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• Nov 7, 2007 8:37 am US/Mountain
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  Car Prices Likely To Rise With New Emissions Plan

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Car Prices Likely To Rise With New Emissions Plan

Good Question: What Would Those Emissions Standards Cost You?

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DENVER (CBS4) ― Gov. Bill Ritter's new Colorado Climate Action Plan makes several big steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The one most likely to hit wallets is a call for a change to California style emissions standards within 12 to 24 months.

Ritter's printed version of his message said Colorado "Will join those states," referring to the 15 states that follow California in its tougher standards.

Some of the greenest cars out there are not even available in Colorado. Honda makes a gasoline engine vehicle designated as a "Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle," or PZEV that isn't sold here.

"They don't send them to me," said David Reed of Mile High Honda. "They send me the regular Accords. Five different trim levels but never the emission vehicle."

While there are some hybrids that earn that designation, their cost is higher. That's where the car buyer comes in.

"That would be a factor," said one woman shopping for a new car about emissions standards.

But some lower emissions vehicles, like the PZEV Accord don't get better gasoline mileage. It becomes a question of payback for the buyer who spends more money to go green.

California is locked in a battle with the federal government right now about its attempts to tighten emissions standards even more than they are now. Fifteen states, including Arizona and New Mexico are waiting to follow California's lead after it gets a waiver from the feds to require more stringent standards than the EPA requires.

But the federal government has not replied to California's request. It's been so frustrating that California's republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has threatened to sue to get a decision out of Washington.

The Colorado Automobile Dealers Association said if Colorado goes in California's direction, cars will cost hundreds more by 2011, thousands more by 2016 when California hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in vehicles by 30 percent.

California estimates the increase in cost in a vehicle in 2012 will be $367.

Air quality experts in Colorado said California's standards do reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but aren't designed to the most to cut the ozone pollution problem on the Front Range.

"Cleaner cars can help provide a solution. There's probably not going to be a single silver bullet out there to address the issue," said Colorado Air Quality Control Administrator Doug Lempke.

The commission will be the ones studying a change and potentially making it. New, cleaner cars could be on the road by 2011.

(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)