California is having second thoughts about its mandate that 2 percent of the cars sold by major auto manufacturers must be electric by 1998, with the percentage rising to 5 percent in 2001 and 10 percent in 2003. Eleven other states have either passed or are considering similar mandates. But there are concerns about the cost, performance and environmental friendliness of electric cars.

Electric cars will require a number of subsidies. Recharging stations may be financed by taxpayers, and utility customers may be charged more to subsidize reduced electric rates for car owners. Auto companies are testing prototype vehicles that will sell for more than $20,000, but they may initially cost two to three times that much to make. The manufacturers may pass on that extra cost to buyers of other cars.

• DRI/McGraw-Hill estimates that the price of new gasoline-powered cars could rise by $400 to $4,400, while the California Air Resources Board claims the increased cost to new car buyers will be just $200.

• The California-based Reason Foundation estimates that a family of four in California will pay between $160 and $1,030 a year in increased car prices, energy rates and taxes to fund government subsidies.

Proponents of "zero emissions" (electric) vehicles claim they will help to clean up the environment. These proponents fail to acknowledge the environmental effects other than tailpipe emissions. For example:

• An electric van is responsible for 763 percent more sulfur dioxide emissions than a highly efficient fuel-burning van, because coal is used to fire many electric plants, according to the General Accounting Office.

• Electric cars with lead-acid batteries would create more than 60 times the amount of lead pollution of a vehicle burning leaded gasoline, according to researchers at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Sources: Eric Peters, "The False Promise of Electric Cars," Consumers' Research, August 1995; and Charles Oliver, "How Green Are Electric Cars?" Investor's Business Daily, August 1, 1995.