has estimated fuel economy ratings of 30 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, 35% higher than the conventional V6 Accord.
Find out more about the Honda Accord Hybrid.
On August 4th, a coalition of environmental and labor leaders kicked-off the Green Machines Tour in Kansas City, Missouri, home of Ford's new Escape Hybrid SUV - the first U.S.-made hybrid and the world's first hybrid SUV. The coalition teamed up to showcase hybrids and other fuel-efficient vehicles being made in the U.S. and to let drivers know that its now possible to support both the environment and our country's union workers. The Green Machines Tour is organized by the Michigan-based Ecology Center.
For more information, please visit the Green Machines Tour.
email: info@cleancarcampaign.org