Comment Log Display

I request that the Board not stifle the plug-in conversion industry
with burdensome regulation at this time.  While the major auto
manufacturers have yet to begin selling PHEVs to the public, during
this interim period, plug-in conversions are the best way for
consumers to access and promote this new technology.

When I purchased the Hymotion product for my Prius, my primary
motivation was to reduce CO2 and criteria emissions.  Along with
the Board, I am also concerned about increased criteria and
evaporative emissions when plug-in hybrids are used in particular
situations.  There has been a suggestion to electrically heat the
catalytic converter and I look forward to seeing that idea and
other solutions explored.  Until these problems are solved,
however, I use my knowledge as an early adopter to operate my
plug-in hybrid in such a manner as to minimize these effects.

While the conversion industry becomes more refined and we wait for
the major manufacturers, we can afford to temporarily tolerate a
few issues.  Battery longevity and warranty are matters for the
consumer to consider rather than be causes for the government to
limit the freedom of early adopters.  Possible increased emissions
are almost trivial given the small number of PHEVs compared to the
multitude of legacy (i.e., without emission controls) vehicles in
regular use in this state.

Sincerely,
Warren "Dave" Atherton