Ford has introduced an all-new generation of fuel cell technology in its Focus FCV. (Photo: Ford Motor Company)

California's air-quality decisions have long affected both neighboring U.S. states and Canada's provinces due to its 10% plus slice of new US car sales. That said the modern car's current low emissions can be indirectly attributed to the state's stringent policies over the last 30 years.

DaimlerChrysler's fuel cell vehicle NECAR 5 and the Jeep Commander 2 use methanol, a liquid storage medium for hydrogen. In the fuel cell, hydrogen reacts with oxygen to produce electricity for the drive system. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

Still, its 1990 mandate that was to be instituted this year may have been overly optimistic. While a worthy goal, an insufficient infrastructure for either recharging electrically powered vehicles or refueling compressed gaseous hydrogen fuel cell or liquid hydrogen powered combustion engine vehicles is a long way from becoming reality, despite sincere efforts by auto manufacturers to develop new zero-emissions vehicles. This alone is reason enough to relax the upcoming mandate.

"The rules have been simplified to some degree, and I think they show we've addressed some of the (automaker's) concerns," Martin told Bloomberg News. "Obviously we hope this encourages them to drop their lawsuits so we can move ahead with a program that improves air quality."