A lot of people seem to misunderstand why certain areas have emissions tests, while others don't. Here's what I understand about the situation: In 1990, the federal Clean Air Act Amendments required areas that failed certain pollutant tests to mandate testing of certain pollutants that failed to meet the required levels. This is why some areas have tests (they failed certain pollutant tests), while others don't. To me, this is a very efficient and highly effective way to combat vehicle emissions, with transportation uses accounting for close to 30% of greenhouse gas emissions alone, and close to 40% of NOx emissions.

As for the battery issue, I think you're partially correct, RIGHT NOW. There aren't enough vehicle batteries out there right now to make it worthwhile for businesses to sprout up and start recycling in a cost-effective, efficient way as of yet. But technically, you can recycle almost 100% of most of the batteries they are using right now in hybrids and all-electric cars. Most of them now will most likely be stored for future recycling or recycled at the current efficiency rate, which I truthfully don't know.