5th Annual AltCar Expo in Santa Monica This Friday and Saturday

SEE, RIDE, & DRIVE THE NEWEST ALTERNATIVE ENERGY CARS THAT ARE STREET READY & AVAILABLE NOW FOR PURCHASE

SANTA MONICA, CA - September 28, 2010: The 5th Annual AltCar Expo will debut new alternative cars on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2, 2010 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Some will be seen for the first time and others will be available to ride and drive for the first time. AltCar Expo is presented by the City of Santa Monica and is free and open to the public.

The popular "Ride & Drive" area will feature both major manufacturers and independent alternative vehicle companies, as well as converted cars, electric motorcycles and vintage hybrids. The "Ride & Drive" offers an opportunity to test all the alternative technologies: see, touch, and drive cars now street and freeway ready and even cars for sale, all in one place, with multiple manufacturers and with no fee to consumers.

Top experts in all areas of alternative transportation from cars to bikes, to the Big Blue Bus and Metro will be on hand in demonstration booths, speaking at independent panel discussions and in the parking lot for consumers to find out what's new, what’s available and how to be a part of the alternative automobiles that are now on the market. In addition to the open showroom, a Focus on Fleets Conference will be held on Friday, Oct. 1 which requires registration and a fee. (To register, visit www.altcarexpo.com).

Some of the cars and companies participating and available at AltCar will include:

• Wheego Electric cars, an Atlanta-based auto manufacturer offering affordable, all-electric and freeway ready cars all across the U.S.

• GM’s Volt which has received great acclaim and its newest version will be on site

• CODA Automotive – the all-electric Santa Monica based company with plans to manufacture in Central California

• Nissan – The LEAF™, an extensive offering of models that will be on the market as of December 2010

• BMW – Mini E

• Ford – Transit Connect

• Honda Motor Company’s GX Natural Gas Vehicle

• ZeroTruck, a plug-in “zero emission” fully electric duty truck made for commercial applications with an advanced lithium battery pack and drive system

• Toyota – with the new Electric Prius plus updates on the Hybrids

• Good Earth Firefly ™, high performance electric utility vehicle made for multiple Fleet uses and debuting on the floor at AltCar Expo for the first time

• Electric Car Company of Long Beach with custom electric conversation cars

Others attending include the California Fuel Cell Partnership, Los Angeles Bicycle Coalition, Southern California Gas Company and many, many more.

Two very special guests at AltCar will be Mary D. Nichols, Chairman, California Air Resource Board who will be the keynote speaker Saturday at 10:15 a.m. and California State Senator Fran Pavley. Pavley has authored state environmental issue legislation and will moderate the tech debate (2:30 p.m.) on what technologies are best, what’s available now and what direction the public can expect to see in the near future.

All consumers are encouraged to touch, feel, sit and drive the vehicles, talk to the manufacture reps about how to live with alternative fuel cars, and participate in the many special panels. Speakers will discuss, debate and unveil the newest governmental guidelines as well as industry vehicle news.

Parking at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (1855 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401) is $9 in the lot, street parking is available, and there is complimentary valet bicycle parking, as well as public transportation via the Big Blue Bus and Metro. Further details are available by visiting www.altcarexpo.com.