Reality Check For Electric Cars

This San Diego Union-Tribune editorial chastises the state AirResources Board in its decision to reaffirm the mandate that 10% of newvehicles sold in California must be zero emission vehicles by 2003. Itis an unrealistic goal, as not even one-tenth of one percent of thevehicles sold today are electric, the editorial states, for the highretail cost in addition to limited driving range of electric vehiclesare unattractive to the consumer and impair sales. The Air ResourcesBoard should relax the 2003 mandate and encourage the use of hybridvehicles to reduce pollution until battery technology advances toaccommodate a wider driving range, the Union-Tribune asserts.