Calif. considers a plea for plug-in hybrids

Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota, worried that they’ll need to offer large incentives to sell their share of ZEVs, are pushing California to rewrite its formula to offer more credit for plug-in hybrids such as the Volt. In a complaint to the California Air Resources Board, they argue that these vehicles address range anxiety and are more likely to be accepted by customers in the short run. Daniel Sperling, a CARB member and director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California-Davis, said during the hearing that he’s sympathetic to the e-miles argument. He said he would rather have two plug-in hybrids on the road than one all-electric vehicle. “I’m willing to make a bet with you,” he told CARB Chairman Mary Nichols. “If we provided a more flexible approach, we are likely to get far more e-miles in 2030 than we would with pure EVs. I really don’t believe by 2030 we’re going to be able to get a really large market penetration with pure EVs.”

Thank you for your interest in the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies. Subscribe today to keep up with the latest ITS news and happenings.

Join Our Mailing List