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The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate (ZEV) was intended to be a
requirement for actual production. It was intended to put real Zero Emission Vehicles into the hands of willing
buyers, on the free market. Enough of them to make a real difference, 10% by 2003. Previous CARB weakness led to
retreat after retreat, until now even the Board fails to remember its purpose.
Part of the whittling-away of the program was the crushing of the battery Electric cars, based on auto company
solemn promises in 2003 to actually build Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) -- either fuel cells, or, if that continued
to prove impossible, to go back to proven EVs such as the EV1, HondaEV or RAV4-EV. Now CARB is formally releasing
auto makers from even the simulation of compliance with the original ZEV mandate, continuing the mistakes of failed
former CARB Chairman Alan Lloyd.
Here's what succeeded, and what could be produced:
- 1997 EV1 with lead batteries from Panasonic Storage Battery Co., up to 110 miles at up to 80 mph;
- 1997 HondaEV with NiMH batteries from Panasonic Energy PEVE, up to 140 miles at up to 80 mph;
- 1999 EV1 with NiMH batteries from GM-Ovonics, up to 160 miles (140 EPA certified) at up to 80 mph;
- 1997 Toyota RAV4-EV with NiMH batteries from Panasonic Energy, up to 120 miles at up to 80 mph. Last
sold in Nov., 2002, these are still running fine, even though Toyota has refused to sell replacement batteries,
possibly because Chevron sued them (in 2001);
What's needed is a recognition that all the research and testing
has already been done, and it's time for PRODUCTION.
If these oil-free EVs had been improved each year, allowed to
be owned and modified, with new models as people see them running, we would be in a much different world. The original
vision of 1990 was valid, it was betrayed by intimidated, misguided or weak regulators. Slow charging at night
is a boon, not a problem; an EV need not have a range of more than 200 miles, long-distance trips should be done
via the airport or train station.
Recent
studies by U.S.C., presented to CARB, show that children raised in proximity to freeways have signficantly
more permanent lung damage during the critical year 12 through year 18 lung formation period than
those raised farther away.
What's worth that? What oil company profit is worth that?
Please join with friends, neighbors
and groups to call CARB into question, to eviscerate its budget, and to require it to be responsive to the
needs of the people instead of beholden to auto and oil company lobbyists.
The thrall in which oil dictators hold our country is real; this is the most important issue of our time.
Electric_Vehicles_For_Sale Yahoo group, started in 2003 when CARB killed the Electric car the LAST time. Please join this group to give lobbying more clout;
SealBeach.org Powering
a plug-in car with solar power;
YouTube.com/liveoilfree
Videos of driving an EV and CARB intransigence;
DrivingTheFuture.com EV-PV
helps the grid and replaces oil with power you make yourself.
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