I would like to pass on to our friends in the Northwest a communication I received from Kerry Gutknecht, of the WashPIRG, the Public Interest Group in Washington State.

"Our current mission is to pass California-style clean cars standards in the state legislature that will promote the
sale of hybrid and other low-emissions vehicles here.

In order to do this, we are planning an exhibition of low-emissions vehicles in Olympia on February 12th in conjunction with Synergy, a sustainable living conference that attracts people nation-wide. We will also have press and state-lawmakers in attendance, making this a unique opportunity to show off your vehicle.

We are inviting any and all owners of hybrid and other low-emissions vehicles to come to Olympia for the day and show them off to press, lawmakers and the public. Last year's Synergy conference had 2,000 people in attendance and that was without the attention surrounding this year's Clean Cars Campaign.

You probably know that hybrid technology vastly reduces the amount of pollution put out by automobiles, and you may know that vehicle emissions are the biggest source of air pollution in Washington (56%). What you may not know is that in Washington, wait-lists to purchase a low-emission vehicle like a Prius can be six to twelve months long. This is primarily because, unlike California, we are viewed by the auto-industry as a low-priority market. This legislation will change that, and it will encourage competition, decrease dealer mark-ups, and it will reduce car pollution in the state by 25%.

I am interested in any helpful tips or contact information for Car Clubs in Washington. We're hoping to represent all the major manufacturers of hybrid and low-emissions vehicles as well as independently made clean vehicles (solar, bio-diesel, etc.).

All participating car-owners will be thanked in the press conference and we will do our best to provide hospitality to those who are traveling to join us.

If you would like the chance to show off your hybrid, to get you picture in the paper, and to influence public policy, call WashPIRG's Olympia office at (360) 867-6058, or email me at
Cobracomand@hotmail.com."

Mike Maline - Sdctcher
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid Owner
California School Teacher

Hi Sdctcher:

___Before placing the cart before the horse, you really want to get clean fuel (Low Sulfur) mandated first. This not only allows PZEV’s to perform as SULEV’s but in turn helps many LEV’s to be ULEV’s, and ULEV’s to become ULEV-II’s. Fortunately for all, LS gasoline is going to go nationwide in late 06 by all accounts. Once the transition is complete, let the PZEV’s arrive in full force.

___Now, PZEV emissions controls and the resultant longer warranties are a slight up charge in the clean states and there is no reason that Honda, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, BMW, Subaru, etc. would not bring them to Washington State but that does not mean they will. This is the part where your actions with some political backing might make a difference. IIRC, the way PZEV’s were mandated in CA. was the ZEV mandate of 10% of all cars by 2004 or 2007 or whatever it was? The automobile manufacturers where ready to trade pollution credits or proceed in manufacturing 10% of their automobiles as ZEV’s by whatever date. Since it was a poor mandate (ZEV’s are charged from mostly COAL fired power plants), the mandate was revoked with some court action but the PZEV std’s. resulted. You will have to do some digging over at ARB to see if what I am saying is entirely correct but this is the way the PZEV std. started IIRC.

___So where do we go from here? The Federal std. has one upped the SULEV-II std. with its Tier II Bin setup. Currently, the lowest emission Escape HEV is a PZEV (SULEV-II w/ PZE’s) but only receives a Tier II/Bin 4 rating per the new Federal guideline. The Prius II is a PZEV (SULEV-II w/ PZE’s) as well but receives a Tier II/Bin 3 rating. The 05 HCH and non-hybrid Accord PZEV’s (SULEV-II’s w/ PZE’s) are rated at Tier II/Bin 2 nationwide. This is the best emissions rating there is. What is up to you is to see to it that the Washington State Government follows MA., ME., NY., and VT.’s lead in creating a CARB like PZEV mandate. This will force the automakers to allow PZEV’s of all makes into your state. I do not know what they did to make this happen other then the EPA declaring their states missing emissions targets but PZEV’s are now commonly sold in these 4 Northeastern states as well.

___Please respond back into this thread at your earliest convenience as I too would like to see PZEV’s offered here in Illinois given we actually have some of the worst HS fuel (> 500 ppm at some stations) in NA and I am looking forward to the day this garbage fuel disappears and PZEV’s become as common place as they are in CA.!

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net