EVLN(OT %smog II will help EV sales%)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
% In these mixed up, left-right coast, dead.depression-
'feel-like-makin-war', about-face: drop EVs times,
Smog II will have people taking another look at EVs ...
They will just have less to look at %
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Posted on Fri, Sep. 27, 2002
Davis set to OK smog law
TOUGHER AUTO TEST WILL COST MORE
By Gary Richards Mercury News http://sjmercury.com
Gov. Gray Davis is expected today to sign into law a bill
toughening smog tests for motorists in the Bay Area, one
that will cost the region's drivers more and flunk more of
their cars.
Beginning in 2004, the Smog Check II Program will require
vehicles to be tested on a treadmill to better simulate
actual driving conditions.
The new test -- which has been used since 1998 in regions
such as Los Angeles and the Central Valley with substandard
air quality -- fails vehicles at nearly twice the rate as
tests now required in the Bay Area. And it's more costly,
although no one knows for sure how much more drivers in the
nine Bay Area counties will pay.
The legislation was written by Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza,
the Turlock Democrat seeking the 18th District congressional
seat held by lame duck Rep. Gary Condit of Modesto. Cardoza
will now be able to use the smog bill in his difficult
campaign against Republican state Sen. Dick Monteith of
Modesto.
Cardoza's initiative received a big boost this summer when
Senate President John Burton, D-San Francisco, shepherded
the bill through the Senate after Cardoza agreed to support
a landmark measure designed to curb automotive greenhouse
gas emissions.
``Everybody all over the state is complying with Smog II,''
Burton told the Mercury News during the summer. ``How proper
is it for one part of the state to not have to comply?''
Air quality in the Bay Area is the best of any metropolitan
region in the country, but Central Valley legislators pushed
for the program, saying prevailing winds send Bay Area smog
toward Stockton. Yet much of the dirty air in the Central
Valley originates from diesel-operated farm equipment and
oil refineries in the region. Bay Area smog does contribute
to bad air in such places as Fresno.
Studies show that the tougher smog check in the Bay Area
would reduce nitrogen oxides by 13 tons a day. But that
hardly makes a dent compared with the 300 tons a day
reduction the San Joaquin Valley needs to meet federal air
standards.
That rankles some Bay Area drivers frustrated at the
prospect of a more costly program that will fail more cars.
``I have a hunch this is not all it's cracked up to be,''
said Gene West of Cupertino. ``Just 13 tons of improvement a
day. That's just a drop in the bucket.''
State officials say that, on average, the new tests will
cost an additional $10 to $15, but costs could be higher in
more expensive areas like Santa Clara, San Mateo and Contra
Costa counties. The cost of repairs -- $144 on average
statewide -- could also be higher locally, perhaps by $20 on
average.
The reason: Equipment to conduct the new smog test is more
expensive. A basic smog check machine costs $18,000, while
the treadmill used in Smog Check II is more than double that
figure at around $42,000.
Jack Levy, a motorist from Sunnyvale, said the state should
go after the vehicles that pollute the most, such as older
cars, trucks, planes and diesel farm equipment.
``I don't agree with being forced to pay more money when I'm
not contributing to the smog problem,'' Levy said. ``Most
newer cars don't come close to putting out the pollutants
that older cars do, so why am I being charged more? I don't
like that.''
The new law will exempt new cars for six years, a change
from four years.
But unlike the current smog program in the Bay Area, Smog
Check II will require that about 15 percent of vehicles go
to test-only stations, which are not allowed to make
repairs. If they fail the test, they must go to a second
shop for repairs.
Contact Gary Richards at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or (408)
920-5335.
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~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp
. EV List Editor & RE newswires
. (originator of the above EV ascci art)
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