Cars and trucks represent only 20 percent of America’s annual carbon emissions, yet automakers are the only industry committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions of new products by 30 percent in just five years. This reduction is the carbon equivalent of
eliminating 50 coal plants.
The EPA estimates that achieving this standard could cost automakers nearly $52 billion in research and development costs alone. Retooling, materials and manufacturing costs will also be substantial.
Already, automakers offer more than 150 new hybrids, all-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Chrysler, Ford and GM alone are putting millions of flex fuel vehicles on the road each year.
Full-size pickup trucks drove the Detroit 3 to their best April vehicle-sales numbers since 2007.
General Motors plants in Flint are getting national praise from the president of national group of scientists for the company’s commitment to its low-carbon vision.
In January, Chevrolet announced new investments in projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a part of its carbon reduction program, which seeks to prevent up to 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the earth’s atmosphere. The projects are as varied as they are innovative, from helping truckers avoid idling to forest conservation. Chevy is investing in renewable energy projects, too (a subject GM is very familiar with).
