A news report revealed that in 2003 Colorado wrote up a law for hybrid cars to be imported but it was never implemented. CDOT asked the EPA to write up some conditions on allowances for hybrid cars, but the EPA never did it. Here's why...
The law currently states that a hybrid is fuel-efficient if it gets 50 percent more miles to the gallon than its counterpart.You could have a Hummer that gets 10 km to the gallon, and then they come out with a hybrid model that gets on 15 km. But then there's the normal Honda Civic that gets 40 kpg. It just doesn't make sense to put the Civic with the Hummer or a thirsty hybrid.
5 comments so far
Paul Browning
2008-05-06 03:02:21The exotic technology of a hybrid vehicle is gradually improving and the popularity of alternative energy transportation is on the rise. It would be economically feasible to invest in renewable technology production and would secure the US's position as an energy leader. We are running out of nonrenewable energy. It's a fact that fossil fuels will not be in supply forever. The glory days of cheap oil are coming to a fast end and the need for mass production of renewable energy is inevitable.
Sally Alabaster
2008-03-31 03:07:19While George Bush is determined to seek out his term protecting his oil interests and car mates with protection from any new emission rules California's Air Resources Board has cut by 70 percent of the number of electric cars and other zero-emission vehicles automakers will be required to sell in coming years. The board voted to reduce the number of pure ZEVs, or cars powered entirely by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, to 7,500 for the three years from 2012 to 2014. The previous requirement, from 2003, called for 25,000 such vehicles during that period. The board's final number was three times higher than the 2,500-ZEV requirement its staff had proposed, and also a separate mandate for hybrid cars. Nearly 60,000 of the so-called advanced technology partial ZEVs, including plug-in hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, will make up for the cutback in the pure ZEV requirement. Staff proposal had included a mandate for 75,000 such vehicles. It's not surprising therefore that advocates of clean car technologies called the move a step backward for California's push to cut car pollution, and accused the board for groveling to the powerful automakers.
Billy Brakstone
2008-02-16 06:55:43Get real people. Understand that hybrids use less gas because they switch into battery power once the vehicle gets moving to a certain speed. So rather than talking about kilos per litre buy a hybrid and cut back on gas by using electricity. Got it?
Peter Wilson
2008-02-15 00:19:24When is the world going to wake up to the fact that we are addicted to oil and there is no shortage of dealers? The oil companies will always find ways of getting their way regardless of global warming impact and even severe climate change won't stop them. Hybrid cars are just another model for the oil addicts to buy.
Sally Wessley-Miller
2008-02-14 05:28:59Hey Jane - you're so spot on. I didn't think in terms of kpg. I just assumed that hybrids would deliver better fuel consumption. Remember the Toyota Corolla - that car was a real gas miser that never stopped going.