HISTORY
When AltCar started in Santa Monica in 2005, alternative fuel vehicles seemed like a fading dream. SUVs were making profits for automakers and a $6,000 IRS tax rebate was available for purchasing one. The Honda natural gas Civic was the only alternative fuel vehicle offered by any automaker for public purchase. There were very few natural gas conversions available, the only hybrids were the Prius, Insight and Escape and the major automakers had reduced or entirely dismantled their alternative fuel and electric vehicle programs.
There are now more choices than ever before, but the goal of AltCar is the same. To provide a very accessible and comprehensive setting where both industry and general public can discover existing alternatives to the way they use energy and transportation and motivate everyone to take further action.
Over the years, AltCar has gained National recognition by hosting the National Debut of the Chevy Volt, the National Reveal of the Ford 150 CNG, the Global Debut of the Honda Plug In, the kick off of the Nissan LEAF and Toyota RAV EV Tours as well as many other fleet and public vehicle and infrastructure debuts. Our speakers sessions have featured the top decision makes in Federal and State agencies as well as the Directors of alternative technologies for all of the OEMs. Key to AltCar as well are the smaller alternative manufacturers and cutting edge emerging products and technologies. AltCar events have taken place in Riverside, Santa Monica, Oakland, San Francisco, Boston, Austin, Dallas and Sacramento. AltCar offers the largest collection of alternative technology vehicles and technologies in one place for test drive along with information on rebates and infrastructure.
AltCar addresses the many other issues associated with our energy and transportation choices such as urban planning, mass transit, energy generation & use, policy & regulations, telecommuting, sustainable lifestyle choices, reducing carbon footprints and more