Last Thursday, after the three-day California Air Resources Board ZEV Technology hearings, at an ARB meeting, Board Member Ronald O. Loveridge called for a statewide PHEV initiative. We have been told his proposal was followed by positive statements about PHEVs from Members Barbara Riordan and Dorene D'Adamo (we don't have a transcript), and a comment by Board Chairman Sawyer, "It is clear from [yesterday's] ZEV Symposium that battery technology is advancing."

The ARB has 11 members; Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge was appointed to the in 2004: his bio is at http://www.arb.ca.gov/­board/­bio/­loveridge.htm. Following is the text of the proposal he announced at the "Public Hearing to Consider Technical Status and Proposed Revisions to Malfunction and Diagnostic System Requirements and Associated Enforcement Provisions for Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles and Engines On-Board Diagnostic (OBD II) and Emission Warranty Regulation."

"PLUG-IN CALIFORNIA" INITIATIVE

Mayor Ronald Loveridge CARB Board Meeting, September 28, 2006

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are an exciting emerging technology because they offer the potential for zero-emission miles, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved energy diversity.

There has been tremendous support for Plug-in hybrids recently:

• Three major automakers (GM, Toyota, and DaimlerChrysler) are actively pursuing the commercialization of plug-in hybrid electric technology.
• President Bush has directed specific activities to speed up plug-in hybrid research.
• Austin Energy Plug-in Partners National Campaign is gaining more and more participants and national attention.
• The State of New York has announced a $10 million program to convert all state vehicles to plug-ins; and
• The South Coast AQMD has hosted two meetings, one on June 22 to educate our local governments and utilities, and the second on July 12 to get expert technical input on the technical hurdles still before us.

All of these activities have drawn considerable interest and media attention. It is clear that people want these vehicles. But to really drive this technology and the battery improvements that are required, we need a concerted effort rather than these small pockets of activity. And I suggest that this effort be at the state-level so we can put the weight of all the state agencies behind it.

I would like to request that CARB staff work with the appropriate stakeholders, including the Governor's Office, state legislature, auto manufacturers, battery technology entities, state agencies such as the CPUC, CEC, and DGS [California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, Department of General Services], Plug-in Partners, the electric utilities, environmental groups, and the CAPCOA [California Air Pollution Control Officers Association] members to establish a "Plug-in California" Initiative that will do the following.

1. Establish a state commitment to purchase plug-in hybrid electric vehicles when they are commercially available for all of the state agencies fleets.

2. Establish reduced electric rates to charge these vehicles.

3. Establish incentive mechanisms for the automobiles manufacturers by providing either additional ZEV credits or reduced greenhouse gas credits for the number of plug-in hybrids they produce.

4. Provide consumer incentives to buydown the vehicle's initial higher cost as well as giving HOV lane access to high fuel economy and higher electric range plug-ins.

5. Establish a favorable environment for plug-in hybrid associated businesses here in California; this should include battery technology companies as well as small volume vehicle manufacturers.

6. Dedicate at lest $5 million of the $25 million CARB received through AB 1811 toward the Research, Development, and Demonstration of plug-in hybrids, and leverage these funds to the extent possible with the other activities being conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, the automobile manufacturers, battery technology firms, Plug-in Partners, and the South Coast AQMD.