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Date: 09-30-2006
Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Office of Governor
States Capital Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
I am a small business owner here in Santa Clara and have been
involved with the computer peripheral business for the past 15
years. The recent development of high-oil prices and its
negative impact on our economy is hurting my business and all
the other small business in this region. The trend is bleak;
three dollars a gallon just to get down the road and a brooding
outlook that says that we’ll feel the pain of four dollars
before we Americans are willing to change our driving habits. Is
there a way to soften the pinch? Yes! I think the solution is
electric vehicles, because the electric power plants in US use
coal (51%), nuclear (20%), renewable i.e. hydroelectric, wind,
solar or tidal (9%), natural gas (17%) and oil (3%) to produce
electricity. A majority of these fuel (80%) are non-oil based
and under our control. Experts say we have enough coal to last
another 250 years.
The lion’s share of oil is used for transportation. To reduce
“our nation’s addiction to oil” as mentioned in President Bush’s
State of the Union address is by using electric powered
vehicles. While electric hybrid cars are a hot topic these days,
none of the hybrid vehicles are plug-in vehicles (i.e. the
electricity used by these vehicles are still generated by its
gasoline engine not from a cheap non-petroleum source). I
believe there is another easy and readily available solution;
scooters that take advantage of cheap electricity and reduce the
oil consumption. The solution is using plug-in electric scooters
for the short distance/city speed applications.
The electric scooter has been a primary source of transportation
in China and Taiwan for over 10 years. However the electric
scooter in China is underpowered (600W) and suffers from short
traveling range (30 miles). I have spent a year with my partner
Dr. Chiang to improve this transportation tool to meet the needs
of the US market. We would like to use this new transportation
tool to relieve the demand for gasoline. The additional gasoline
refining capacity can then be used to produce more diesel and
jet fuel. The diesel fuel is used for trucks to deliver our
freight and consumables and reduced jet fuel prices will help
the economic situation of the airlines, both of which must use
oil based fuel whereas cars can more readily be shifted to
alternate power systems.
This electric scooter is very environmentally friendly. Since it
is powered 100% by electricity, it will bring immediate relief
from noxious emissions that are so harmful. It also has many
additional benefits including, a silent motor, rides as easily
as a bicycle, can travel up to 30+ miles per hour and run 20 to
40 miles between charges. To fully charge this 1600W electric
scooter at current electricity costs ($0.08-0.10 per KW-Hour) is
a whopping 14 cents. Not to mention the fact that the motor of
this electric scooter is maintenance free. Just think of all the
discarded motor oil from engines every few thousand miles. There
is only a $15 license plate fee for the whole life of the
vehicle in the State of California. Plus there will be no tune
up, smog test in the future. We also have the capability to
convert vehicle, sedan and bus, from gasoline and electric. Why
discard those school bus over 5 years just convert to electric
bus, not only save the budget from government but also save the
pollution and our environmental.
The electric scooter we have created is especially good for the
short commutes, moving throughout a university campus or between
buildings of large hospitals, companies. It is also good for
fixed route traveling like postal delivery, newspaper delivery,
and utility meter recoding. Of course you can take it camping,
to the beach, supermarket runs, and have fun with your family….
the list goes on and on.
I need your help to work with the local government to create a
friendlier environment for electric scooter riders. Things like
additional traffic lanes for electric scooters, free parking
spaces in downtown and heavy shopping areas would encourage more
riders.
In summary, even though this little electric scooter seems
insignificant now, it is the first small step toward an oil-free
ground transportation system independent of foreign influence,
political ineptness, and special interest oil lobbying. With GM
and Ford unable to see the future of transportation; it is now
up to a few forward thinking American entrepreneurs who have
started a cottage industry to promote these clean, green,
gasoline free machines. We ask your political help to not stifle
this progress. Electric vehicles are the future, and it must
happen in our lifetimes!
Thank you
Allen Chen ~ Owner
Green Elec-Motor Inc.
408-739-9466
www.greenemotor.com
allen@greenemotor.com
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