03.28.08
CARB’s Decision, Helped Make Mine
On March 27 2008, the California Air Resources Board met and decided, in spite of public opinion, that they were going to once again lower their own standards and conform to the auto and oil industries request to further boondoggle the general public into thinking , technology is too far behind to come up with a car which does not depend on their greed, and that we don’t have a choice. Thanks alot CARB; your decision prompted my decision, to show everybody I know, We do have a choice!
I had been thinking about the idea of an electric car for some time, and then I watched the movie “Who Killed The Electric Car” (another “special interest” moment in California’s Legislation history). 
I was determined to find and buy an electric car. This was a daunting task. I tried an on line search and discovered, certain auto manufacturers have links that say “electric car” but when you go there… (in one case) I was taken to a sight advertising Hummers…
This method of finding an electric car proved to be a futile one, but it showed me, the automobile industry realizes the need, but still wants to cram there over-powered gas hogs down our gullible collective throats.
I did discover that Tesla Motors www.teslamotors.com out of San Carlos CA has, in production, a roadster that is all electric, will go from 0-60 in less then 4 seconds, and has a range of 220 miles on a single charge. That is the car for me!
Even though I was truly elated to find out, the area I grew up in is where this pioneering spirit is taking place, I couldn’t fancy the idea of taking out a second mortgage to buy a car. Don’t get me wrong, if I could afford a Tesla Roadster I would buy one, and I really appreciate what the Tesla team has accomplished, and the business model they are using. I just can’t afford a $92,000 automobile right now.
I did more research and found, there are little companies that convert ICE (infernal* combustion engine) vehicles, into electric vehicles. One of these companies is Electro-Automotive in Felton, CA. I searched their website and many others for information on electric car conversion. I got excited, I ordered a book from Amazon called “Convert It!” I found myself checking all of the vehicles on the road, on my way to work, to see if any of them were “without exhaust pipe”, so far I havent seen one. I called Electro-Automotive and spoke to a man named Mike Brown. He was very accommodating, and answered all of my questions about the difference between AC conversion and DC conversion. I decided that I would be gaining much more knowledge from this experienced craftsman in the near future.
We keep hearing all of this talk about Hydrogen. I was a great advocate of the Hydrogen Powered vehicle until I realized the cost, and the time it will take to build an infrastructure to support it.
Then there was the idea of alternative fuels. Question: How much grain or corn does it take to make one car go 32 miles? We are already seeing the impact of our not exporting grain and corn. Nations are hording food. There are even recent instances of “rice rationing” here in the U.S. What kind of a monster would take food from people, so that he/she could go 32 mi? After much research I decided that the electric car is the most efficient, energy wise, and will fit my needs. I will need a car that can go from my home, to my work approx 26 miles, part of the route being at freeway speeds, sit in a parking lot for eight hours, and then take me back to my home (another 26 miles), at night, on one charge. Then, I could plug it into a 110 outlet and be ready for work the next day.
If I put solar panels on the roof of my home, which I also plan to do, I can have my transportation cost next to nothing. Sort of a DIY infrastructure.
Now with CARB’s decision I’ve decided… It is time to act! WE HAVE A CHOICE.
*not a typo
