December 8, 2006. Santa Monica, California

1. Mid shot of alternative fuel cars on parade at alternative car exposition.

2. Wide shot of cars on parade.

3. Wide shot of alternative cars lined up on display.

4. Wide shot of electric car.

5. Close shot of power chord extending from car.

6. Wide shot of solar powered car.

7. Close shot of solar powered car.

8. Wide shot of alternative cars lined up on display.

9. Close shot of banner on car ("No Gas Required...").

10. Mid shot of Honda hybrid car on display.

11. Mid shot of Toyota Prius hybrid car on display.

12. Wide shot of alternative cars on display.

13. Close shot of alternative car on display.

14. Close shot of alternative cars on display.

15. Wide shot of car owner Paul Pearson with dog Bonzo in car basket.

16. Close shot of Bonzo.

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Paul Pearson, electric car owner.

"We're not looking for a car to take to Las Vegas. We're looking for a car to take to the market, to take Bonzo to the dog park, to run to the movies or whatever."

18. Mid shot of man looking at electric car.

19. Mid shot of woman speaking to car salesman.

(upsound woman: "How far it will go on one charge?" upsound salesman: "Depends on the weather. We say about 30 miles.")

20. Wide shot of salesman speaking to woman. Car in foreground.

21. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dana Myers, President, Myers Motors.

"What we want to say is we have a vehicle that you can buy today that goes on the highway and that's all electric and that costs $25,000 dollars or less. That's what we have today and we want to talk about what we can do today for people, not what maybe somebody can do in a year from now."

22. Mid shot of Toyota Prius

23. Mid shot of owner placing placard on Volkswagon sedan powered by biodiesel.

24. Close shot of placard ("Fueled by Vegetable Oil")

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) Russell Sydney, spokesman, Sustainable Transport Club.

"They work. We have to get our heads wrapped around the differences. Things like biodiesel are ready right now, we've got lots of people using the biodiesel and it's totally viable, just as viable as any other form of liquid fuel. The other ones that are coming down the line are here now, but we've got to get that into the marketplace and we've got to get the government on board with helping to make these work."

26. Mid to close shot of mini car pulling into parking space.

27. Mid shot of solar powered Toyota Prius.

28. Mid shot of people at car show.

29. Close shot of woman's shirt ("Question Internal Combustion").

30. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sherry Boschert, electric car owner.

"I have solar panels on my home. I drive on the sun. We need these now, they can be done now."

31. SOUNDBITE: (English) John Romano, alternative car advocate.

"I would choose to spend an extra five or six thousand dollars on a car that is better for the environment. That's a choice I'll make personally because I believe in it. So...but for other folks...to hit a mass consumer...it's about price and economy. That's basically how things will change."

32. Wide shot of alternative cars on parade.

LEADIN

If you're thinking of going green when it comes to cars, then Santa Monica, California is the place to be.

Green means clean in Santa Monica.

And the beach front community near Los Angeles is doing what it can to promote clean-burning cars.

That is, cars and other vehicles powered by something other than gasoline.

In 2006 Santa Monica played host to the Alternative Car and Transportation Expo.

The city is serious about promoting clean alternative transport, with its own fleet of hybrid cars and natural gas-powered busses.

And the city-sponsored Expo showcased a hundred cars using alternative power.

That means everything from pollution-free electric or solar-powered runabouts of all shapes and sizes to sleek hybrids that use a combination of electric power and hydrogen.

It also means cars that use other fuels, like natural gas, biodiesel or ethanol.

The Expo was also a natural gathering place for the owners and would-be sellers of alternative cars.

Some alternative auto owners say clean-burning cars aren't just the wave of the future, they're here now and becoming more affordable, especially if you just want something to get to the grocery and back.

They also know they've got to get beyond the image many Americans have toward alternative fuels and the cars that run on them.

That is: too expensive, too weird and too far in the future to even think about.

But backers of alternative cars also know consumers want cars that go the distance, long distance.

And clean car advocates admit they're still struggling to convince gas-guzzling, car-crazy Americans to kick the petroleum habit.

Alternative fuels, like biodiesel, are available now at the pump and advocates hope that will help win over wary consumers.

Many clean car advocates are also long-time environmental advocates. They want clean cars because it means cleaner air.

But they also admit consumers across America may need other reasons to buy clean and green, like cheaper fuel.

Champions of the clean car can take heart - a recent Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive poll suggested a third of Americans surveyed are seriously interested in buying or leasing alternative power cars.

Keyword-environment transport