States with clout California, New York and Massachusetts carry a lot of weight because of their 18 percent share of total auto sales, their vocal stance on all issues environmental and their trend-setting reputations. California and New York, in particular, wield immense political clout because they boast large delegations in Congress, which oversees clean air laws. Some auto officials suspect that GOP governors in New York and Massachusetts are trying to put a green face on the Republican Party leading up to the 2000 election by adopting the California plan and touting it in the media. But auto officials say no amount of political posturing or regulation will create a market for advanced vehicles before the technology is ready for mass production. People either want advanced-technology vehicles or they don't, in which case all the mandates in the world aren't going to change things.
Buyers shun electric Electric vehicles have been a flop in California.
GM sold only 94 EV1 battery-powered coupes this year. Nationwide, only about 3,000 electric vehicles have been sold in the past four years, largely to government and commercial fleets. Because of their range limits and other technological hurdles, California backed away from mandating their production in 1998. So far, only electric vehicles can meet the requirement. But the state allows a certain share of that 10 percent to be low-emission vehicles, such as hybrids that run on gas and electricity.