So they’re siding with more regulation? Must have a lot invested in the EV market I guess or an image to maintain.
That and of course Jim Farley's job, the challenge by 17 states in court might get interesting and eventually wind up at the Supreme Court to decide, CA's creating their own emissions standards was challenged and upheld some yrs back in court, but times have changed. I'm an advocate of EVs mostly because of their efficiency but as many have pointed out there are not for everyone and with the cost of lith-ion batts adversely affecting their pricing EVs won't be widely accepted without gov subsidies - which are so dependent on who rules the roost in D.C.
Hi DT,
Phil, I would be really curious to hear your thoughts on these regulatory agencies CARB, CAFE, EPA and whoever else has their hand in the pot regulating vehicle manufacturers from your engineering standpoint. I imagine it’s just nightmare trying to cope with all this while still providing people reliable vehicles at decent costs. I understand if you may not want to get into it but it would be interesting to hear from someone rather experienced in that industry and an engineer dealing with these issues at that. With my experience I can only really speak on the nuclear industry and the auto industry is very foreign to me.
Did a little reading on CARB - and all told 15 states (inc CA) have adopted the CARB standards - but some I think with respect to only autos as CARB at least in CA sets rules for gas powered lawnmowers, generators, etc. All other states are bound by EPA regulations, so it might well be an interesting court battle to see what entity comes out on top. So yes there is a lot more to CARB than just CA, CO is one of the adopting states with respect to autos but discussions have started here about outlawing the sale of small gas engines. As far as I can tell though CA is the only state that the EPA has granted a waiver allowing them to set their own standards.
Hi Shane,
Always follow the money. Same thing in the firearm industry.
Trying to keep wind in their sails to stay on the winning side. Had things been different for the outcome of 2020 more than likely Ford would be siding with removing CARB. CARB is the reason we can't adopt a global emissions standard, which would reduce cost of new cars which is a good thing. But we can't because it might emit .00002kg more than CARB resulting in the death of one individual over a 30 year period.
Absolutely, if they actually gave a shit about pollutants they would allow anything for modifications as long as equal or less came out the tailpipe, as it is now to be an approved part the company has to pay an large fee to have their part tested to get the OK sticker.
Which I end up finding ironic because automakers have always complained about lack of uniform standards. EPA should be either disbanded or reworked from the ground up to be more sensible. I refuse to condone what VW did but it sent a message that diesel laws were too restricted and it hurt the US market. Don't get me started on NHTSA as they are so incompetent the US is still over 10 years behind the globe for lighting and safety. While we try to figure out how to retrofit air-bags in classic cars, Europe has some of the most advanced lighting. One simple law here is the problem and they won't have it repealed: High and low beam lights must be on a separate circuit.
I understand your stance on states rights, however, CA has been shredding constitutional rights for decades. Nearly half of the state has no representation in government and thus no voice or power to block or introduce legislation. I think rest of the country believes all of California is supportive of it's ridiculous laws and policies but it's just not true. It's why so many people are leaving for other states, they've given up on being treated like a US Citizen. Unless you've lived here I doubt you'd really understand how restrictive nearly everything actually is. Everyone knows about the gun laws and ammunition background checks, I assume. Did you know you can't buy a catalytic converter yourself? You can't register a non California compliant vehicle like a Dual Sport or non CARB vehicle. You can't buy paint thinner (mineral spirits) or flavored tobacco. I could go on for ever. My point is at what point do you (not you in particular) start to care that we don't get the same rights as the rest of the country. It's a slippery slope as our crap policies usually spread.
My wife is from, and my in-laws still live in rural northern California.
