California all but abandons electric car requirements

In a historic shift, the state of California announced today a series of new rules that largely abandon the state’s 12-year commitment requiring automobile companies to build and sell electric cars.

By the Mercury News

The California Air Resources Board said electric car technology has not lived up to its promise, and that instead, state smog officials will allow hybrid cars, including the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic and other soon-to-be released models, to qualify under its clean car rules.

Since 1990, California has led the nation in pushing for purely electric cars. But after spending billions, automakers still could not build an electric car that could travel more than about 100 miles without needing recharging and sell for under $35,000.

Hybrid cars, by comparison, cost about $20,000, run on a gas-electric system that delivers 50 miles per gallon or more, emit almost no smog, and don’t need recharging.

Today’s move, which was criticized by some environmentalists, also is expected to help the state overcome a lawsuit by the automakers and the Bush administration, which argued that California was forcing Detroit to build costly electric cars that had little consumer interest.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/5307732.htm