SoCal Alternative Transportation Expo (photos)

[wtmusic]

Last Fri-Sat in Santa Monica. Probably 30% more exhibitors than last year, but it seemed more sparsely attended...possibly because the buzz from "Who Killed the Electric Car?" is waning. Making big inroads were the Prius plugin companies, which were actually seeing some sales, and silly acronyms -- my favorite is PZEV, for "Partial Zero Emission Vehicle" :crazy:. Also many exhibitors selling biodiesel, which is not represented at all in these photos.



A PHEV Prius modified by Plug-In Conversions, which adds a Nilar NiMH battery pack to a stock Toyota Prius and touts 100MPG.



The Toyota RAV4 EV. A six-year-old battery electric which is completely practical and completely unavailable.



Honda had a major presence with fuel cell vehicles, and as much as these vehicles are overhyped they are pretty amazing to watch. Quiet, zippy, with naught but pure water for exhaust. I can't wait to be charged $8/gal for hydrogen.



This was an amazing find -- Ford built 1,500 all-electric Rangers from 1998-2002 and the owner of this one bought it two weeks ago on E-Bay for $15K. Using 8V lead-acid batteries it gets a respectable range of 70 miles.



Lots of interest in the MercedesBenz Smart Car, a slick little two-seater (internal combustion) which gets 60 highway MPG.



A Zap Xebra. Zap claims they get "up to 25 miles" on a charge; a friend who bought one is struggling to get 15.



A GM EV1. Sigh.



This Vectrix electric scooter was just downright cool.



No one at the table, no literature--so I have no idea what this is. But I want one.



A Porsche conversion from World Class Exotics which price/performance-wise seems to stack up well against the Tesla Roadster.

[NV Whino]

1. These are great

Thanks for posting. I think that RAV4 is from my neck of the woods. I see one all the time up here.

[Kolesar]

2. That Zap trike looks like a rollover candidate to me

For the same reason that they don't sell three wheeled ATVs anymore.

K&R

[wtmusic]

3. It's more stable than it looks

They were smart enough to put the batteries straight down the centerline, in the bottom of the car. But sitting inside that TINY fiberglass shell you are acutely aware you will be toast in a collision :scared:

[Kolesar]

4. yes, the center of gravity would make a big difference

It probably has an application where you never get on the "big roads". Ride to store or ride to the honky-tonk and have a few beers.