Isra-Mart srl: California's low carbon vehicles plan moves up a gear

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California has unveiled proposals to slash transport emissions and put 1.4 million electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered cars on its roads by 2025.

The Advanced Clean Car package of regulations put forward by the state's Air Resources Board (ARP) should result in a 75 per cent reduction in smog-forming emissions by 2025 and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 52 million tonnes, the equivalent of taking 10 million cars off the streets.

The proposed rules are in line with California's ambition to reduce its emissions 80 per cent by the middle of the century and come soon after US President Barack Obama published early plans to double car fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025.

As well as improving the efficiency of petrol and diesel cars, the regulations would aim to ensure low-carbon vehicles make up one in seven new cars sold in California in 2025 and should also supply the infrastructure to support them.

While the ARB noted implementing the technologies needed to achieve the new smog and greenhouse gas standards would increase a new vehicle's price in 2025 by about $1,900, it said this would be more than offset by $6,000 in fuel cost savings over the life of the car.

It expects the monthly cost of running a new car to fall by $12, even when considering the higher cost of the loan or lease, and predicts overall operating cost savings will reach $5bn in 2025, rising to $10bn in 2030 when more advanced cars are on the road.

Together, the entire package should result in a cumulative reduction of more than 870 million metric tonnes of greenhouse gases through to 2050, as well as creating an additional 21,000 jobs in 2025, rising to 37,000 in 2030.

"These rules will make California the advanced car capital of the world, driving the innovation, patents and technology that will generate thousands of jobs here, and set the stage for us to compete in the global clean car marketplace," said ARB executive officer James Goldstene.

However, the measures were criticised by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), which argued that the goals for zero-emissions vehicles should be stronger.

"California needs to ensure we get on the right trajectory to meet the state's public health and climate goals by mid-century," said Don Anair, senior engineer with the UCS Clean Vehicles programme.

"With more than 30 models of electric cars expected from automakers in the next few years, California should feel confident enough to eliminate special credits that could undermine the proposal and set a 30 per cent more aggressive sales target."