Dr. Alan Lloyd, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) is calling on Toyota to allow leaseholders and others to purchase existing RAV4 EV electric cars, which are no longer manufactured by the company. Hundreds of these zero-emission, zero-gasoline vehicles were sold and leased in California in 2002 and 2003, but are now headed for the crusher.

Dr. Lloyd made his request in a letter to Yukitoshi Funo, Toyota US Corporate President, that was made public by DontCrush.com, the Campaign to Save Electric Cars. (Earlier post.)   

...I recognize and appreciate Toyota’s substantial efforts to develop advanced technologies such as the battery electric RAV4, the hybrid Prius and Toyota FCHV.

...I would like to strongly encourage Toyota to extend this purchase option to the potential new owners in keeping with Toyota’s commitment to clean cars. Clearly, California consumers have a desire for clean cars.

I have very much appreciated the positive working relationship that I have developed with Toyota in recent years and look at Toyota as a shining beacon of developing products to meet consumer environmental and economic goals. The public image of Toyota is high. I would hate to see a decision by Toyota on this issue tarnish this image.

The Sierra Club and California State Senator Sheila Kuehl have also recently requested that Toyota re-evaluate its decision.