Commentary: Emissions–not gas mileage–should be foundation for Cash for Clunkers reboot

Los Angeles SmogBack in 2009, the $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program, or Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), offered $3,500 to $4,500 for older vehicles up to 25 years old regardless of the condition provided consumers replaced it with a new, more fuel-efficient one. With signals that the green-car sector in particular might be suffering at the start of the...