Green Energy News | May 28, 2000

May 28, 2000 – Vol.5 No.9

ENERGIES... week of May 28, 2000

MAKE OR BREAK DECISION? Later this year the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will decide whether to keep its zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate - or abandon or adjust it. Under the California ZEV Program by 2003 10 percent of all vehicles sold each year by the six major automobile companies operating in the state must be ZEV’s. Of those 4 percent must be pure zero-emission - now only electric vehicles (EV) - and 6 percent can be very clean gasoline fueled cars or hybrids which would receive partial ZEV credits.

Automakers have already scaled back EV production hoping the mandate will be overturned. But the decision would have wide ranging effects on efforts nationwide - if not worldwide - to bring EV’s into the marketplace. If car companies can’t sell EV’s in a state considered the car capital of the world - and environmentally aware - how can they expect to sell them elsewhere? An overturn of the mandate would damage other state’s efforts to introduce ZEV’s. A mandate kept in place would keep the pace of technology moving forward and begin to bring prices per vehicle down as more EV’s rolled off the assembly line.

Naturally EV advocates and manufacturers will continue to submit evidence to CARB to support their point-of-view. Research CARB at http://www.arb.ca.gov/ .

A POLL FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES. In a survey of 294 EV owner-respondents, the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC), and others, found that...

- 80 percent of respondents are more satisfied with their EV than their gasoline powered car.

- 77 percent said they would lease or purchase another EV.

- 70 percent use the EV as their primary vehicle.

- 91 percent drive their EV’s on the freeway weekly, if not daily.

- 14 percent drive their EV’s more than 50 miles per day.

- 56 percent use public charging stations at least once per week.

- 67 percent drive their EV more often because public charging is available.

- 68 percent use the EV for work or school commuting, 64 percent for shopping/running errands, 55 percent for work related purposes, and 41 percent for weekend or recreational purposes.

- Two shortcomings were mentioned, however, limited range and poor heating systems.

A POLL AGAINST ELECTRIC VEHICLES. In a study paid for by Toyota and General Motors which surveyed more than 1000 California electric vehicle owners, University of California Berkeley Professor Dr. Kenneth Train and National Economic Research Associates concluded that the mass market is not ready for electric vehicles.

Under the current mandate Toyota would have a tough time finding a required 6400 customers per year for the RAV-4 EV, Toyota’s California ZEV offering. Assuming the RAV-4 EV had a 100 mile range and the same operating costs and performance as the gasoline version, Toyota would have to give the EV away, along with a check for $7000, to offset the shortcomings of the vehicle. (Figures are based on the difference in price between the EV and the gas version.)

Toyota is also considering introducing its e.com mini-EV for shared use and short distance driving in a pilot program in the state. Visit Toyota at http://www.toyota.com/ .

A POLL FOR CLEAN AIR. Adding to the debate the California ZEV Alliance has come forth with a poll of 600 registered likely general election voters.

- 64 percent of residents support the CARB Zero Emission Vehicle Program.

- 74 percent said they thought the 4 percent sales mandate for EV’s was about right or too low.

- 58 percent said the CARB 2003 mandate should stick this time because it was delayed before.

- 83 percent identified air quality as a serious problem.

- 90 percent said future population growth will have a significant impact on air quality.

Cars are cleaner today, but population growth, vehicle growth and an increase in the number of miles driven will offset gains already made to reduce vehicle air pollution.