California Rolls Out "Global Warming Score" Labels to Show Vehicles' Emissions
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 06.21.08
Expect to see a lot more grumbling from the beleaguered Big Three automakers: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has just unveiled the design of the state's new 'environmental' label revealing a vehicle's global warming score, or GHG emissions, and smog score. The labels could begin appearing on vehicles as early as next month and will feature prominently on all 2009 models (all new vehicles will need to feature it by January 1, 2009).
Making the grade
The two scores will be graded on a scale of 1-10, with more fuel-efficient and clean burning vehicles scoring higher scores. Automakers will be required to furnish the data to the U.S. EPA, and CARB will host a website to highlight the most climate-friendly cars.
Image from Vibragiel
Putting the label into practice
The rating scale means the 'average' vehicle will typically score a 5. More fuel-efficient vehicles, like Honda's Civic Hybrid or Toyota's Prius, will receive 9-10 points while large, inefficient vehicles like Dodge's Caravan will get 3 points, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The smog index label has been in use in California since 1998.
With roughly 2 million new vehicles being purchased every year in California, this new measure will provide a welcome degree of transparency that, when combined with soaring gas prices, will help shift the tide further in favor of fuel-efficient vehicles.
Via ::Associated Press: New Calif. cars to sport greenhouse gas labels (news website)
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They are taking all the fun out of being a fossil lobbyist. Harder to spin by the day.
Sort of looks like a step in the right direction....
What about including a rating for the impact the vehicle's fabrication has on the environment? And/or rating the incorporation of recyclable/eco-friendly materials into the car?
Now they could have listed more climate friendly cars if they would have had a spine back in the day and stuck to their plan to make the automakers make electric cars.
I'd like it better if they REQUIRED all the automakers that want to sell cars in California to make climate friendly cars instead of just showing which ones are climate friendly and which aren't.
Some people just don't give a flip about the environment. which is sad...so these ratings won't mean anything to them/
Every step in the right direction should be applauded! At least now we don't have to speculate while at the dealership on whether the Corolla or the Civic is a better eco-buy.