Li 1 Stuart Li Mrs. Wolstenholme AP English 12 4 March 2009 Green vs. Green The ali!

ornia Air "esources #oar$ % A"#& has al'a(s ha$ the !ree$om to set its o'n !uel econom( stan$ar$s) 'ith onl( a**roval !rom the Environmental Protection Agenc( %EPA& nee$e$ %+ichols&. ,n 200-) the EPA enacte$ the Energ( ,n$e*en$ence an$ Securit( Act %E,SA&) raising the or*orate Average .uel Econom( % A.E& stan$ar$ to an astronomical /0 miles *er gallon %m*g& !rom the *revious 20 m*g set in 1990 %Automotive&. ali!ornia $eci$e$ that /0 m*g 'as not high enough an$ re1ueste$ that it 2e allo'e$ to set its o'n even stricter stan$ar$ !or the state o! ali!ornia an$ its alliance o! states inclu$ing +e' 3or4) Penns(lvania an$ si5teen others) ma4ing u* almost hal! o! automo2ile sales in the 6nite$ States % ali!ornia7s&. .ormer Presi$ent #ush re8ecte$ ali!ornia7s *ro*osal) citing that the ne' EPA stan$ar$ 'as su!!icient enough %#lanco&. +o' the ne' Presi$ent) #arac4 92ama) 'ants to reverse !ormer Presi$ent #ush7s $ecision) allo'ing ali!ornia to set 'hatever stan$ar$ it $esires in the :name o! saving our *lanet.; This $ecision) i! a**rove$) 'oul$ have man( economic re*ercussions an$ shoul$ 2e strongl( reconsi$ere$ 2( the White <ouse. The 2009 +ational Automotive =ealers Association %+A=A& stu$( reveale$ man( loo*holes in this legislation. .irst) 'h( 'oul$ it 2e necessar( !or ali!ornia to have its o'n stan$ar$ 'hen the EPA 8ust enacte$ a ne' stan$ar$ %#lanco&> As mentione$ *reviousl() the EPA recentl( set a goal !or automa4ers to raise their A.E to /0 m*g 2( 2020? ali!ornia 'ants

Li 2 to raise that num2er to almost 42 m*g 2( 2020 %#ensinger an$ Tan4ersle(&. urrentl() onl( the <on$a ivic <(2ri$ an$ To(ota Prius meet this criteria %#ensinger an$ Tan4ersle(&. Another loo*hole is that 'hat7s to 4ee* a consumer !rom 2u(ing a car in another state an$ :im*orting; it to ali!ornia> ,! automa4ers 'ere !orce$ to meet ali!ornia7s stan$ar$) the( 'oul$ have to raise *rices o! cars sol$ in those states 2( over @0)000 to com*ensate the e5tra engineering to meet ali!ornia7s stan$ar$ %#ensinger an$ Tan4ersle(&. Another la' 'oul$ also have to 2e ma$e to *revent consumers !rom sim*l( 2u(ing a car !rom a state that !ollo's the EPA stan$ar$ an$ $riving the car across the 2or$er to a state that !ollo's ali!ornia7s stan$ar$. Another 'ea4ness is that A.E ratings are 2ase$ solel( on the ratio o! vehicles an automa4er sells. .or e5am*le) an automa4er having ten h(2ri$ mo$els an$ one gasAguBBling s*ort utilit( vehicle %S6C& coul$ still !ail to meet the EPA an$ A"# stan$ar$s i! consumers $eci$e to onl( 2u( the S6C an$ not the h(2ri$s. Thus) an automa4er7s A.E rating is $e*en$ent on the consumer7s interest. The carma4er can hel* raise its A.E rating 2( *rovi$ing a 2etter ratio o! !uel e!!icient mo$els to gasAguBBling mo$els) 2ut vehicle e!!iciencies are not a guarantor that the carma4er 'ill meet the A.E stan$ar$. The +A=A stu$( raise$ a !e' other minor *oints inclu$ing the :S6C Loo*hole); 'hich 'oul$ allo' S6Cs greater than a certain 'eight to 2e e5em*t !rom this !uel econom( stan$ar$? an$ the small automa4er e5em*tion 'hich 'oul$ e5cuse automa4ers that $o not sell man( vehicles in the 6nite$ States !rom this stan$ar$ altogether %#lanco&. These 'ea4nesses a$$resse$ 2( the +A=A stu$( sho' that ali!ornia7s legislation is not rea$( to 2e *asse$ an$ reall( 2ring into 1uestion the necessit( o! another stan$ar$ over the current EPA stan$ar$.

Li / #ecause ali!ornia an$ its coalition o! states ma4e u* almost hal! o! the automotive sales in the countr() automa4ers 'oul$ 2e !orce$ to either com*l( !ull( 'ith the ne' stan$ar$ or create t'o versions o! each mo$el. There are a !e' strategies that automa4ers have e5*lore$ in an e!!ort to com*l( 'ith the ne' stan$ar$s. 9ne 'a( to $ramaticall( increase a vehicle7s !uel e!!icienc( is to h(2ri$iBe it. The h(2ri$ s(stem) though raising !uel e!!icienc() 'oul$ have a high *rice *remium o! at least @0)000 *er car. The h(2ri$ s(stem inclu$es an electric motor to re$uce the use o! the gasoline engine as 'ell as a rechargea2le 2atter( to *o'er the motor %<(2ri$&. The t(*e o! 2atter( use$ $etermines ho' e5*ensive the h(2ri$ s(stem is. A nic4el metal h($ri$e %+iM<& 2atter( costs less) 2ut $oes not hol$ as much charge; 'hile a lithium ,on 2atter( costs three to !our times as much) 2ut hol$s a stronger charge) is more com*act) an$ 'eighs less %<(2ri$&. Another metho$ o! com*liance is through the use o! alternative !uels such as $iesel) h($rogen) an$ *ure electricit(. =ieselA*o'ere$ vehicles are currentl( ver( *o*ular in Euro*e) 2ut have a 2a$ re*utation in America o! 2eing lou$) smell() an$ unrelia2le. A $iesel car can get as much as 20D 2etter !uel econom( than a com*ara2le gasolineA*o'ere$ vehicle) 2ut costs t'o to three thousan$ $ollars more than the gasoline version %Cin&. Also) the current cost o! $iesel !uel in the 6nite$ States has 2een consistentl( greater than even *remium !uel. These t'o cost 2arriers *lus the *s(chological memories have 4e*t $iesels !rom gaining *o*ularit( in the 6nite$ States. <on$a has *ioneere$ research in the !uel cell in$ustr() turning li1ui$ h($rogen into usa2le electricit( through h($rol(sis %. E&) an$ has sho'n this technolog( through its . E larit( mo$el. General Motors has chosen to invest in the electric car) 'ith its hevrolet Colt conce*t that is $ue !or *ro$uction 'ithin the ne5t !e' (ears % hev(&. All three conce*ts) though

Li 4 ingenious) 'ill cost the consumer a !ortune. The *rice o! $iesel !uel *lus the $iesel com*onents ma4e the cost o! o'nershi* o! a $ieselA*o'ere$ vehicle almost the same as a h(2ri$ vehicle. The <on$a currentl( can onl( 2e lease$) 2ecause o! the astronomical cost !or oneFa cou*le million $ollars %. E&. The hev( is targete$ to cost at least @40)000 % hev(&. All three technologies have a *romising !uture) 2ut also have a tough roa$ to'ar$s success. onsumers ma( 2e !orce$ to *urchase highA*rice$ vehicles li4e these in the near !uture i! ali!ornia7s legislation gets *asse$. The automotive in$ustr( is currentl( struggling) 'ith national sales $i**ing 2elo' sales !igures o! even the 19G0s %Auto&. The cre$it mar4et is *artiall( to 2lame) as 'ithout cre$it) most Americans cannot a!!or$ the high *rice o! a ne' car. Thus) the( 8ust turn to the use$ car mar4et) 'hich has an allAtime lo' inventor( %<on$a&. +e' cars are alrea$( una!!or$a2le !or most Americans 2ecause o! the 'ea4 econom(? i! carma4ers are !orce$ to a$$ on another @0)000 or more o! h(2ri$ accessories to each car to meet ali!ornia7s stan$ar$) the remaining Americans that coul$ a!!or$ a ne' car 'oul$ $e!initel( turn a'a( !rom ne' cars also. #ecause o! la5 sales) ever( automa4er is on trac4 to lose mone( this (ear. The American automa4ers) es*eciall() are on the 2rin4 o! 2an4ru*tc(. ,! car sales $i* an( lo'er) 6.S. automa4ers 'oul$ most li4el( 2e !orce$ to $eclare insolvenc(. The auto in$ustr( encom*asses a lot more than 8ust the *eo*le that 'or4 in the !actories an$ the engineers that $esign the cars. ,t inclu$es ever(one !rom the $ealershi* salesmen an$ mechanical sta!! to those 'ho su**l( the *arts to the !actories. ,! one ma8or automa4er colla*ses) ever( other automa4er 'oul$ also 2e a!!ecte$. The su**liers that su**l( that one automa4er7s !actories 'oul$ 2e the !irst to go 2an4ru*t a!ter the automa4er7s colla*se. ,! one ma8or su**lier

Li 0 !ails) then ever( other !actor( that it su**lie$ 'oul$ also shut $o'n. All automa4ers use the same su**liers in America. Thus the colla*se o! one su**lier 'oul$ halt *ro$uction at all the !actories it su**orte$. 9ther su**liers that su**orte$ those no' $e!unct !actories 'oul$ also colla*se) sen$ing all the other una!!ecte$ !actories into 2an4ru*tc(. All the other surviving automa4ers) 'ithout !actories to *ro$uce *ro$ucts) 'oul$ also eventuall( also 2e !orce$ to $eclare 2an4ru*tc(. The $ealers 'oul$ then 2e ne5t to shut $o'n 'ithout the automa4er7s su**ort. #ecause the 6nite$ States is the largest consumer o! automo2iles) this $omino e!!ect 'oul$ not 8ust a!!ect America. ,nternational automa4ers) losing hal! their sales) 'oul$ also most li4el( !ail) $estro(ing international !actories) su**liers) an$ $ealers. Ever( econom( in the 'orl$ is at sta4e. ,n 8ust +orth America) more than si5 million 8o2s 'oul$ 2e lost %American Auto&. T'o o! the three American automa4ers recentl( receive$ multiA2illion $ollar loans !rom the 6nite$ States government. ,t is in the 6nite$ States government7s 2est interest that the American automa4ers survive this economic crisis) since it has heavil( investe$ in them. This 2ill 'oul$ re$uce the automo2ile sales an$ revenue 2( ma4ing cars una!!or$a2le) an$ also !orce automa4ers to s*en$ unnecessar( mone( to meet the $ou2le stan$ar$. Mone( is something the automa4ers lac4 at the moment) an$ 'asting it on the A"# stan$ar$ 'oul$ 1uic4en the automa4er7s roa$ to 2an4ru*tc(. ,! ali!ornia7s legislation 'ere enacte$) 'e might have a :greener; earth) 2ut 'e 'oul$ lose our econom( in the *rocess. There are a !e' reasons 'h( ali!ornia an$ Presi$ent 92ama are *ushing !or this 2ill. The( 2elieve that raising the A.E stan$ar$s 'oul$ re$uce our nation7s $e*en$ence on !oreign oilFour !uel e!!icient !leet o! cars 'oul$ go !arther on less !uel. Getting to such an environmental *oint ta4es time. 92ama an$ ali!ornia 'ant to e5*e$ite this *rocess 2( !orcing

Li H the nation to a$a*t a2ru*tl( to the ne' stan$ar$s. This is the 'rong a**roach. Some'here in the near !uture) 'e 'ill meet an$ even e5cee$ ali!ornia7s lo!t( stan$ar$. #ut 'e have to 2e *atient an$ ma4e sure that 'e $o not harm our econom( in the *rocess o! saving our *lanet. We shoul$) as a countr() ta4e a more cautious a**roach to this environmental an$ economical issue. .irst) 'e shoul$ stave o!! the !oreignAoil $e*en$ence 2( increasing $rilling in oilArich areas o! our countr(. This 'oul$ create more 8o2s instea$ o! eliminate them. Secon$) 'e nee$ to gra$uall( raise the A.E stan$ar$ at an a$o*ta2le *ace that 2oth the consumer an$ automa4er can 4ee* u* 'ith. Thir$) 'e nee$ to invest more mone( in alternative !uel research. ,! 'e $eman$ high !uel economies no') 'e 'ill achieve our goal) 2ut 'ill sen$ ourselves into a secon$ $e*ression. ,! 'e slo' $o'n this *rocess) 'e coul$ *otentiall( achieve 2oth goals) $ecreasing our environmental !oot*rint) 'hile also increasing the 'ealth o! our econom( 2( 2eing sel!Asu!!icient in the oil in$ustr(. The +A=A stu$( conclu$e$ it 2est stating) :stateA2(Astate regulations 'oul$ have Ilittle or no environmental 2ene!it7 2ut 'oul$ erraticall( harm the econom(; %#lanco&. ali!ornia7s o*timistic *lan ma( 2e environmentall( *leasing) 2ut is it 'orth $estro(ing our econom(> Are 'e 'illing to sacri!ice greenFour econom( an$ mone(Fto 2e greenF environmentall( !rien$l(>

Li #i2liogra*h( :Auto Sales <it 2-A(ear Lo'.; / .e2ruar( 2009. / March 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.reuters.comL articleLto*+e'sLi$6ST"E0124"#2009020/M :Automotive .uel Econom( Program.; +ovem2er 2004. / March 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.nhtsa.$ot. govLcarsLrulesLca!eL.uelEcon6*$atesL200/Lin$e5.htmM #ensinger) Nen? Tan4ersle() Oim. :92ama learing the Wa( !or ali!ornia Emissions Waiver.; 2H Oanuar( 2009. 2G Oanuar( 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.latimes.comLne'sL*rinte$itionL!rontLlaA naAemissions2HA20098an2H)0)/4H09H1.stor(M #lanco) Se2astian. :92ama to change ali!ornia7s EPA Waiver Status? #ig hanges to .ollo'.; Auto2loggreen.com. 2H Oanuar( 2009. 9 .e2ruar( 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.auto2loggreen .comL2009L01L2HLo2amaAloo4sAtoAchangeAcali!orniasAe*aA'aiverAstatusA2igAchangeLM : ali!ornia7s lean ars La'.; 11 August 200G. / March 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.e$!.orgL *age.c!m> tag,=P1000/M : hev( Colt PlugAin <(2ri$ Price at @40)000.; 19 Oune 200G. / March 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.enga$get.comL200GL0HL19Lchev(AvoltA*lugAinAh(2ri$A*rice$AatA40A000LM :. E larit(.; Oune 200G. / March 2009. Jhtt*KLLautomo2iles.hon$a.comL!c5Aclarit(LM :<on$a an$ Acura 6se$ ar Shortage !or .irst Quarter 2009 at Accurate ars.; 0 .e2ruar( 2009. / March 2009. J htt*KLLaccuratecars.comL2logL2009L02L00Lhon$aAan$AacuraAuse$A carAshortageA!orA!irstA1uarterA2009AatAaccurateAcarsLM

Li G :<(2ri$ Electric Cehicle.; 2H .e2ruar( 2009. / March 2009. Jhtt*KLLen.'i4i*e$ia.orgL 'i4iL<(2ri$RelectricRvehicleM. Langer) Therese. :Attri2uteA#ase$ A.E Stan$ar$sK A Primer.; +o $ate. 9 .e2ruar( 2009. Jhtt*KLLaceee.orgLtrans*ortationLattri2ute*rimer.htmM. +ichols) Mar() hairman o! ali!ornia Air "esource #oar$. 21 Oanuar( 2009. Letter to Lisa Oac4son) Environmental Protection Agenc( A$ministrator. 9 .e2ruar( 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.regulations.govL!$ms*u2licLcom*onentLmain> mainP=ocument=etailS$PEPAA<QA9A"A200HA01-/A-044.1M. 92ama) #ara4) Presi$ent o! the 6nite$ States. 2H Oanuar( 2009. Letter to Environmental Protection Agenc(. 9 .e2ruar( 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.'hitehouse.govLtheR*ressRo!!iceL Presi$entialRMemoran$umREPARWaiverLM. 97=ell) Oohn. :@/0./ Million .ine Gives A.E ro'n to Merce$es.; E$mun$s #log. / Oanuar( 200G. 9 .e2ruar( 2009. Jhtt*KLL2logs.e$mun$s.comLgreencara$visorL200GL01L/0/A millionA!ineAgivesAca!eA!ineAcro'nAtoAmerce$es.htmlM. 97=ell) Oohn. :+e' A.E "ules Will #ring #ig hanges; E$mun$s.com. 29 Oanuar( 200G. 9 .e2ruar( 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.e$mun$s.comLa$viceL!ueleconom(LarticlesL1244H9L article.htmlM. 97=ell) Oohn. :,! 3a an7t #eat IEmK Automa4ers Su**ort /0 MPG "ule.; / =ecem2er 200-. 9 .e2ruar( 2009. Jhtt*KLL2logs.e$mun$s.comLgreencara$visorL200-L12Li!A(aAcantA2eatAemA automa4ersAsu**ortA/0Am*gArule.htmlM.

Li 9 Wolverton) Monte. Political artoon. 9 .e2ruar( 2009. Jhtt*KLLB.a2out.comL$L*oliticalhumorL 1L0LGLuL1Le*aRcaRemissions.8*gM. :Cin 'as the =iesel Engine o! the Plot Cehicle.; 12 A*ril 2000. / March 2009. Jhtt*KLL'''.grinning*lanet.comL2000L04A12L$ieselAvsAgasolineAarticle.htmM.