Jalopnik: carbon dioxide

Screw CAFE, California Wants 43.7 MPG: Automakers to Appeal States-Rights Ruling

tingwall — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:15:00 EDT

As if automakers already didn't need blood-pressure meds from the gub'ment's proposed CAFE changes, the industry's now preparing to make another run at state exhaust regulations. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is appealing a district-court ruling this past September that upholds states' ability to regulate exhaust emissions. Automakers had argued that federal law pre-empted state rules, which they say are overly strict. California, for example, recently upped the ante with a required 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2016 — with a phase-in starting in 2009. Automakers say the new regs are too much too soon, noting that to hit California's top mark, their cars must average 43.7 mpg. As they say in Pall Mall, "That's not bloody likely."

In his September ruling, US District Judge Ron Sessions said industry's been known to respond "admirably" to such technological challenges. (We're sure Thomas Friedman is readying his fiery attack.) Since California proposed the legislation, 11 more states have adopted it. But before California or any other state can introduce its own emissions regulations, it must receive approval from the EPA, which is expected within the next few months. Additionally, the Bush administration will propose a new set of tailpipe standards before 2008. Scramble the lobbyists! Swarm! Swarm! [The Detroit News]

Higher Road Tax for Luxury Vehicles Coming to UK?

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:45:00 EDT

Blighty's system of taxes for higher-emissions vehicles have some environmental activists calling for a new level of taxes for such vehicles as the blown Range Rover. Currently, vehicles fall into bands A through G. The called-for "H" band would propose and additional five-hundred quid tax, hopefully screwing up the vehicles' resale value and thus making them less attractive to well-heeld Britons. We're not entirely sure what we think. One hand, we support the idea. On the other hand it's emblematic of the massive panic about carbon-dioxide and vehicles' role in it in the UK. And well, panicking Britons are especially irksome. [What Car?]

Europe Considers Banning High Performance Cars

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 18:15:00 EDT

Sweet George Washington. Looks like the green-toothed, cheese-eating surrender monkeys are saddling up to the hoon-hating Pope. Sorry to revert to silly stereotypes, but this is just lousy. European leaders are in talks with each other discussing the possibility of banning high-powered sports cars on the Continent (and in Great Britain). Why? Global warming. The metric they are working with is that any car capable of going 25% faster than the Euro-norm of 130 kph (about 80 mph) is producing too much CO2. That means that under the proposal, any car that can travel 100 mph will be banned come 2013. Casting aside our hard-won journalistic integrity for a moment, this legislation is so impossibly stupid our head hurts. We once got our old 1.8-liter Sentra shitbox up to 120 mph in Arizona. Luckily, even if this does become law, none of this nonsense will have any legal teeth in Germany (because Germans are awesome), and as Germans make up a large number of the EU members with votes (99 out of 785) hopefully they can ~~beat~~ talk some sense into their ~~insane~~ stuffy friends. Or at least vote early and often. For the record, Jalopnik votes no. – Jonny Lieberman

Europe considers ban on performance cars [Motor Authority]