Mileage From Clean-Car Publicity

A recent Times article reported that the Big Three U.S. auto makers (“Big 3 Try to Put Brakes on Push for Electric Cars,” Oct. 23) are lobbying to stall the California mandate for zero-emission cars (2% of the total sold in the state) beginning in the year 1998--and increased to 10% in year 2003. In contrast, Times staff writer David Holley (“Safety, New Fuels Drive Technology at Auto Show,” Nov. 1) quotes the editor of the Japanese Automotive News as saying that Japanese manufacturers will meet the standards not only to sell cars in California but also “to avoid the image of not being able to sell.”

I am reminded that a late, well-publicized announcement by President Clinton and the CEOs of the same Big Three promised an 80-miles-per-gallon car in 10 years. If they can get as much gas mileage out of that future “clean car” as they got out of the publicity in their detail-lacking press conference, the project will be an assured, rousing success! In the year ???

HAROLD WEINSTEIN

Sherman Oaks