Test Drive the Latest Eco-Friendly Vehicles at Santa Monica's AltCar Expo

Over the past few years, Americans have become more and more conscious of the environment and global warming. One of the biggest factors that impacts the environment today is automotive vehicles. The number of hybrid and diesel vehicles has increased significantly as Americans continue to search for environmentally and economically efficient cars.

On September 26 and 27 the third annual Santa Monica AltCar Expo, one of the largest displays of alternative fuel vehicles, will feature over 100 eco-friendly cars that will allow consumers to both help the environment and save money on gasoline. Attendees will have the opportunity to test drive and purchase vehicles with revolutionary environmental technology including zero emission all-electric conversions, natural gas, hydrogen fuel, Plug-In Hybrid Electric (rated to exceed 100 miles per gallon!), propane, biodiesel and ethanol vehicles.

The Expo will include vehicles from both major manufacturers as well as smaller ones. Tesla Motors will display its first Roadster car off the production line. The Roadster is a 100 percent e lectric vehicle that does not burn oil and can go from zero to 60mph in less than four seconds.

The Bus of the Future
This free event will also showcase Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus line’s “Bus of the Future” designed by students from Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design.

“This project was launched to give people an innovative vision of what public transit might be like in the future, and to show how it can solve some of the real problems we're facing today. We also wanted to give the public an opportunity to share their own ideas about what they want transit to become,” explained Stephanie Negriff, director of transit services for the Big Blue Bus.

The Bus of the Future inc ludes advanced features such as solar cells for lighting and climate control, self-cleaning paint, “gills” for changing ozone into oxygen and thereby cleaning the surrounding air and several other environmentally safe materials as well as alternative fuel. The project welcomes any and all input from the public. Frequent updates and other information on the Bus including inspirations for the design and sketches as well as comment posts can be found on the project’s blog. The Bus will be unveiled at the Expo’s opening from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm on September 26 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Be Informed – Green Solutions
In addition to the “Bus of the Future,” the AltCar Expo has a panel of speakers to discuss climate change, transportation and energy trends, California’s environmental legislation, how to maximize gas mileage and new automotive and engineering technology. Former secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, Terry Tamminen, as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive writer Dan Neil and other Los Angeles Times reporters just a few of the speakers.

The Energy Crisis – What Next…
With the war in Iraq, the upcoming election and talk of relieving America’s dependency on foreign oil, many people have taken the leap forward in finding energy efficient and environmentally safe methods of powering our vehicles. The AltCar Expo has become increasingly important as it continues to create an outlet for people to showcase innovative environmental and automotive technology to help both consumers and our country protect the environment and our pockets!

By Alyse Speyer
AskPatty Contributor

Alyse Speyer has a BA in Literature from the College of Creative Studies in the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has several published poems in the 2008 Spectrum and a short story published on UnderThisRedRock.com. She was also an editor for 2008 Into the Teeth of the Wind, a UCSB poetry publication. She speaks Spanish, French and has an understanding of Catalan. Alyse currently works as a freelance copywriter and blogger and writes for a variety of fields. She specializes in Search Engine Marketing and Optimization, web copy and editing.

The Expo will include vehicles from both major manufacturers as well as smaller ones. Tesla Motors will display its first Roadster car off the production line. The Roadster is a 100 percent e lectric vehicle that does not burn oil and can go from zero to 60mph in less than four seconds.

The Bus of the Future
This free event will also showcase Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus line’s “Bus of the Future” designed by students from Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design.

“This project was launched to give people an innovative vision of what public transit might be like in the future, and to show how it can solve some of the real problems we're facing today. We also wanted to give the public an opportunity to share their own ideas about what they want transit to become,” explained Stephanie Negriff, director of transit services for the Big Blue Bus.

The Bus of the Future inc ludes advanced features such as solar cells for lighting and climate control, self-cleaning paint, “gills” for changing ozone into oxygen and thereby cleaning the surrounding air and several other environmentally safe materials as well as alternative fuel. The project welcomes any and all input from the public. Frequent updates and other information on the Bus including inspirations for the design and sketches as well as comment posts can be found on the project’s blog. The Bus will be unveiled at the Expo’s opening from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm on September 26 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Be Informed – Green Solutions
In addition to the “Bus of the Future,” the AltCar Expo has a panel of speakers to discuss climate change, transportation and energy trends, California’s environmental legislation, how to maximize gas mileage and new automotive and engineering technology. Former secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, Terry Tamminen, as well as Pulitzer Prize-winning automotive writer Dan Neil and other Los Angeles Times reporters just a few of the speakers.

The Energy Crisis – What Next…
With the war in Iraq, the upcoming election and talk of relieving America’s dependency on foreign oil, many people have taken the leap forward in finding energy efficient and environmentally safe methods of powering our vehicles. The AltCar Expo has become increasingly important as it continues to create an outlet for people to showcase innovative environmental and automotive technology to help both consumers and our country protect the environment and our pockets!

By Alyse Speyer
AskPatty Contributor

Alyse Speyer has a BA in Literature from the College of Creative Studies in the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has several published poems in the 2008 Spectrum and a short story published on UnderThisRedRock.com. She was also an editor for 2008 Into the Teeth of the Wind, a UCSB poetry publication. She speaks Spanish, French and has an understanding of Catalan. Alyse currently works as a freelance copywriter and blogger and writes for a variety of fields. She specializes in Search Engine Marketing and Optimization, web copy and editing.