Tonight I was out harvesting my container garden veggies in back of my RV park spot before I lost the light. A woman with a towel over her shoulders to block the SF bay wind, commented on my garden in passing before she continued on her way to use the park's showers. She had just finished talking to another renter before me, being chatty like a temporary / visiting new-comer.
Since I had an informed retort for each of her comments, she stayed to continue the banter / conversation, trying to impress me with her knowledge. It was as if she could not leave until she had proved she was more knowledgeable. I stopped half-harvesting / half-talking to her to give her my full attention when the conversation moved from pollution / people turning off the TV to go to city council meetings / huge oil and auto industry money controlling society to her statement that she was in 'Electric Transportation' (she said smugly). I said I knew of Electrics and asked her if she had seen the EV in my spot (which was around the corner from her). She said she had, she was with EPRI, and proceeded to unload all on me all the good things EPRI has done for EVs, and I had to stop her. I told her that we have a difference of opinion, as EPRI has not been that great for EVs. She said battery vehicles were dead anyway. Hybrids and the future technologies were what EPRI was focusing on. I told her I disagreed, that there is a need to have Electric grid rechargeable Electric Vehicles. She was shocked that I would counter her, stopping her spew, as if the peasant was telling the royal house they have problems. Now defensive, she said EPRI does not make vehicles, that it is a think tank. I reminded her that EPRI was deeply involved with EV development in the 90's. Many of those decisions were not good for people that drive EVs. Especially the EV charging standards, level 1 and level 2. She repeated many of her points, and I had to talk over her to get her attention again, reminding her she had already stated those. She mentioned that EPRI is courting the US Senate with plug in hybrids). I said that I had not seen any EPRI PR releases on that and asked her if she knew EPRI was letting the public know these plug in hybrid efforts. She said that EPRI does send out PR on their think tank studys. She and I agreed that she would see of EPRI is using the standard PR release mechanisms, and I would go look at the EPRI site (again). Around and round our conversation continued on many topics, but after 20 minutes, I could see she was vigilant, but getting cold, and my normal booming voice was keeping the local dog barking (disturbing our neighbors). So we said our goodbyes. ... I checked the www.epri.com site going to the 'Press Room' link. I found one old October 2001 item on plug in hybrids which I POSTed in 2001. I went back to the main page, and used the search dialog box for plug in hybrids. I did find several items but these were not released as PR. Here is one of the items: - http://www.epri.com/destinations/dynamic/search_dilbert.asp?product_id=2080 Destinations 2002 Product Name: 18A: Electric Transportation Infrastructure Management This project set is a subset of Target 18 and consists of the following projects. 1. National Electric Transportation Infrastructure Working Council (IWC) (044405) A collaborative activity that facilitates the exchange of pre-competitive information, develops voluntary industry practices and standards, and offers opportunities to participate in independent testing of electric vehicle infrastructure for industrial and transit vehicles. 2002 will see a strong focus on the linkage between fuel cell & plug in hybrid vehicles to the home and grid electric systems. The National Electric Transportation Infrastructure Working Council (IWC) is a collaborative body that develops voluntary practices and standards for electric vehicle infrastructure. In addition to EPRI members, participants include vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure providers and government agencies. Its focus has evolved from consumer vehicles to transit and industrial applications, mirroring the advances made in consumer standards and infrastructure in other markets. In addition to exchanging information, participants may collaborate on pre-production prototype development and independent testing of infrastructure equipment and components. Members may have one official representative on the IWC. In 2002 with growing interest in Plug in Hybrid and Fuel Cell Vehicles, the IWC will be positioned to respond to infrastructure issues impacted by these new technologies. Delivery Approach: This solution will be delivered through a combination of, guidance documents, and technical reports throughout its duration. Completion Criteria and Duration: This solution is currently reviewed annually by the Transportation Advisory Committees and its continuation and scope definition are contingent upon the outcome of that review. Deliverables Council Meetings: Conduct two to three meetings a year. Current structure: Infrastructure Steering Committee; Bus Fast Charging & Connectors Committee; Non-Road Fast Charging & Connectors Committee; Bus/Non-Road Communication, Load Management & Power Quality Committee; Bus/Non-Road Standards Committee. Committees define issues, develop and implement action plans. This may include in-committee analysis or technical review of external research projects. � Meeting Summary - Level 2, (1001572) 2 - 12/02 2. Electric Transportation: Part of the Energy Solution (052114) Re-energize electric transportation commercialization by linking it with tomorrow?s grid design, renewable, and distributed generation, with the objective of reducing petroleum consumption while eliminating emissions. The utility manages this new system by utilizing the control systems envisioned as part of the Complex Interactive Networks Initiative. A linked ET grid system enables unprecedented reliability, robustness, and efficiency of the electric power grid and the interconnected telecommunications, transportation, and financial infrastructures. Transportation is a major consumer of energy; it accounts for more than half of the energy consumed in the United States. Electrifying transportation is one method of reducing petroleum consumption, by taking advantage of the efficiency of the power plant and the electric drive motor. Electric transportation systems, such as battery electric vehicles, grid-connected hybrid-electric vehicles, and fuel cells, offer promise in another form: the ability to return power to the grid. This ability, coupled with distributed generation and renewable energy scenarios such as photovoltaics, creates an opportunity to re- energize the commercialization of electric drive systems and contributes to the identified need for complex interactive networks to develop and manage these distributed generation systems. Complex Interactive Networks refers to the ability to mathematically model, manage and implement a system that is capable of managing complex sets of information instantaneously. By using sensors and data tracking software, these systems enable a utility to manage the flow of energy effectively. This effort will leverage the concurrent $30 million, 5-year Complex Interactive Networks/Systems Initiative (CIN/SI) launched in 1999 with joint funding from EPRI and the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Science and Technology. Engineering processes and tools that are being developed as part of CIN/SI, include: identification of sensor, computer and communication network structures for real-time simulation, control and decision making in network centric systems. Also designed are software infrastructure, and formulation of adaptive systems protection strategies that incorporate links between real-time sensing, rapid look-ahead simulation and control of devices in applications. Value to Participant: By participating in the debate on the power system of tomorrow and how it relates to transportation, participants gain knowledge of the expanded view of photovoltaic systems and other renewables. They also learn about the development of the necessary control systems and architecture decisions that will enable the development of this system approach in the participant?s area of operation. Project Tasks Include: � Systems Specification Development � Feasibility Analysis � Development of a requirements document that defines the potential relationship between CIN and plug in hybrid systems. � Development of a business case that creates a plan that links the CIN system to the plug in global grid-connected hybrid vehicle projects. Delivery Approach: This solution will be delivered through a combination of guidance documents, and technical reports throughout its duration. Completion Criteria and Duration: This solution is currently reviewed annually by the Transportation Advisory Committees and its continuation and scope definition are contingent upon the outcome of that review. Deliverables System Feasibility Analysis � Technical Report (1001573), 12/15/02 Requirements document � Technical Report (1001574), 12/15/02 Business case � Technical Report (1001575), 2/15/02> - IMHO: The media is not going to work if automakers hand them PR. You have to feed it to the media, to get it printed). While this 'think tank' thinks a lot of themselves, all that thinking isn't getting to the public via the media channels. Besides just thinking about things, isn't going to make it happen. People have to know what has been researched, so they can make knowledgeable decisions. ===== ' ____ ~/__|o\__ '@----- @'---(= . http://geocities.com/brucedp . EV List Editor & RE newswires . http://egroups.com/group/evangel ===== __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com
