>>Because of strict pollution rules that limit harmful emissions, such as
>>soot, the sale of diesel-powered vehicles are banned in California, the
>>nation's largest auto market, and in New England.

>Insane. Electric cars merely shift the source of pollution to the
>powerplants which generate the power  needed to recharge the car's
>batteries.

not insane.
1. electricity does not -necessarily- emit nasty airpollution such as
you get from coal or refined petroleum.  California in particular gets
signficant electricity from natural gas and nuclear power generation,
which produce signifcantly less harmful emissions than coal/oil
combustion.  2. electric cars are engineered lighter, so total power
requirments for similar range reqs are less than gasoline burners.  3.
powering transportation with wind and solar: as our % of energy
production from renewables rises electric cars will make even more
sense.  4. Internal combustion engine based companies and oil
companies oppose electric cars, which means we should be VERY
interested in them.  ;)

California's air is getting better, but still way out of compliance
with national standards.  diesel makes a lot of sense but would not
help cleaning up LA?bay area skies and lungs/ sp