Comments on: California Regulators Could Kill Plug-in Hybrid Conversions

By: how to become taller

how to become taller — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:09:53 +0000

I own a Prius and the car starts and stops all the time. Whenever the car has less than 65% battery power it starts. Or when starting from a dead stop and creating more than 45% of the cars allotted torque.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 08:35:15 +0000

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:35:52 +0000

It astounds me that most proponents of plug-in electric and plug-in electric hydrid cars fail to intelligently discuss the source of all of the so called “clean” electricity. The reality is that the vast majority of electricity in the USA is produced in coal fired plants. These plants are (relatively) inefficent, and produce very large amounts of CO2 for the energy delivered. Also these plants are significant sources of other serious pollutants such as SO2, NOx, VOCs and particulates. In effect by using this technology we are simply displacing tail pipe CO2 emissions with emissions of CO2 and other pollutants to the location of these plants …. and inefficently at that! When are we/you going to start to take a wider perspective on these issues so that we can properly assess the OVERALL effects of implementing this type of technology.

By: RKRB

RKRB — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:32:32 +0000

FYI I just received an email from Dan Greenwood at 3Prongpower, which I hope was legitimate.

***It said the CARB voted unanimously to scrap the referenced proposal for the time being, despite the recommendations of its engineers.

THIS IS A VICTORY FOR THE AFTERMARKET CONVERTERS and 3Prongpower, which said they could not be happier with the result.***

So for those who took the time and energy (?) to push some electrons to the email site you listed, it looks like your efforts helped. The email said CARB received over 100 letters and emails, which is actually not very many. Those who want to eliminate the aftermarket plug-in conversions still have room for maneuvering, so keep us posted with similar info -- that's one reason we visit the hybridCars website.

By: AP

AP — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:07:51 +0000

CARB can't act on CO2 because it doesn't have the authority, nor should it. Why was California given special permission to create more stringent emissions laws? Because they had a (local) smog problem - not so they could try to solve global warming (which they couldn't do anyway)!

Global warming is a much larger problem than California, so it needs to be addressed in a different arena (the Federal level only). If Californians want to set an example and do extra to save the world, they should raise their gas tax by a dollar. California residents would then buy the more efficient vehicles CA wants to mandate, there would be no new regulations needed, and they might be able to balance their budget also.

By: RKRB

RKRB — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:51:16 +0000

Thanks for the useful link to the CARB website.

I am wondering if the number of vehicles CARB wants to test would be adequate for a statistical sampling anyway. This does not seem to do much for their image -- wonder how they explain such things to their kids??

By: mike_paul

mike_paul — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:14:00 +0000

I hope CARB is not acting on behalf of the oil companies and car manufactures as it has in the past. If so it should be replaced by a more unbiased body who will actually be concerned about air quality and the reduction of vehicle emissions.

By: ex-EV1 driver

ex-EV1 driver — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:46:27 +0000

Unfortunately, CARB, like any other bureaucracy, is stuck in the ’70′s and unable to change their mindset. They are singularly on reducing smog so they end up being a huge impediment to clean emissions. In addition to being a thorn (knife?) in the side of the PHEV folks, they have essentially killed the CNG conversion industry.

By: Grolf

Grolf — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:12:23 +0000

Anon,
If we are talking about co then yes, they would emit more. But the thing that is going to sink us (literally for us low coastal folks) is CO2. That is the big issue & CARB, per their mandate, is focussing on all the emissions. & bnot giving CO2 the importance it requires. It seems to me that a plug in hybrid that starts & warms its engine once after 40 miles of electric drive is very similar to a plain hybrid that starts up as soon as you push hard on the gas. After that point, they should emit about the same since they are then operating in the same way. Even though those 40 miles of plug power may come from a coal burning power plant, they are still less carbon intense than a gasoline engine. I’m sure there is something I’m missing.

By: fkramer@calcars.org

fkramer@calcars.org — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:35:58 +0000

Yes, this is a pretty significant development. For more background and a draft of CalCars’ testimony, see URGENT: What You Need to Know about California’s Plans to Regulate PHEV Conversions at http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/1039.html

– Felix Kramer, Founder, The California Cars Initiative