Green cars do electric slide into U.S.

Green cars do electric slide into U.S.
Korean-made, carbon-friendly cop cars will soon be cruising the streets of the United States.

Local electric car maker CT&T said yesterday that they have made their biggest deal to date, with police departments in San Diego and other cities to buy 4,000 of their four-wheel drive E-zone vehicles for around $50 million.

E-zone was developed by CT&T this year and can move at speeds of 55 kilometers (34.2 miles) per hour.

CT&T executives visited an international police forum in San Diego this month, where E-zone received rave reviews.

“We expect to supply electric cars for post office delivery and small service companies,” said Lee Yeong-gi, head of CT&T. The company expects orders in the U.S. to total around 10,000 this year.

Maintenance fees for electric cars are up to 90 percent cheaper than normal vehicles and they can lower CO2 emissions by two to three tons yearly.

In the U.S., 47 states permit electric cars on public roads, but they are banned on Korean streets because of their low speed. Here, such cars are mostly used on golf courses.

“The government is working on electric cars that can go at least 80 kilometers per hour. However the current electric cars are not appropriate for Korean roads,” said Ju Hyeon-jong, head of the car policy division at the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

By Shim Jae-woo JoongAng Ilbo [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]