April 20, 1999

Bonnie Samuelson

NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

(Phone: 650/604-6355 or 604-9000)

bsamuelson@mail.arc.nasa.gov

NOTE TO EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: You are invited to cover the Earth Day 1999 events in Hangar 1 at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, on Thursday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT. To reach Ames, take the Moffett Field exit off Highway 101, drive east to the main gate at Moffett Federal Airfield and report to the Visitor Badging Office to obtain visitor passes. Foreign national news media will be escorted to the event.

NASA TO HOST "TRANSPORTATION FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM" ON APRIL 22

Electric vehicles will be available for test drives during the "Transportation for the New Millennium" on Thursday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA. The Earth Day 1999 event will be held in Hangar 1 and is open to on-site employees and news media.

The event will feature current and future transportation alternatives, including electric cars, power-assisted electric bikes, carpooling and mass transit. Representatives from industry will display vehicles, and Bay Area transportation organizations will have information about their services.

"Earth Day 1999 highlights opportunities for replacing fossil fuels with clean, renewable sources of energy and promotes the use of mass transportation and carpooling," said Linda Vrabel, Ames' environmental specialist. "This event focuses on electric vehicles that are, or soon will be, available in California."

Electric vehicles made by several major automobile manufacturers will be available for rides. In addition, electric charging stations will be displayed and maps showing the locations of Bay Area charging stations will be available.

General Motors will offer test drives of their EV1 electric vehicle. Ford, Nissan and Toyota will display vehicles during the event. ZAP (Zero Air Pollution) power-assisted electric bikes will be available for test drives on a small course, and other models will be on display.

"Employees can learn about vegetable oil (biodiesel) as a fuel source," Vrabel said. Information about the Veggie Van — a 1986 Winnebago that runs on used restaurant fryer grease — will be available and will show the advantages of using biodiesel fuel.

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