State of California
AIR RESOURCES BOARD
Summary of Board Meeting
May 12-13, 1994
State Building
Auditorium, Room 1138
107 South Broadway
Los Angeles,
California
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Hons. Jacqueline E. Schafer, Chairwoman
Brian Bilbray
Eugene A. Boston, M.D.
Joseph C. Calhoun, P.E.
Lynne T. Edgerton, Esq.
M. Patricia Hilligoss
John S. Lagarias, P.E.
Jack C. Parnell
Barbara Riordan
Doug Vagim
Harriett Wieder
AGENDA ITEM # 94-5-1
Public Meeting to Consider a Status Report on the Implementation of the Low-Emission Vehicle RegulationsSUMMARY OF AGENDA ITEM:
On May 12-13, 1994, ARB staff presented the second biennial update of the California low-emission vehicle and clean fuel regulations, which were initially adopted by the Board in September 1990. The low-emission vehicle regulations created four new categories of vehicles: transitional low-emission vehicles (TLEVs); low-emission vehicles (LEVs); ultra-low-emission vehicles (ULEVs); and zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
Based on discussions with emission control suppliers and automobile manufacturers, plus testing of advanced prototype vehicles at ARB, the staff concluded that technology is available to meet the requirements of the TLEV, LEV, and ULEV categories. The cost of these low-emission vehicles was determined to be moderate and the program was found to be highly cost-effective. TLEVs were estimated to cost an additional $66 for the consumer, LEVs an additional $120, and ULEVs an additional $227. In contrast, manufacturers' cost estimates were significantly higher than ARB estimates. However, manufacturers did not provide any data to substantiate their claims.
Concerning ZEVs, the staff provided an assessment of advances in ZEV technology, projected costs, potential consumer demand, and environmental and economic benefits of ZEVs. Significant technological progress has been made since the ZEV mandate was adopted by the Board in 1990. Based on this progress, the staff concluded that technology is developing at a rate that will produce a commercially viable electric vehicle by 1998. The staff also found that the cost of electric vehicles, including batteries, will be similar to the cost of conventional vehicles in the long-term, and that electric vehicles represent a cost-effective means of reducing emissions in California. With regard to consumer demand, the staff concluded that electric vehicles can satisfy the average daily travel needs of most California consumers and have the potential to achieve considerable market penetration by 1998. Most importantly, the staff analysis shows that electric vehicles offer significant emission reduction benefits because they do not have tailpipe emissions or emission control equipment that can deteriorate over time. In addition, electric vehicles have the potential to create new opportunities for economic growth in California as a result of the ZEV requirement.
The Board heard testimony from legislators, auto manufacturers, battery manufacturers, utilities, government agencies, and other interested parties. The Board heard that the technology is available to meet the requirements for TLEVs, LEVs, and ULEVs on schedule and that the program is cost-effective. After hearing both the proponents and opponents of the ZEV mandate, the Board acknowledged that the mandate continues to be a positive force towards achieving the goals of the low-emission vehicle regulations, and that it must remain in place. The Board indicated it will involve itself in assuring sucessful implementation of the regulation, including market, infrastructure, and battery development. The Board also assured interested parties that if new and compelling information becomes available, the Board will schedule meetings to review the new information.
ORAL TESTIMONY:
Senator Tom Hayden California State Senate
Assemblyman Bernie Richter California State Assembly
Dr. Richard Klimisch Engineering Affairs Div., AAMA
Peter Pestillo Ford
Sam Leonard GM
Gordon Allardyce Chrysler
Robert Stempel Retired Chair/CEO, GM
Gregory Dana AIAM
Yoshitomo Shito JAMA
John Schutz Nissan
Jonathan Haines Toyota
John Williams USABC
Michael Fetcenko Ovonic
Dr. Ing Wolfgang Jutting AEG
John Jones INCO SPP
Bill Auxer Silent Power
Bill Craven Horizon/Electrosource
Dana Drescher DEMI
Jonathan Whartman Electric Fuel
Robert Nelson, Ph.D. International Lead Zinc
Reznor Orr Powercell
Dan Spak Westinghouse
Bill Tiedman Johnson Controls
Sanjay Deshpande GNB Battery Technology
Wayne Davis Trojan
David A. Bushey El Dorado Systems Concept 80's
Bruce Bertelsen MECA
Michael Gage CALSTART
Charles Imbrecht CEC
Cece Martin Electric Transportation Coalition
Greg Vlasek
California Natural Gas Vehicle
Coalition
Clark Gellings EPRI
Reste Bevilaqua BKI for EPRI
Diane Wittenberg So. Cal. Edison
Roland Risser PG&E
Andrew Hirsch The Gas Company
Winston Ashizawa SMUD
Frank Lynch Hydrogen Consultants
Venki Raman Air Products
Bob Flemmings Ballard Power Systems
Dr. Ray Smith
Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory
Peter A. Lehman, Ph.D. Humboldt State
Mitja Hinderks
California Alternate Propulsion
Co.
Dennis Virag Automotive Consulting Group, Inc.
Assemblyman Richard Katz California State Assembly
Hank Wedaa
SCAQMD/North American Clean
Air Coalition
Norton Younglove Riverside County
Dr. James Lents SCAQMD
John Cox SCAG
Marvin Braude City of Los Angeles
Mahesh Talwar Santa Barbara APCD
Dan Sperling Institute of Transportation Studies
Tom Turrentine Institute of Transportation Studies
Richard Maulin Fairbank, Maslin, and Maulin
Peter Welch
California Motor Car Dealers
Assoc.
Jerry Mader Mader and Associates
Robin Segal University of Pennsylvania
Lon Bell Amerigon
Doug Henderson WSPA
Victor Magistrale, Ph.D. American Lung Association
Gladys Meade American Lung Association
Dennis Zane Coalition for Clean Air
Janet Hathaway NRDC
Roland Hwang Union of Concerned Scientists
Jennifer Jennings
Planning and Conservation
League
Carlos Porras
Citizens For A Better
Environment
Mary Raftery CALPIRG
Paul Staples Clean Air Now
John McCaull National Audubon Society
James McKenzie World Resources Institute
V. John White V. John White Associates
Bud Phillips Monitor Co.
Carl Perry U.S. Electricar
Gorik Hossepian Allied Signal
Neil Garcia-Sinclair IWON Motronics
Howard Wilson Citizen
Norman Conwill EPTI
Bob Martino
Battery Automated
Transportation
Joseph Hoffman Westinghouse
John Reuyl, Ph.D. NEVCOR
Alan Holmes Citizen
Anthony Trujillo Citizen
Jamison Handy, Jr. Citizen
Tom Hansen Citizen
John Howell Citizen
Chris Niles Labor Watchdog Group
Howard Olson Citizen
Lee Stephens BESCI
Anthony Bolotsky Citizen
Tom Austin Sierra Research
Malcom Currie Project California
FORMAL BOARD ACTION: None
RESPONSIBLE DIVISION: MSD
STAFF REPORT: Yes (84 pages)
Copyright 1994