Local News in Brief : Contest for Electric Car Design Sought
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The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to ask the Department of Water and Power to stage an international competition for design and production of 10,000 electric cars and vans.
Under the motion by Councilman Marvin Braude, Southern California Edison Co. will be asked to co-sponsor the competition, which the council hopes will lead to mass production of the vehicles.
“The electric vehicle is much more efficient than the internal combustion engine. It pollutes much less,” Braude said. But, he conceded, “This isn’t going to solve any problems overnight.”
Braude said he wants the city to buy some of the electric vehicles, a move the council would have to approve.
A few prototype electric vans exist, but because they are produced individually, they are prohibitively expensive. In addition, existing electric vehicles have a maximum speed of 50 m.p.h. and require about an eight-hour charge before they can travel their range of about 60 miles.
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