California lowers goal for zero-emission autos

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California air regulators Thursday gutted rules seeking to place tens of thousands of zero-emission vehicles on the road, instead ordering automakers to produce a fleet of cleaner-burning hybrids.

The decision is expected to affect 12 other states, including Washington, that had adopted California's target for zero-emission vehicles, defined as those powered solely by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells.

The California Air Resources Board voted to lower by 70 percent the number of those vehicles that automakers must sell in California and the states that intended to follow California's get-tough rules.

Instead, the board said the six largest automakers must sell nearly 60,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles in California while they develop the more advanced technology that will allow mass production of pure zero-emission vehicles.

The plug-in hybrids envisioned by the board have yet to be produced but are in development.

In essence, the air board took two steps: It cut the number of zero-emission vehicles it wants on the road by 2014 and offered an alternative, the gas-electric hybrids.

Environmentalists and health advocates criticized the zero-emission change.

Carmakers said they needed more time to make affordable hydrogen- and battery-powered cars.

Those that must comply with the rules are Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Chrysler and Nissan.

California adopted its zero-emission mandate in 1990. The rule required that 10 percent of new cars sold in the state by the six top carmakers be nonpolluting by 2003.

The rules have been modified four times.

Those adopted Thursday put the number of zero-emission vehicles required by 2014 at 7,500.