Has CARB given any consideration to EV conversion kits, which GM
and Ford are now selling [1,2]? Probably other manufacturers would
also enter the EV retrofit market if regulatory incentives
encourage them to do so.
An EV conversion upgrade of an
ICE vehicle could provide the same environmental benefit as a new
EV, and should be given the same regulatory credit. That would be
the case even if the converted vehicle has limited remaining
lifecycle VMT because the EV motor and batteries would probably far
outlast the vehicle and could be sold for reuse in another car.
CARB's Clean Cars program seems to be limited in scope to
new vehicles, but EV conversion kits could facilitate accelerated
retirement of existing ICE engines. Moreover, EV conversion kits
could enable low-income drivers, who cannot afford a new car, to
share in the economic benefits of EV technology. Government
subsidies and financing for EV vehicles might have a much bigger
environmental impact, and could better serve less affluent drivers,
if they are applied to EV conversions rather than being limited
exclusively to new vehicle sales.
[1] Retrofitting
Older Cars with Electric Motors Could Transform Transport,
Discovery, by Robin Fearon, November 01, 2021 https://www.discovery.com/motor/retrofitting-older-cars-with-electric-motors-could-transform-tra
[2] Converting Your Gas-Powered Car to Electric,
Treehugger, by Justin Thomas, May 22, 2022 https://www.treehugger.com/converting-your-car-to-an-electric-vehicle-4858603
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