The state of California is not only home to Hollywood and Silicon Valley. It is also a place where car lovers can see the most innovative vehicles on the roads. Toyota's all electric RAV4 EV rolled out exclusively in California earlier this year, and Fiat will sell its electric vehicle in the state. The hills on the west side of Los Angeles are the perfect place for Scott Painter to experience his passion for cars, especially if they are fast and cutting edge. "I've had pretty much all the electric vehicles that have come on the market. I've got both the Tesla roadster and the Model S," he said. Painter is the founder of TrueCar.com, an Internet website that provides car pricing information for consumers. "Southern California is such a hub for automotive innovation because we get to see these things first and we get to experience them," he said. At the Los Angeles Auto Show this year, BMW, Chevrolet and Fiat unveiled electric vehicles. Real estate agent Gene Bush says people in Los Angeles are ready to pay a higher price for cars. "In L.A., people will pay their car note [i.e., loan] before their house note," said Bush. They might have to. The Tesla Model S costs between $60,000 and $80,000. Los Angeles Auto Show spokesman Brendan Flynn says California lawmakers are encouraging consumers to buy environmentally friendly vehicles. |