Utilities can use the credits for compliance, bank them, sell them to other utilities or other buyers including brokers, fuel companies, and environmental groups. Since automobiles are the major source of air pollution in the nation s cities, anything that reduces emissions from cars will be good for city air. Stricter emissions testing. Badly maintained older vehicle can emit 100 times more pollution than modern properly tuned car. 10 percent of the vehicles on the road emit 50 percent of pollutants.
Problem is old cars are owned by people who can t afford new cars.
Improved emission controls. Has worked in Los Angeles and other parts of California, which has the strictest emission controls in the country. In 1995, Los Angeles had 103 unsafe air days compared to 239 in 1988. Use of hydrocarbon recovery systems at gas stations and strict California emissions could be applied to other states. Honda already sells all its cars, regardless of state, with California emissions.