Just their size

Coral Wilson

Students at Ralph E. Hawes elementary school were awed at the notion

that cars could run without gas. Their teachers told them about

electric vehicles, but they couldn’t believe it until they saw one.

Driving up to the school in the electric Nissan Hypermini, Stephen

Thomas, parent and principal engineer for Nissan North America, Inc.,

told the students that electric vehicles may be in their future.

“Something to think about on Earth Day is to consider the way we

impact and protect our planet,” he said.

First and second-graders surrounded the car on the blacktop behind

the school.

Thomas pointed out the similarities with a regular car -- it had a

radio, a horn and air conditioning -- but the students remained

intrigued with the differences. The small car seemed to be the

perfect size for children, it looked more like a toy. And the sharp,

sleek curves were futuristic in design. But most of all, the children

commented that the steering wheel was on “the wrong side”.

“It was made for Japan and Europe,” Thomas explained.

The children, having never seen a car like it, bombarded Thomas

with questions.

Is it your car? How do you charge it? How much does it cost? How

fast does it go? How many gears does it have? What does it run on?

Students jumped with excitement until Thomas let them crawl

inside. The children settled in behind the steering wheel -- it was a

perfect fit.

Lining up on both sides, they took turns honking the horn and

playing with every button.

“That is the cutest thing,” second-grade teacher Donna Capps said.

Electric vehicles make sense for environmental and reasons, Thomas

said. The biggest problem is making the technology viable and cost

effective, he said.

When Thomas got in to drive the car, the students became quiet,

and listened to one more major difference. There was no exhaust

pollution and also no noise pollution. Without a traditional motor,

the car was almost silent.

“Everyone will eventually be driving something like this,” Thomas

said. “It shows them what the future holds.”

* CORAL WILSON covers education. She can be reached at (714)

965-7177 or by e-mail at coral.wilson@latimes.com.