It's not as you depict. First, business will always build product the sells. If consumers wanted and would pay for all that you post, the car companies would have been eager to provide the product. Note: the petroleum industry should not be included in this, because gov't did not support competing fuel markets and let the industry monopolies a critical life giving commodity. The first priority of gov't should be to maximize the mature marketplace with competition forces and lean to empowering private citizen's enjoyment and small business strength.

I do think there is a disconnect with citizens understanding or education of such matters. In simplistic terms one could say cleaner is better and shame on anyone who opposes EPA efforts to regulate everything. But within reality it's not that simple. Always a trade off or compromise. I do think it is a mistake to utilize regulations that fisticuff an entire industry to some unelected bureaucrat wishes. However, it would be good if the agency were to continue to publish data on progress and problems.

I do think it's a mistake to regulate international corporations without international agreements. California, for example, has an especially wasteful go it alone regs. If they cooperated with feds and states a better coordinated plan of action would ensue. Same with standardizing regs across the pond.

Their is a principle studied and somewhat proven that typically 30% of the control effects 70% of the value. That our human nature once given the power can't simplify and that over time we construct monsters that can't self correct, simplify, lower cost, etc. The tax code, legal system, gov't in general, and regulations fit squarely within this problem. Citizenry has even been educated that if seeing a problem we need to run to our representatives to pass a new law. Actually, being an Industrial Engineer I've experience the cost of bureaucracy and improvements to be made by effecting simpler and lower decision making methods. People are not evil in general and if having a moral code quite capable of improving their own job. Automakers, probably lay within the best position to make value decisions that would improve the environment. Meaning, Law Makers may only need to scribe a time line and basic guidelines of improvement and leave the rest to the industry. If a proven trouble maker (violator) is found to be the mix, yes, they should be held to criminal law just like a bank thief.

Ban all Electric Utilities that generate Dirty Electricity.

Bio-Fuels are the Future. Amen.

When CARB and Ninnies have nothing more to Whine about in our clean fuels future, they will Re-Direct their attention to Fungus and Mold.

Trump's appointment to the EPA thinks environmental issues should be at the state level. I am looking forward to seeing the Cuyahoga river burning again. Bring back the good old days.

I know he is a pollution lunatic and Trump’s worst decision / pick to date. He denies the scientific consensus because he probably believes he got his point of view directly from the almighty divine himself. He risks polarizing the US so much that some states will go for independence.

On the other hand, much more pollution will result in more protest and higher demand for Tesla’s solar roof. The less the government do the more many private people will feel they need to do to even it out. Tesla will start sales of their new solar roofs this coming summer. Also if the federal tax benefits for EVs ends is terminated it will only benefit Tesla as they are soon running out of this subsidy that is limited to 200,000 cars per manufacture. Only Tesla’s competitors are getting it on their lousy compliance EVs.

Good post, SJC.

Time may tell, Dr. Strange, but often only after it's too late and the damage has been done. Smart people anticipate and head off crisis' before having to deal with the catastrophic consequences.

What goves you any confidence that Scott Pruitt will be an effective advocate for environmental integrity and quality?

The effective remedy is not to max out the EPA power. This is backwards thinking. Citizens are the power for change if and when they think it is in their best interest. Business employees and managers are citizens. They decide and work the same as us. They are intelligent and not the evil profiteers as some would portray.

So, in general our country needs solutions. We need good engineering skills and not just more political mojo to force gov't to our thinking or desires. Meaning in general we are the least qualified to know or understand what the compromises should be or the path to take. At best we can just motivate the masses to be more concerned and urge them to spend more of their money on such solutions. Every time I read a simplistic article of "free" wind or solar power I cringe. Same with those that claim battery power is the solution. It is never that easy of a solution and it isn't just a matter of forcing your will upon politics. It is a sleeve roll up of heavy lifting, education, financing, and engineering skills. The proletariat class has many a thought, but we have to be careful to value the worthiness. "Off with their heads".

Our best, and only, firewall to all of this right now is CARB. They have their special status outside the EPA and can do what they want.

The car companies are fooling themselves because they still have to deal with California plus the other states who follow their lead...which includes New York among others. They control a huge part of the market for new cars in America and the auto makers have to deal with them. And other countries have similar standards coming so they have to deal with that.

And at the end of the day, there's a good chance that Trump won't make it past 4 years. If a Democrat comes into power in 2020, they'll be screwed royally trying to recover if they change plans now.

Of course, these morons have proven time and again that they are stupid. It takes 4-5 years to bring a new car to market. If they design now for a car coming out in 2020 or 2021 that will have to fight CARB/New York regulations AND a new President eager to reverse Trumps disasters....yeah, they'll still try it and be screwed later. Sigh.

You called it, Fasteddie.

DaveD, I have held fast to the same thought - CA/section 177 states will hold the line and represent 33% of US sales, too much to feed with gimped compliance cars as the ZEV mandate ratchets up and the pendulum threatens to swing again in 2020.

I share you ur optimism that DJT won't make it though his first term. "Temperamentally unfit" does not begin to describe the yawning chasm that is his lack of fitness for duty.

Dr Strange, thanks for the clarification.

More and bigger TESLAs are growing fast in China, Japan, So-Korea and EU. Many more, better, BEVs, lower cost batteries, FCs, Electrolysers, e-motors, controllers etc will be built in the above stated countries than by TESLA in the next 10 years.

The race to practical ADVs is far from being over. TESLA is not the only leader. Many other EU, Japan, China and So-Korea manufacturers with deep pockets will soon have their own ADVs.