California's EV Program has been surprisingly successful. All available electric vehicles, whether purchased or leased, were snatched up in 2002. Automakers strive to hide this fact along with Toyota's long waiting list of frustrated customers who wish to buy or lease an EV. They also downplay or ignore how enthusiastic EV owners become after driving an electric car for any length of time. The auto industry continues to beat the drum of "We can't produce electric cars because there is NO DEMAND." Perhaps fearful that electric vehicles might actually catch on in even a limited way, they have now simply stopped producing EV's. General Motors is refusing to extend leases on its EV-1 car and, in fact, are crushing the cars when they are returned at the end of the leases. (Getting rid of the evidence?)
If you would like to help EV enthusiasts in our ongoing campaign to encourage production and promotion of electric vehicles:
- Please call the Toyota National Input Line at 800-331-4331. Tell the nice lady that you support continued production of electric vehicles.
- The California Air Resource Board (CARB) is going for a vote on March 27th. Please tell CARB that you support the California ZEV mandate and want them to enforce continued production of EV's in our state because clean air and helping to end America's addiction to foreign oil is important to you.
CLERK OF THE BOARD
California Air Resource Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento CA 95814
TEL: (916) 322-5594
FAX: (916) 322-3928
TDD: (916) 324-9531or (800) 700-8326
www.arb.ca.gov
- For more information and a sample letter, go to www.drivingthefuture.com
- For more info on helping the zero-emission vehicle cause, contact Julie Malinowski-Ball with the California Electric Transportation Association. Her number is 916-441-0702. They are actively fighting to keep CARB from lowering the ZEV requirements.
