Re: EVLN(% Bush: Let them eat smog %)

[josh <joshl@myrealbox.com>]

>>The revised rules, driven in part by the technical and
>>marketing problems with electric vehicles, cut the
>>requirements to 2 percent electric cars (about 4,600
>>vehicles) and a mix of gasoline-electric hybrids and "very
>>low emission" vehicles. The fuel economy of the hybrids
>>would be a factor in how much they count against the
>>electric-vehicle requirement.
>
>Since mileage is directly connected to a manufacturer's compliance 
>with the ZEV, there's your nexus.  After reading this summary (and 
>not having read a word of the actual statutes at issue, by way of a 
>warning to the reader) I'd have to conclude that the auto-makers have 
>a pretty good case.  Of course, the provisions tying mileage to 
>compliance with the ZEV may be severable, allowing the law to be 
>enforced in a limited way, depending on the precise wording of the 
>statute, so even if the state loses, it may not be a total loss. 
>And, of course, there are plenty of ways to re-write the statute that 
>would not cause a tie-in with vehicle mileage, if that becomes 
>politically feasible within the state.

Thx it looks like you got to the tie-in.  It's a pity because mileage
*is* related to emissions.  Even if one discounts CO2, improving
mileage might often improve emissions problems in the sense that if
you burn less fuel per mile, and if your emissions per unit fuel are
fairly constant whether you're burning lean or not, then you'd have
less emissions per mile.  'Course, those are big ifs, but I think
one's non-CO2 emissions on the balance would be lower with dramatic
mileage improvements.  Because of legalities we're all trying to say
they're not related to mileage improvements, but I would have to
somewhat disagree.

I also think that it should be questioned whether different CO2
percentages in the atmosphere inter-act with the other emissions in
subtle ways.... whether it's sort of a package deal if the CO2 on its
own is one thing but inter-acting with the other emissions and
atmospheric conditions (sunlight, etc.) is another matter.

Just drove through LA, and a bit in NYC.  Yuck, particularly LA.
They've made progress.  They haven't fixed the emissions problem yet.

jl