Right Idea, Right Place

East Los Angeles soon will become home to the largest plant in the nation established to convert commercial vans and light trucks to run on natural gas. It’s all part of California’s intense--and oh-so-welcome--effort to comply with federal and state mandates for increased use of clean automotive fuels by the end of the century.

The environment and a part of the city particularly in need of an economic boost should benefit from the new plant.

Although electric cars have garnered most of the attention in the push to develop alternative-fuel vehicles, natural gas-powered cars already are in fairly wide use. There are 700,000 worldwide and about 1,200 in Southern California, a number that is expected to rise to 2,000 by the end of 1993. It’s estimated that more than 300,000 natural-gas vehicles will be on Southern California roads by the year 2000.

The venture, known as Ecotrans, is an $8-million collaboration by Southern California Gas and four other companies. General Motors will supply the base vehicles, which initially will be vans and trucks that will be fitted with natural-gas engines and fuel systems in the East L.A. plant.

A secondary operation will convert gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles to natural gas.

The plant will create 30 jobs immediately, and by the end of 1994 about 70 additional skilled and semiskilled jobs are planned. The goal is to produce 17,000 vehicles by 1996.

In addition to creating jobs, less-polluting cars and helping the environment, the venture could create a new market for natural gas that would help to ease pressure for utility rate increases for homeowners and businesses.

The first generation of natural-gas vans and trucks is intended for fleet purchases by companies and government. Whether consumers will go in a big way for alternative-fuel cars, either natural-gas or electric, remains a question. That will depend on the quality and affordability of the new vehicles.