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The electric car, scheduled for mass production in the mid 1990's,
offers many advantages over traditional gas powered autos of today.
The most obvious advantage is exhaust free operation. As smog levels
continue to increase at an alarming rate, the need to lower emission
levels becomes more and more important. With the advent of electric
cars, a dramatic reduction in the nitrogen oxides (NOx), and
nonmethane organic gases such as carbon monoxide and hyrocarbons is
possible. These gases are major contributors to the deterioration of
the ozone layer. Also, the reduction of particulates (tiny particles
of dust, soot, smoke, and other matter floating in the air) would be
cut to almost zero.
What is the government doing?
In 1990 the Clean Air Act Amendments were created. These amendments
included specific provisions for alternative fuel vehicles.
Auto makers in California will be required to sell 150,000 alternative
fuel vehicles annually, starting in 1996. Also, fleet vehicles in the
nation's most polluted cities will be required to begin using
alternative fuel vehicles beginning in 1998. Many states have also
passed legislation to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles.
Sales tax rebates and mandates requiring the sale of electric cars to
account for a certain percentage of total car sales annually, just to
name a few.
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