Statement of Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas regarding change in California's electric vehicle mandates

EVAA Press Release

San Francisco -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- March 29, 1996--Robert T. Hayden, rxecutive director of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas, issued the following statement:

`Today's action by the California Air Resources Board comes at a time when electric vehicles are entering a new phase of commercial development. The real news is not about whether California will or will not have sales mandates for electric vehicles. The news is that the commercialization of electric vehicles is underway.

`Even as advancements in the technology continue, electric vehicles are on their way to showrooms of the world's largest car companies. Chrysler, Ford and General Motors each have announced electric vehicle models they will begin marketing to targeted retail or fleet customers in the very near future.

`The first marketing will start this year. GM will launch its EV1 sports car this fall in Southern California and Arizona. This summer, a Ford-badged electric Ranger pickup truck, supplied by a qualified upfitter, will be available for purchase. Ford, GM and Chrysler all intend to have assembly-line produced electric pick-up trucks or vans for purchase by fleets as early as next year. Major Japanese car companies, including Honda, Nissan and Toyota, are testing electric cars for marketing in Japan and the U.S. In France, PSA Peugeot Citroen is already producing and selling electric cars.

`The commercial presence of electric cars and trucks will grow as vehicle and battery technology continue to improve, recharging and servicing infrastructure is put in place, and cost of production decreases.`

EVAA is an international industry organization working to advance the commercialization of EVs in the United States, Canada and Latin America through comprehensive market development and public information programs. EVAA's members are major industry stakeholders, including electric utilities, vehicle manufacturers, equipment suppliers, battery manufacturers, universities and the U.S. Department of Energy. The association serves as a centralized source of information about EV commercial development for the industry and the public.

Note: California's `zero emission vehicle` regulations were modified today when the state's Air Resources Board voted to replace the electric vehicle sales mandates for 1998 and 2001 with a program based on agreements by automakers to bring electric vehicles to market in small increments as early as this year. The program also encourages accelerated introduction of advanced batteries.