I don't agree with his sentiment, but some people find it unfair that California basically requires every car sold in the US to come with a $1000 part to control pollution. The argument is that California regulations shouldn't set the price of cars in Mississippi.
Cats are required everywhere, but in CA they need to contain much more precious metals to meet the state standards than they would for just the national requirements. Most automakers choose to standardize on CA emissions standards nationally.
> The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is stricter on their regulations. CARB requires more precious metals and rigorous testing which is why they cost more than EPA catalytic converters.
Not only are they required but CA requires $pecific ones with their CARB seal of approval. I had an older car from outside CA that never needed to comply with CA’s rules. When I moved to CA I tried to do the right thing by installing a working cat and tuning my car so it did not pollute. Got it to blow clean as a whistle but the state still failed me because it wasn’t one of their expensive approved devices. Ended up having to sell it out of state because CA labeled my car as “tampered.” You cant win with these guys.
Aren't catalytic converters installed to meet federal emission standards? They might not be explicitly mandated, but in practice you can't meet the standards without one. In which case it's just a factually false statement.
You need a catalytic converter that meets a special requirement in CA. There are in fact cars with catalytic converters sold in other states that will not pass smog test in CA without upgrading the catalytic converter. They’re not all the same.
That really proves how oftrn "unfair" is narcissistically defined as "bad for me with no regard to the larger system even in its effect on them".
The reverse of say California not being able to define limitations because they have too many people that would agree it becomes a logistical standard would be a bizzare illogic and pretty hypocritical.
Indeed, because toxic gases generated in one place can by no mechanism pollute another. And if while standing under this tree in the rain I get wet, I will simply move to another tree and be blissfully dry.
Tough luck? Sounds like people complaining about big government requiring them to have catalytic converters want big government to regulate markets so they don’t have to have catalytic converters.
They do, because of market size effects and standardization.
Automakers, textbook writers, etc cater to the largest state they serve (or the lowest common of several large markets), then distribute the same version to multiple locations.
In the case of cars, which have to adhere to California regulations to be sold in California, that can drive up the price in other markets due to expensive parts required for compliance and auto-manufacturers standardizing.
It’s also more constructive to explain why people are wrong (eg, why you think car regulations one place can’t impact the price in others) than just call them stupid.
California isn’t doing anything to anyone else. The sellers are making choices, and the market is doing what it does and allocating resources accordingly.
