California’s New CARB Regulations So Strict They Could Kill Jeep Wrangler
10/12/2009
A new regulation named “Cool Car” being implemented by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) would require manufacturers to install expensive windows designed to keep out 60% of the sun’s energy by 2016. These restrictions are so strict that they would require advanced glazing that could wreak havoc for GPS systems and cell phones, and potentially ban the soft top Jeep Wrangler.
The proposed regulations would ease in starting in 2012, requiring manufacturers to install windows blocking 45 percent of the sun’s energy. The new law would be fully implemented in 2016, when CARB requires the windows to block 60 percent of the sun’s energy.
The windows would need to utilize a glazing consisting of microscopic pieces of a reflective metal oxide in order to deflect enough of the sun’s energy to meet the regulations. Because the regulations are so strict, the significant amount of metal in the windows will most likely cause problems with cell phones and GPS devices operating from inside the car by transmitting signals through the windows.
Moon roofs would need to be so dark that they could potentially block out nearly all light at night, and plastic rear windows used in convertibles and plastic windows used by the Jeep Wrangler would be banned.
Unless CARB allows exemptions for open top vehicles such as the Wrangler, Jeep would only be allowed to sell its hard top version in California, an option that isn’t exactly popular in warm and sunny climates such as California.
Garage openers and remote ankle bracelets assigned to parolees could also suffer from the new regulation, and further testing needs to be done to determine how degraded the signals will be.
CARB believes that the expensive windows will keep cars from heating up under the sun, and require drivers to use less air conditioning to cool their cars. CARB is optimistic in thinking that slightly cooler cars will curb drivers’ addiction to air conditioning, and permanently change their habits. According to CARB, the higher costs of these advanced windows would be recuperated by lower gas bills over 5 to 12 years, assuming drivers turn down the A/C.
Mary Nichols, CARB’s spokeswoman, feels that this new legislation “is a common sense and cost-effective measure that will help cool the cars we drive and fight global warning.”
We absolutely support and champion the conservation of energy, but CARB may have gone too far this time, considering there are many other less costly and less intrusive ways to improve fuel economy. This option just seems over-priced and unable to deliver significant results.
