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newsrel -- Report on Technology for Zero Emission Vehicles

Posted: 31 May 2007 15:32:24
Hello,
Please consider the following Air Resources Board press release
announcing the report on the Zero Emission Vehicle Technology
Review.  You can review the release online at:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr053107.htm .
Thank You
Dimitri Stanich
______________________________________________________________
 
Release 07-20 	  	  	 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2007 	  	

CONTACT: 
Gennet Paauwe
(916) 322-2990
Karen Caesar
(626) 575-6728
www.arb.ca.gov

ARB Hears Progress Report on
Technology for Zero Emission Vehicles

San Diego -The California Air Resources Board (ARB) heard the
results of a year-long analysis on the state of Zero Emission
Vehicle (ZEV) technology. This ZEV Technology Review is part of
ARB's ongoing strategy to eliminate passenger vehicle emissions
that threaten the health and welfare of California's public.

"The Zero Emission Vehicle requirements are technology forcing
regulations and are producing the development of zero and very
low emission vehicles," said Dr. Robert Sawyer, ARB's
Chairperson. "The Board asked for this assessment to stay
current with advances in the technology and to assure that that
progress is matching our ZEV implementation schedule. The
rollout is progressing very well and manufacturers are providing
their required vehicle quotas according to the program's
timeline."

The ZEV Technology Review describes the results of the
Independent Expert Panel's (IEP) investigation. The IEP, made up
of five experts, looked at three key ZEV areas: battery energy
storage, hydrogen storage, and fuel cells. In the course of its
work members of the panel visited sites worldwide and were given
wide support and access to confidential manufacturer information.
The IEP also focused on the ability of car manufacturers to
commercialize these advances into production vehicles.

The IEP was able to project the short and long term prospects
for a number of advanced technologies ranging from hybrid and
plug in hybrids to fuel cell and battery electric vehicles.
Overall the study found that while progress is continuing and
consumer acceptance of "bridge" technologies such as hybrid
vehicles is encouraging, significant research and investment is
still needed to fully realize the mass commercialization of
ZEVs. The ARB did not change the ZEV regulations today but
directed staff to integrate the information into adaptive
changes that would reinforce the success of the ZEV effort. Such
proposals would be considered later this year.

The full report and biographies of the expert panel may be found
here.

In 1990 the ARB adopted regulations that required auto
manufacturers to offer California vehicles with zero evaporative
and tailpipe emissions as part of the state's low-emission
vehicle program. The regulation stipulated that in 1998, two
percent of the vehicles that large manufacturers produced for
sale in California must be ZEVs; increasing to five percent in
2001 and ten percent in 2003. Since its inception, the program
has been modified on several occasions to better reflect the
pace of technological development and the costs and realities of
the marketplace. These revisions maintained the integrity of the
program while adapting to technological and economic realities
that hampered ZEVs from being offered for sale in California.

The ZEV mandate is a technology forcing regulation and has
stimulated developments that have given consumers more options.
Now a variety of vehicles are available that match the needs of
drivers while being extremely low or non-emitting. Fuel Cell
Vehicles are being made and demonstrated in California. And many
vehicles are using hybrid systems to improve performance, and
advanced battery technologies are being used in applications far
beyond motor vehicles.

As with all control measures passed, ARB regularly reviews their
implementation and the technological and economic environment
within which industry operates. This assures that the means to
control harmful emissions is within industry's grasp and the
levels of required limits are reviewed and reduced as technology
advances. To that end the ARB board directed staff to conduct a
comprehensive investigation of the progress of ZEV technology.
Today's report is the culmination of that research. No changes
to the ZEV regulation were considered.


The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.

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