By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer
In the face of continuing air quality problems for this part
of Georgia, Fayette County's government is taking steps toward
the future.
Using a $50,000 state grant, the county will buy three electric
vehicles following a recent successful test of one vehicle.
"Georgia Power brought one out and we tested it for four
months and it worked out real well," said assistant county manager
Chris Cofty.
The power company in recent months has been pushing
local governments to take the lead in using electric cars and trucks
as one alternative to gasoline as technology improves.
During a demonstration to the Atlanta Regional
Commission's transportation committee earlier this year, Michael
Anderson, Georgia Power manager for electric transportation, said
electric cars emit no pollutants at all, and the amount of pollution
emitted from power plants in order to charge batteries for the vehicles
is negligible.
Electric-powered cars can now get 100 miles or more on a
charge, and soon will match the range of gasoline vehicles, Anderson said.
Governments are required to increase the percentage of
alternative fuel vehicles in their fleets each year until they have no
gasoline vehicles left.
The Georgia Power spokesman said the company is hoping
the state and local governments also will use tax incentives to
encourage private use of the cleaner cars.