California lowers goal for zero-emission vehicles (AP/CNN)

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SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- California regulators have drastically cut the number of zero-emission vehicles required to be sold in the state by the year 2014, a decision that frustrated environmentalists but came as a relief to auto manufacturers.

The rules adopted Thursday put the number of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles that automakers sell in California at 7,500 by 2014 -- a 70 percent reduction from the 2003 target.
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Auto manufacturers said they could not meet the California standard and needed more time to make affordable hydrogen and battery-powered cars.
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The decision is expected to affect 12 other states that had adopted California's target for zero-emission vehicles.
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The air board said the six largest automakers must sell nearly 60,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles in California while they develop the more advanced technology that will allow mass production of pure zero-emission vehicles.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/03/28/zero.emission.ap/index.html

Before you can ask ... about 1.5 million new vehicles are sold in the state each year.

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1. .5%?? The original 1990 mandate called for 10%.

With new reductions on the table, "it feels like deja vu," said Chris Paine, the film's director and a former EV1 driver, who will film today's meeting. "Five years later and we haven't learned a thing."

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-zev27mar27,0,4549437.story

This is disgraceful.