Green Cars Ride & Drive Offers Rare Test Drives of Alternative Fuel Vehicles
at the LA Auto Show
Media to Test Drive the Latest Clean Diesel, Electric, Hydrogen Fuel Cell and
Hybrid Vehicles
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles Auto Show will host a
unique opportunity for journalists to drive some of the most advanced green
cars on Dec. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Green Cars/LA Auto Show Ride &
Drive will enable journalists to experience back-to-back comparison drives of
exciting, new and experimental models that offer high fuel efficiency, low
environmental impact or run on a variety of alternative fuels. The Ride &
Drive is sponsored by Southern California Edison (SCE) and the American
Chemistry Council's Plastics Make it Possible(SM) campaign.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060612/LAM005LOGO)
As the first major North American auto show of the season, the LA Auto Show
has developed a strong reputation as a key show for emerging green trends and
vehicles. During the show's second Press Day, multiple vehicles from ten
manufacturers representing North American, European and Asian automakers will
be on hand to test drive on the streets of L.A.
Some participating vehicles are so new or in such limited quantity that
previous test drive opportunities have been very rare or simply unavailable,
such as the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, Porsche Cayenne
Diesel and the electric Volkswagen E-Up!. Other green vehicles available to
test drive include the BMW 335d, Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell, Honda FCX Clarity,
MINI-E, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Mitsubishi i car, Volkswagen Euro Polo Blue Motion
and Touareg TDI, plus others. Three 2010 Green Car of the Year® finalists are
featured as well, including the Audi A3 TDI, Honda Insight and the Volkswagen
Golf TDI.
"Today's sharper focus on efficiency, CO2 reduction and better overall
environmental performance has brought greater momentum to all types of 'green'
vehicles, whether they're powered by advanced gasoline and diesel engines or
alternatives like electricity, hydrogen or biofuels," says Ron Cogan, editor
and publisher of the Green Car Journal, editor of GreenCar.com and organizer
of the Ride & Drive. "The ride and drive enables journalists attending the LA
Auto Show to get behind the wheel of these innovative vehicles and put them
through their paces on city streets."
The Ride & Drive will be accompanied by displays from Southern California
Edison and Plastics Make it Possible(SM). Auto show participants who visit
SCE's exhibit will get an early view of what they need to do to get their
homes plug-in and electric vehicle ready. SCE experts will provide answers to
frequently asked questions about electricity rates, charging equipment,
installation options and when to call the electric utility. Plastics Make it
Possible(SM) is a new campaign sponsored by the American Chemistry Council
that highlights innovative uses of plastics. Within the automotive industry,
plastics are helping improve vehicles through safety, performance and style.
When it comes to the latest "green" vehicles, plastics allow manufacturers to
make cars lighter and more fuel efficient, reducing green house gas emissions.
Over the past decade, recycled plastics have been increasingly used in
vehicle interiors and upholstery, allowing plastics to live a second life in
automobiles.
About Green Car Journal®
Since 1992, Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles,
energy, and environment, first with an industry newsletter and then with an
award-winning auto enthusiast magazine. Today, the magazine is considered the
premier source of information on high fuel efficiency, low emission, advanced
technology and alternative fuel vehicles. A sample of the print edition may
be viewed online at www.GCJUSA.com.
About Southern California Edison
Southern California Edison (SCE) is one of the nation's largest electric
utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer
accounts. SCE operates the nation's largest private electric vehicle fleet,
including almost 300 vehicles that have logged more than 17 million miles.
About Plastics Make it Possible(SM)
Plastics Make it Possible highlights the many ways plastics inspire
innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a
safer, more promising future. Plastics Make it Possible is sponsored by the
plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council.
About the Los Angeles Auto Show
The show opens for media only Dec. 2 and 3 with public days running from Dec.
4-13. The Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA),
the world automobile trade association, has officially named the Los Angeles
Auto Show as one of its sanctioned international exhibits for the 2009 auto
show season. Additional information about the Los Angeles Auto Show is online
at www.LAautoshow.com.
SOURCE Greater Los Angeles Auto Show
Jessica Schmidt of The Rogers Group, +1-310-552-4177, LAautoshow@rogerspr.com,
for Greater Los Angeles Auto Show
