Revenge of the Electric Car

One step closer to ending our dependence on oil?

by Mary F. Patel

An event last week in Connellsville, Pa. may bring us one step toward losing our dependence on oil. The first electric police car in the U.S. was introduced by Connellsville officials and hailed as a true masterpiece.

The car, designed by Coherent Systems International Corp., is a 2000 Chevy Impala with its innards stripped to accommodate the battery/electric engine. Fueling the new car will cost 35 cents a day compared to $3.50 a day to keep gas police cars patrolling.

The electric-car prototype, which can run for eight hours after a two-hour charge but can't run in heavy rain, fits in with the state's Growing Greener Initiative. With the federal government dropping the ball on environmental issues, individual states have stepped up to the responsibility. Gov. Ed Rendell prioritizes environmental issues and, in 2005, voters agreed with his initiative and approved of the $625 million bond referendum. The investment is being used to clean up waters, green spaces and fisheries.

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If more electric cars can be made and sold to the public, then the dependence on the Middle East will diminish. Even better, there will be less carbon monoxide.

The electric car is not exactly a new phenomenon. The 2006 documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? explored the premise that the vehicle's demise was brought about by oil companies and the auto industry, both of which, fearful that they would lose business, set out to destroy the car.

The film, written and directed by Chris Paine, notes that General Motors designed and built the EV1 in 1996. It was available in California and Arizona and was the first battery electric car in the U.S. But, it would prove to be short-lived. Under pressure from the auto industry, GM decided to demonstrate to California that there was no consumer interest in the electric car. It then recalled the vehicles and crushed them.

Bench Marks

State Democrats and Republicans are busy this week politicking for Superior Court candidates to replace Judge Michael Joyce. With three seats up for grabs in November's general election, each party wants control of the second highest court, so both state committees will convene in early September to endorse their candidate.

The feds recently indicted Joyce, a Republican who was up for a retention vote in November, for insurance fraud. Joyce was elected to the appellate court in 1998, after having served as Common Pleas Court judge in Erie County. He had been a former law clerk to President Gerald Ford. He has been suspended with pay pending the verdict and will not seek re-election.

The charges stem from a 2001 auto accident in which Joyce said he sustained injuries that prevented him from being able to participate in recreational activities and caused him stress and pain. The U.S. Attorney's office charged him with fraud after it was allegedly discovered that he was playing golf, riding his motorcycle, scuba diving and learning to fly a private plane after the accident.

Now, since there is no primary election, both parties must nominate a candidate to appear on the November ballot.

With Joyce's indictment, there are three openings on the state Superior Court. Two openings on the state Supreme Court are also up for grabs.

Republicans are looking at two possibilities to replace Joyce: Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Paul Panepinto and Pittsburgh attorney Jacqueline Shogun. Panepinto lost the GOP primary for Supreme Court while Shogun lost the GOP primary for Superior Court.

Panepinto is considered the favorite choice for many Republicans for the newly created Superior Court seat. He raised a lot of money and ran a good campaign. But if the general-election turnout is, as expected, light in this city, it won't help him against a western candidate like Shogun. (Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Cheryl Allen and Dauphin County Common Pleas Court Judge Bruce Batton are the GOP Superior Court nominees.)

The Democrats are looking at Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge John Milton Younge for their Superior Court pick as Rendell is supporting him. Younge lost the primary to Klett Rooney attorney Christine Donohue and Allegheny County Common Pleas Court Judge Ron Folino. If Younge is picked, then he may also have an uphill battle against a western candidate, particularly if he relies on local support.

Many Democrats here were more excited about the primary than they will be in the general election under the perception that Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Nutter and the other Democrat municipal seats are a far-gone conclusion.

(rcpatel@aol.com)