The skeptics among those who visited the ‘Plug in America’ booth Friday didn’t quite believe that the Tesla Roadster, which looks like a luxury sports car, is fully electric.

“People find it hard to believe that it isn’t at least partially fueled by gasoline,” said Linda Nicholes, the car’s owner, an Anaheim Hills resident and the president of the Plug In America board. “What I usually say is, ‘I challenge you to find the tailpipe.’ We walk around the back and, of course, there is no tailpipe.”

The non profit group is one of 240 exhibitors at the Go Green Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which runs through Sunday. They were among the few who did not have a product or service to sell.

Instead, they are encouraging those who stop by to drive electric. (Nicholes at right with her Roadster.)

“What we are selling, quote unquote, is an idea,” Nicholes said. “We are selling a better transportation future for America. Everybody should not be forced to drive an electric car, But it is certainly a viable choice, and we want to get people engaged in that process.”

The group also was gathering signatures for a petition to automakers, asking them to retool to produce more electric cars — and, perhaps, picking up a few more members.

Nicholes recently participated in an electric car parade in Santa Monica and uses a home solar array to power up her Tesla.

“I drove this car from Orange County to the L.A. Convention Center courtesy of the sun,” Nicholes said.

Los Angeles is one of four stops for the traveling expo this year, the expo’s second year.

“The purpose of it really is to help educate everybody about what eco lifestyle is available to them,” said spokeswoman Emily Lawy. “Everything from fashion to beauty to transportation to home building.”

Friday was a day devoted to businesses, but the public is invited Saturday and Sunday for a $10 registration fee that can be paid at the door.

Mariel Hemingway is scheduled to speak about healthy living at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Related posts:

OC enthusiasts will ride with electric car convoy

Recent posts:

• Green for rent: apartments are a first for OC
• Does termite killer worsen global warming?
• Greener, cheaper: ‘make your own’ movement rising in OC
• Obama inaugural: yes, it’s gone green, too
• Whale tangled in fishing line spotted offshore
• Cause of mystery pelican illness: cold snap?
• OC enthusiasts will ride in electric car convoy
• Divers remove ‘killer’ fishing net off Catalina Island
• ‘Killer’ fishing net attacked by divers off Catalina Island
• Big scoop: dredging of $148 million wetland right on schedule
• Toll-road builder willing to consider alternate routes, board says
• Clean construction vehicles pass soot test
• EPA lists most-wanted environmental fugitives
• Wyland takes climate change message to OC schools
• Are your neighbors polluting? Call new toll-free hotline
• The Bible goes green — and not everyone is happy about it
• Yard wars: homeowner, city declare a truce

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.