BURBANK : State Backs Local Electric Car Project

The state has endorsed a Calstart project to build a small-scale production line for chassis with electric engines in Burbank, which could be a critical step in the drive to mass-produce electric cars, officials said Monday.

The state gave endorsements to five of Calstart’s advanced technology projects, including the chassis program, said Bill Van Amburg, a spokesman for Calstart.

Calstart, a statewide consortium of private enterprise and public agencies based in Burbank, also was given a promise of $3.6 million in state funding last week, contingent on getting matching funds from the federal government. The money would be used for eight other Calstart projects statewide. For the chassis program, the first phase is to start in October and involves building one prototype that could be used by any manufacturer to make different types of electric vehicles.

That phase is already funded. The state endorsement is for a second phase, to begin next year, to build the tooling equipment for a production line and to make 10 of the chassis, Van Amburg said.

“The future of it relies on getting new federal money down the road,” said Van Amburg, adding that the state endorsements could put Calstart in a better position to compete for federal funds.

“It’s saying the state of California is behind” the projects, Van Amburg said. “The endorsement means that we may not have the financing for it, but this is something good for the state.”

Calstart began in June, 1992, with federal, state and private funding to encourage small and big business as well as public agencies to work together to convert defense-industry technology to such uses as creating less-polluting modes of transportation. High quality jobs and a cleaner environment are the goals of the consortium.

More than 90 businesses, utilities and public agencies have joined Calstart.

A decision on whether Calstart will get further federal funding will be made in the fall.