The Air Resources Board of California has lowered required number of zero-emissions cars to be sold by 2014 in a decision that dragged serious criticism from environmentalists, but brought relief to car makers.

Under the ruling, auto manufacturers in California will have to produce 7.500 electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in order to sell them each year between 2012 and 2014, compared to the previous requirement of 25.000 emission- free vehicles. This is about a 70 percent reduction of the standards, a move that analysts see as a severe blow to environmentalists.

However, the board now requires 58.000 gasoline- electric hybrid cars to be made available in the same period, The Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

"It's my view that both plug-in hybrids and (emission-free vehicles) are a tremendous stretch for the industry," board member Daniel Sperling said.

Executive Director of Plug In America Chelsea Sexton said the board, "sent the message to the car makers that they can always get what they want from the board."

The board also postponed the implementation of the new zero-emissions vehicle quotas from 2011 to 2017 for 10 other states involved in the Zero Emissions Vehicle program, taking into consideration the fact that auto makers said they would not be able to meet California’s standard and that they need more time, the report said.

The decision is expected to affect the 12 other states that had adopted California's target for zero-emission vehicles.

Despite the board’s belief that the new decision is an important step toward putting cleaner cars on the road, environmentalists said that they were disappointed with the ruling, as it does not meet the states’ politics regarding the fight against global change.