Make it easier to go electric

Re “Ban cars that spew out carbon,” editorial, Nov. 1

Transitioning to electric vehicles will happen with or without a ban on internal combustion engines.

EV drivers already know this technology is superior to internal-combustion engines. Most important is that these cars can be powered by clean, renewable electricity.

The lack of a robust charging infrastructure is the single biggest obstacle. Folks who live in multifamily housing have the most trouble. Laws allowing apartment renters and condo owners to install charging are already on the books; however, rent control units are excluded. This exclusion needs to go.

Santa Monica Paul Scott

There’s no reason to think California couldn’t make the transition to electric vehicles in 20 years. But the problem is the automakers are talking out of both sides of their mouth.

On one side they are boasting of their major electric vehicle investments. On the other side, major automakers and their trade associations are intensely lobbying in Washington and fighting to relax federal emission standards that reduce oil use and pollution.

Plus, manufacturers and dealers are not doing enough to market electric vehicles. It’s hard to embrace a technology when you can’t find it or when the companies that produce the new products are unwilling to talk to you about it.

It’s time for the auto industry to stop undermining its own stated support of electric vehicles.

Don Anair

Oakland The writer is deputy director of research for the Union of Concerned Scientists’ clean vehicles program.

Perhaps The Times should require its newspaper delivery drivers to use electric vehicles now.

I am considering giving The Times a deadline to make this conversion by 2018, as I am very concerned about how much home delivery of a newspaper may affect the environment. You should have the courage of your convictions. Reid Killen

Glendora