Never that interested in the auto industry before, I have recently been watching it closely in the news as plans for environmental and energy goals surface. On the Obama timeline, he implemented the Emission Standards bill during his first week as president. The bill directed the Environmental Protection Agency to re-evaluate their past rejection of California’s rigid greenhouse gas emissions from cars. California, among some 13 other states, wants to set their own, more strict, air pollution standards on automobiles to improve their air quality.
However, during this economic downturn, it is difficult for the auto industry to retool and balance the challenge of new standards. The California law requires automakers to cut emissions by a third by 2016, four years ahead of the national agenda. They will have to quickly produce and sell cars that get higher mileage, from the current average of 27 miles per gallon to roughly 35 miles – but only for these certain states? Even though the technology is ready in California, can automakers meet the expectations without handicapping the industry, and without suffering job loss? If so, Obama will order regulations to be complete soon so automakers have time to renovate for vehicles sold in 2011 and not lose a year.
I believe global warming is not a state-by-state issue and there should not by different standards for different states. I do applaud California for their initiatives. But, in addition, applying standards to only California creates confusing manufacturing models that are not consistent across the country, not something automakers need to complicate their work. California has said they will not accept a standard lower than their state’s; hopefully there is a federal standard that will be best for all states. Obama has also called on the Department of Transportation to raise national fuel efficiency standards.
Car makers worldwide should reduce emissions. The Global Fuel Economy Initiative is aimed at reducing fuel expenditures per kilometer by 50% by 2050 (coined 50 by 50). New to mass-market commercialization are battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and perhaps hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Though not necessary to achieving the 50% decrease, these highly developed technologies will complimentarily reduce CO2 and further oil savings, not to mention craft a new market for employees who have been laid off the past months. This way support for auto industry during a time of economic recession is combined with achieving environmental and energy goals.
