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| Ford has introduced an all-new generation of fuel cell technology in its Focus FCV. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
California's air-quality decisions have long affected both neighboring U.S. states and Canada's provinces due to its 10% plus slice of new US car sales. That said the modern car's current low emissions can be indirectly attributed to the state's stringent policies over the last 30 years.
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| DaimlerChrysler's fuel cell vehicle NECAR 5 and the Jeep Commander 2 use methanol, a liquid storage medium for hydrogen. In the fuel cell, hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce electricity for the drive system. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler) |
Still, its 1990 mandate that was to be instituted this year may have been overly optimistic. While a worthy goal, an insufficient infrastructure for either recharging electrically powered vehicles or refueling compressed gaseous hydrogen fuel cell or liquid hydrogen powered combustion engine vehicles is a long way from becoming reality, despite sincere efforts by auto manufacturers to develop new zero-emissions vehicles. This alone is reason enough to relax the upcoming mandate.
"The rules have been simplified to some degree, and I think they show we've addressed some of the (automaker's) concerns," Martin told Bloomberg News. "Obviously we hope this encourages them to drop their lawsuits so we can move ahead with a program that improves air quality."