Hi Finman:

___Close … The PZEV equipped HCH and non-hybrid I4 based Accord are cleaner in terms of smog emissions in all states over and above the Prius II. The non-PZEV equipped HCH, AH, non-hybrid I4 and V6 Accord, and Insight all have much higher smog related emissions then the Prius II in every state. Only specific HCH’s, specific non-hybrid I4 equipped Accord’s, and the Civic GX (natural gas powered) are available as PZEV’s in the Honda lineup.

___Significance is a matter of your own wishes and desires. If the Prius II was rated as an SULEV like the just released RXh is today, would the Prius II owners still own it? Probably in almost every case. Why did someone like myself travel almost 1,000 miles to pick up a PZEV Accord when the LEV-II based Accord was available at my local Honda dealership not 2 miles away? I think you now know of my own requirements

___When you are speaking of GHG’s (Greenhouse gases), it is pure mileage that makes or breaks an automobiles actual emissions. An automobile receiving 92 mpg for example has ½ the CO2 emissions per mile as one that receives 46 mpg. I am speaking of the exact Gasoline in both automobiles, not Diesel or NG. Both Smog and GHG related emissions are related to FE as well so those receiving > EPA estimates in their automobiles of whatever type are emitting less emissions of all types per miles driven. This is another reason to push the FE envelope …

___In terms of why, I do not know exactly. I know of the extra equipment added to the Accord to take it from a LEV-II to a PZEV and some of the equipment added to make the HCH a PZEV and it is not cheap. The PZEV of merit imho was the 03/04 Ford Focus 2.3 L. This was a PZEV equipped compact no matter where you purchased it just as the Prius II is today. There was no up charge and they sold hundreds of thousands throughout the country. You lost the much longer emissions warranty if it was not purchased in one of the 5 (now 6) clean states but you received the exact Ford Focus whether you purchased it in Chicago or in California … Most didn’t have a clue they were purchasing such a clean emitting car and Ford did little to advertise the fact. With that, today you can only pick up the 05 PZEV based Ford Focus in the clean states and only in the 2.0 L (2.0e) format

___Sorry to all for hijacking a very interesting thread indeed …

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net