California Vehicle GHG Standards

On June 30, 2009 the EPA granted a waiver allowing California to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from vehicles within the state. California and the other states which have adopted the California standard have agreed to conform to the federal standard from 2012 to 2106. With the waiver decision, they will be able to regulate vehicle emissions from now until the federal standard takes effect in 2012, and after 2016.

Executive Summary of the EPA's Waiver Decision [1]
Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards [2] (more information)

On May 19, 2009, President Obama announced a national standard for passenger vehicles that will be set through a joint rulemaking process between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). By 2016, the federal standard will achieve the same fuel economy improvement as the California standard would have – 35.5mpg – and will also include a greenhouse gas emission limit per vehicle. California has agreed to amend AB 1493 to conform to the federal standard from 2012 to 2016, if it receives a waiver to set its own vehicle standards after 2016 and enforce its own standards for model years 2009 to 2011. Under this agreement, automakers have also agreed to drop lawsuits against California’s proposed vehicle standard. In September 2009, EPA and DOT issued a joint proposal for this national vehicle standards program.

Federal Vehicle Standards [3] (more information)
President Obama’s announcement [4]
California statement [5]

On July 22, 2002, former Governor Gray Davis signed AB 1493, which directed the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to adopt regulations that would achieve the "maximum feasible and cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles."  The cost-effective reduction measures identified by the staff included discrete variable valve lift, dual cam phasing, turbocharging with engine downsizing, automated manual transmissions, and camless valve actuation.  The ARB expects that the regulations will add around $1000 to the cost of a new car in 2014 but that the increased up-front cost will be more than offset by decreased operating costs over the life of the vehicle.  On September 24, 2004, ARB adopted the regulations, which will affect new cars sold in California beginning with model year 2009.  The regulations will result in a 23% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles by 2012 and a 30% reduction in global warming emissions from new vehicles by 2016.

2002 Press Release [6]
2004 Press Release [7]