CARB Plans Post-2016 Emissions Standards

by Edward Niedermeyer

May 21st, 2009 4:28 PM

carb plans post 2016 emissions standards

Early reports on the new national emissions/CAFE standard seemed to imply that California would be barred from moving the goalposts again on emissions. Not so, it seems. Automotive News [sub] reports that California’s Air Resource Board (CARB) is preparing the next round of emissions standards, and (surprise!) they will become more strict rather than the other way around. Or, as CARB Chair Mary Nichols puts it, 2016 will see the emergence of “a much more stringent standard.”

“We will be working with our colleagues at EPA,” says Nichols, “but the reality is that because California is one state with a very strong market and a history of desire for advanced vehicles, we can move much more quickly and aggressively than the federal government.” What else can we expect from CARB? Caps on pollution by big rig diesel trucks to requirements that gasoline and other providers cut the amount of carbon in their fuel, according to Nichols. However, future changes to California’s emissions standards will have to be approved by state legislators, and a waiver must be obtained from the EPA.

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Johnthacker on May 21, 2009
Heck, nowadays Camrys have 300 hp, so any claims clean means slow are hard to swallow. Sure, people exaggerate, but there is a inverse relationship between fuel economy and power. Engines do improve over time, certainly; that's why, as you note, cars have gotten more power without getting worse fuel economy than 15 years ago. Most improvements have gone into power. It's absolutely certain that these regulations will mean less power than without them. If engine technology continues to advance quickly enough (and the regulations aren't too strict), then it will only mean a slowing in the rate of power improvements. If not, then we could actually go backwards in power. It's not going to be armageddon, but it's equally untrue to pretend that it won't mean less power than otherwise. And of course the "flame will remain alive" because car companies will still be able to sell small numbers of powerful cars regardless; even if the average car has to slow down, those not in hoi polloi will be always be able to get more power.

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ChuckR on May 21, 2009

That person cannot possibly be a representative of CARB. Where is the shiny red nose? And I'll bet she isn't wearing size 20 shoes, either. After CARB's electric car mandate debacle, all agency representatives must wear a minimum amount of clown attire to satisfy truth in advertising requirements. Or so I was told.

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Psarhjinian on May 22, 2009

How about you vote them out of the union? Oh, wait, aren't they the economic powerhouse of the US, and about the only state aside from New York with a semblance of an profitable export market? Don't the essentially foot the operating expense of several unprofitable middle American states? Geeze, the California sour grapes would be enough to supply a winery. Which would be another world-class industry the US would have next to none of were California to go away.

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Wolven on May 22, 2009

Why is it that enviro activist public servants never look like Shania Twain?

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