Nov. 18, 2003
With
“Clean Air Choice” Label
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The
Southland’s air quality agency and Riverside auto dealers today launched a major
consumer initiative to help new car buyers easily identify lower-emitting
vehicle choices.
“Purchasing a new vehicle
is one of the most important environmental decisions that people make,” said Ron
Loveridge, Riverside Mayor and Board Member of the South Coast Air Quality
Management District. “By looking for the new Clean Air Choice label, automobile
buyers will be doing their part to help clean the air.”
Under the new program –
launched jointly by AQMD and Riverside auto dealers -- participating dealers
will prominently post a colorful, electrostatic Clean Air Choice label on all
new vehicles offered for sale that meet the California Air Resources Board’s
criteria for:
- Advanced Technology – Partial Zero
Emission Credit Vehicles (AT-PZEVs);
- Partial Zero Emission Credit
Vehicles (PZEVs);
- Super Ultra Low-Emission
Vehicles (SULEVs); and
- Ultra Low-Emission Vehicles (ULEVs).
“The Clean Air Choice label
shows that automobile dealers and manufacturers are playing an important role in
cleaning up air pollution in Southern California,” said Ramon Alvarez, president
of the Riverside Auto Association and Alvarez Lincoln Mercury Jaguar.
“We’re proud to introduce
this program to our customers and delighted to be able to offer a full range of
sedans, vans, pickups and SUVs that can contribute to cleaner air.”
Starting early next year,
AQMD will expand the program to participating auto dealerships across the
Southland.
“Passenger vehicles are the
largest single source of air pollution, responsible for 25 percent of
smog-forming emissions,” said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the South
Coast Air Quality Management District.
“We hope that new cars
buyers will look at the wide array of Clean Air Choice vehicles and choose the
lowest-emitting model that meets their needs.”
Clean Air Choice vehicles
emit less smog-forming emissions than the new car fleet average emissions
required by the California Air Resources Board. The cleanest of those vehicles
– SULEVs, PZEVs and AT-PZEVs – will emit only about two pounds of hydrocarbons
over 100,000 miles of driving – equivalent to that from spilling a pint of
gasoline. A ULEV will emit about 12 pounds over 100,000 miles. In comparison,
a new 1965 car emitted about 2,000 pounds of hydrocarbons when driven 100,000
miles.
AQMD will support the
program by providing dealers with labels, flyers explaining the program, updated
lists of all Clean Air Choice models, a website (www.cleanairchoices.org)
and ongoing outreach to the public and auto dealers on the benefits of Clean Air
Choice vehicles.
AQMD is the air pollution
control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San
Bernardino and Riverside counties.
-#-
|
