GM proposes nationwide zero-emission vehicle sales mandate
DETROIT (AP) – General Motors says it will ask the federal government for a national gas environment standard, including a requirement that a percentage of car sales sales are zero-emission vehicles.
Mark Reuss, GM Executive Vice President Product Development, said the company would suggest that a certain percentage of nationwide sales consist of vehicles running on electricity or hydrogen fuel cells.
"A national zero-emission program will drive the scope and infrastructure investments needed to allow the United States to lead the way to a future of zero-emission," said Reuss.
GM, the nation's largest automaker, spelled the request Friday in written comments on a Trump administration proposals to roll back the Obama era's fuel economy and emission standards, freezing them by 2020 levels instead of gradually making them tougher.
California Gov. Jerry Brown, whose state was one of many opponents to mileage repayments filing obj ections to The Trump plan, standing in front of Interstate 5 in Sacramento on Friday to encourage the cause of cleaner cars and condemning the administration proposal.
"Stupid, it fuels gas guzzlers instead of clean and zero-emissions vehicles," Brown told reporters as trucks and passenger traffic roared by. "Wrong way to go, Donald. Bring it. Bad. "
According to a regulation completed by the Environmental Agency at the end of the Obama administration, the fleet of new cars had to get 36 miles per gallon (1[ads1]5 kilometers per liter) by 2025, 10 miles per gallon (4 kilometers per liter) higher than today's requirements.
But the Trump Administration's preferred plan is to freeze the standards that begin in 2021. Administration officials say renouncing tougher fuel efficiency requirements will make vehicles more affordable, which will bring safer cars into
GM on Thursday said it did not support the freezer but would have the flexibility to handle the consumer's switch from cars to less efficient SUVs and lorries.
Its proposed requirements will be based on current standards now required in California and nine other states. These rules must GM sell at least 2 200 full electric cars in California this year, or about 1.1 percent of the approximately 200,000 cars, trucks and SUVs like it nor painted salesman in the state every year.
California sets the requirements based on a complex formula that evaluates the total number of vehicles sold by a car manufacturer and provides credits for full electric vehicle sales and sub-credits for plug-in gas-electric hybrid cars. Credit can be beaten or sold to other car manufacturers who need them.
GM's proposal would set lower requirements for zero-emission requirements than California, but spread them to the entire nation. The requirements will gradually increase to 2025.
Reuss said that GM's proposal is a starting point for discussion about a set of national fuel efficiency and zero-emission vehicle standards.
"We really want a national set of standards," he says. so. "Engineering to more standards is very expensive and honest, unnecessary."
Federal and California Gas Environment Standards have been the same since 2010. But if President Donald Trump's administration ends up relaxing, it can create two standards, one for California and the states that follow it, and another for the rest of the nation.
California, whose unique authority to set its own vehicle emission standards, would be rolled back under the administration's proposal, submitted over 400 pages of analyzes that rejected the plan and the research behind it.
California argues for freezing emission standards in six model years will worsen climate change, lower research into cleaner technologies and lead to higher petrol expenditures. It is also said that the plan is disturbing the US automotive industry because other countries can take the lead in developing affordable electric vehicles and batteries.
"I think many car companies know that they need to build clean, electric or hydrogen cars," Brown said on Friday's interstate news conference. "If they do not, they will work for Chinese companies."
Separately, 21 lawyers in general and five cities signed a letter saying that the administration's proposal is illegal.
Trump could challenge California's power to set its own standards issued under the Clean Air Act, which could set up a long legitimate battle since California has promised to defend itself to reduce contamination.
EPA's acting administrator, Andrew Wheeler, has said he wants a single driving standard nationally. Wheeler "has promised to work seriously with states and stakeholders to find a solution when we comment on the new proposal," said agency spokesman James Hewitt on Friday.
Environmental groups will still oppose any changes in standards. Climate Campaign, an environmentally friendly group, said that car manufacturers like GM want the federal government to set standards instead of California because it's easier to lobby for loopholes in Washington.
"Auto companies will be able to make a small number of electric vehicles and a large number of gas-fired SUVs and other trucks instead of complying with existing mileage and emission regulations, "Becker says.
The deadline for written comments on Trump's management plan was due Friday, with a final decision expected in March.
GM, offering the 238 miles electric Chevrolet Bolt, and the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt, has invested millions to develop battery technology, so more electric vehicle sales nationwide would help the bottom line. The company has promised to introduce 20 new all-electric vehicles globally by 2023.
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Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, DC, and Jonathan J. Cooper in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report.
