Colloquium Detail

Electric Vehicles, Hybrid Vehicles, and the California Zero Emmission Mandate

Date: 5/22/2000

Ron Chestnut
SLAC

Electric vehicles from major automakers have been available in California for the past four years. Their purpose was to demonstrate feasibility, develop infrastructure, and gather information on use patterns and demand. In 2003, 10% of all new cars sold in California will have to be Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV). This Air Resources Board Mandate is now undergoing the biennial review, and the automakers are pressing for relief from the ZEV requirements.

In his talk, the speaker will address some of the following questions: "Doesn't the pollution just get moved elsewhere? How expensive are they to drive? At what stage is the battery technology? Where do fuel cells fit in? What's the range per charge? How efficient are electric cars? Can single occupant electric cars really use the HOV lanes? Where can I get one?"