All new cars in California now carry smog, global warming scores
Since the beginning of the year, all 2009 model year vehicles (and anything newer, once they're available) sold in California will be sporting a new sticker. No, not the kind that makes your car worth $4,000 more but the kind that describes the vehicle's global warming and smog scores. Just look under the hood of that new car (if you're the unusual kind of person who's still out there car shopping) and you'll see it, courtesy of the California Air Resources Board. As some of you pointed out in the summer when we first got word of these new stickers, the 1-10 rating scale is somewhat counter-intuitive. A higher score means the car is cleaner/better. An average car, CARB says, will get a five. The best of the best, right now, is the GEM, which gets two 10s. That "perfect" rating means that the vehicle emits less than 200 grams of CO2-equivalent per mile. A score of one means the car spits out more than 520 grams over the same distance. Cars like the Honda Civic hybrid and the Prius score nines.
Gallery: LA 2008: Fireballed GEM
[Source: Environment News Service]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jpm 8:25PM (1/06/2009)
So the sticker is just under the hood? Hopefully it's front and center when somone actually buys the car. If not, then how will all those guys buying hummers, when the gas prices dropped, know they're vehicle is damaging to the environment??
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why not the LS2LS7? 9:24PM (1/06/2009)
It should be on the window.
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Phil L. 9:16AM (1/07/2009)
One advantage to an under-hood sticker: It will likely be there for subsequent owners. Budget realities mean I'm generally a used car buyer; I rarely look at new car window stickers.
RPM 4:46AM (1/07/2009)
Global Warming is politically driven, not scientifically driven...I'm not concerned about actual emission scores being put on there..that's great..but trying to tack that onto an "Global Warming" scale??
I guess nothing should surprise (or disgust) me anymore but ...*shakes head*
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M 7:13AM (1/07/2009)
Leave it to the WACK JOBS in California.
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paulwesterberg 8:41PM (1/08/2009)
Yea, crazy people who want clean air to breath and less money sent to opec countries. wierdos.
bill 11:29AM (1/07/2009)
I see the goody two shoes crowd in California is still hard at work saving the planet while their state goes down the toilet financially, morally, and any other way they can. Is this a great country or what?
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Seth 11:28AM (1/07/2009)
this is a great idea. Whether you are in the global warming camp or not it still tells how much is coming out of your tailpipe compared to another car. This is what should be the determining factor for HOV lane access, discounted parking, tax breaks, etc. Not just 'hybrid'. Flex fuel get higher scores than regular gas, small engines get better scores than large hybrids. It's more fair.
Of course you can just check your vehicle at the EPA's site, but for people shopping, to be able to see it on the window is a great tool.
I say start the benefits at 8 or higher.
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Mike 5:29PM (1/07/2009)
Until the State of CA uses g of CO2/mi measures to determine vehicle registration fees, all of this is just for show.
Seems like an opportunity to make registering a low-emissions vehicle a financial no brainer.
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BoneHeadOtto 12:03AM (1/08/2009)
Who is the retard that decided to use this inverted scale.
So if i have a smog of 10 or a smog or 1 which sounds most environmentally friendly.
How about a global warming of 1 or 10. Their scales are backwards. The smaller number should mean better.
Smog and Global Warming are bad we want the better score to suggest less of that occurs. Should have flipped the scale or called it the Global Warming Reduction Score and Smog reducing score.
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RPM 3:39AM (1/08/2009)
?? Your talking about people that actually think man caused global warming is real!! You should not be surprised the scale makes no sense
BoneHeadOtto 9:20AM (1/08/2009)
Man has no impact on climate. That whole ozone layer thing is a crock as well as smog. Everyone knows LA is smoggy because of farting cows. High Five fellow hummer driver!!! (smack)
/sarcasm
New Car 10:34AM (7/21/2009)
I agree with RPM that Global Warming is politically driven, not scientifically driven. There's much talk about saving the environment, using renewable energy, harnessing this natural energy and that energy...conference....papers...debates...forums...BUT little action. Bottom line -- whatever's good for the government's agenda will be adopted.
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