EV Digest 4333
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) EVLN(North Platte HS Bulldog Power Drive team)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
2) EVLN(Miramar High Porsche 944 EV wins national honor)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
3) EVLN(Some drivers beating prices by converting to electric)-long
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
4) EVLN(75 diesel-electric hybrid FedEx Express trucks)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
5) EVLN(Ed Begley Jr. shows EVs to La Mirada High School students)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
6) OT: Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen Paradox and EVs
by [EMAIL PROTECTED]
7) EVLN(2 EV1 solar vehicles was the saddest feature of Earth Day)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8) EVLN(Club Car introduces the 'Run-a-bout'nEV to UAE)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
9) EVLN(Electricity powers CCC-Columbus vehicle)
by bruce parmenter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(North Platte HS Bulldog Power Drive team)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.nptelegraph.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14405034&BRD=377&PAG=461&dept_id=531813&rfi=6
North Platte Telegraph home : news : news : local news Bulldog
Classic By KATHLEEN MULCAHY, The North Platte Telegraph
04/24/2005
North Platte High School junior Jon Collins, driving car S17,
prepares for the start of Saturday's Bulldog Classic Power Drive
rally at Memorial Park in North Platte. Mayor G. Keith Richardson
welcomed participants, and Tony Glenn, director of industrial
With a new track record Saturday, the North Platte Bulldog Power
Drive team won the sixth annual North Platte Bulldog Classic at
Memorial Park. Team members Sami Perry, Cody Speck, Alex Meitl
and Jon Collins worked to break the lap record with 53 laps in
one hour.
The team started in September building the car. They started from
scratch, designing and building the all-electric car. Nebraska
Public Power District supplied the team with an electric motor, a
controller and a switch.
The Power Drive team is an after-school program. The sponsors for
the team are Bill Kalblinger and Will Winchester.
In the competitions, the car that can drive the furthest, powered
only by two car batteries, wins. Teams are also evaluated on
documentation of the planning and building process.
The North Platte team has already raced at Columbus and West
Point this year. They placed first at Columbus and sixth at West
Point.
Kalblinger said it is amazing how much the students learn through
this project. "This activity most represents what people
actually see when they get into business," Kalblinger said. "They
learn teamwork and communication skills. These skills are very
important parts of business today." The students learn math,
physics, welding, writing and design while working on the cars.
In the six years Kalblinger has worked with this program, they
have had seven students go into engineering, one become a nuclear
physicist on a submarine, two become journalists and one become a
teacher, to list just a few.
The Power Drive teams have to be dedicated. Kalblinger said the
students come in after school, sometimes before school, and the
races are on the weekends.
The North Platte Bulldog Classic is run at Memorial Park. The
roads through the park allow them to drive several S curves,
making the course interesting.
This year's team includes two freshmen, one senior and one
junior. Kalblinger said of the freshmen, "I hope they stick with
the team all four years. I have a lot for them to learn."
The North Platte School Foundation helps them purchase materials
to build the car. Kalblinger said, "They worked very hard at
balancing this car for our 210-pound driver. They tore it down
and rebuilt it three times." North Platte has a tradition of
winning with the Power Drive teams. They have won four
consecutive state championships.
Following are the results from the Bulldog Classic:
Standard Division
First Place - North Platte, 53 laps
Second Place - Pleasanton, 45 laps
Third Place - McCook, 31 laps
Fourth Place - Alliance, 20 laps
Fifth Place - Sumner-Eddyville-Miller, 13 laps
Advanced Division
First Place - Beatrice, 51 laps
Second Place - Scottsbluff, 24 laps
Exposition Division
First Place - Tie between Alliance and Wilcox-Hildreth with 31 laps
�North Platte Telegraph 2005
621 N Chestnut/PO Box 370
North Platte, NE 69101
Tel: 308-532-6000/800-753-7092
Fax: 308-532-9268
Contact us [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Copyright � 1995 - 2005 PowerOne Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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EVLN(Miramar High Porsche 944 EV wins national honor)
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informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-mi24electricapr24%2C0%2C3302509.story?coll=sfl-news-browardcomm
Electric transformation
Miramar High team wins national honor for taking the gas out of a
Porsche 944.
By Cynthia Wine Special correspondent Posted April 24 2005
Miramar � Miramar High School's automotive program came up with
the perfect combination to win the national Electric Vehicle
Challenge -- elbow grease and brainpower.
"It's the whole rounded deal," said Lowell Simmons of Davie, the
school's automotive instructor and sponsor of the extracurricular
Electric Vehicle Competition Team. "It's not just students
building and racing cars."
Since 1996, the school has worked on electric vehicles, winning
titles everywhere from Agawam, Mass., to Atlanta and Phoenix. But
the EV Challenge championship eluded them.
>From 2001 to 2004, Miramar High made the top 10 at the Wake
County, N.C., competition but couldn't win the title. This year
was different.
For the 2005 contest, staged April 1-2, the Miramar students
converted a black 1984 Porsche 944 into a silent-running electric
vehicle with two motors, 13 batteries and 156 volts.
"We had a perfect mix of students," Simmons said. "This year it
just clicked. They worked together and we had a new vehicle that
was well designed and well built. It's a real good feeling."
The EV Challenge is sponsored by the Carolina Electric Vehicle
Coalition, a nonprofit organization that emphasizes electric
vehicles to educate students and the public about the benefits of
alternative fuels.
The yearlong competition integrates automotive training with
language arts, math, science, engineering and other academic
areas. Teams must study and research to design and build a
street-legal vehicle, prepare an oral presentation, develop a Web
site, and complete environmental community service at the
school.
English teacher Jan Beggs of Hollywood helps recruit and prepare
team members for the oral presentation segment of the EV
Challenge. She encourages students in the school's International
Baccalaureate program to broaden their horizons by working with
the automotive project.
"The EV Challenge emphasizes academics as much as it does
building and operating cars," she said. "In the past, academic
and vocational programs were foreign to each other and one would
look down on the other. The EV Challenge brings them all
together."
Simmons said some students are drawn to the competition because
of environmental concerns, while others love working on cars.
"The best teaching happens when you don't realize you're being
taught," he said. "You may be good at public speaking, but you
have to get down and change a tire, too, and the others have to
talk. When they intermingle, it helps everybody in the long
run."
Project planning was done during monthly EV Competition Team
meetings, but work went on during class when it coordinated with
school curriculum, after school and on weekends. Simmons said the
team is open to students at any grade level, and they don't need
to be enrolled in the automotive program.
About 60 Miramar High students were involved this year, and four
were selected to travel to North Carolina and represent the team.
The quartet, all Miramar residents, included three seniors from
the automotive program: Carlos Arias, 18; Dwayne Brown, 18; and
Carlos Ortega, 17; and Paul Jasinto, a 15-year-old freshman from
the IB program. The teammates agree the competition taught them
lessons about cars, the environment and learning to work with
people from different backgrounds.
"I joined the team because I love cars and hearing the engines,"
Brown said, "but I realized the fumes are destroying the ozone
layer."
Brown, who moved to Miramar from Jamaica six years ago, said the
competition fueled his desire to become a mechanic and educate
people about cars and environmental concerns.
Ortega moved to Miramar from Peru less than two years ago. He got
involved because he loves working on cars. The environmental
lessons and travel to the competition were bonuses.
"This car is better for the environment and it's important to all
of us," Ortega said. "It's going to take a lot of time for
society to accept. I don't see myself having one, but maybe my
son or grandson."
Born and raised in Miramar, Jasinto understood that the world's
growing population and diminishing resources make the need for
alternative fuels inevitable, but his automotive experience was
limited.
"I knew cars ran on four wheels," he said.
After being volunteered for the project by Beggs, Jasinto found
he enjoyed the educational components and the auto shop
camaraderie.
"One of the most important things about the EV Challenge is it
takes people from all sections of Miramar High School who all
work together for a common goal," he said.
During the final competition, the team was evaluated in oral
presentation, Web site, vehicle range (distance the car would
go), vehicle design (functionality, workmanship, innovation),
autocross (precision driving), trouble shooting and school
initiative in environmental community service.
By winning trophies in five areas -- second in range, design,
school initiative and oral presentation, and third place in
troubleshooting -- Miramar High was crowned the 2005 Overall
Champion.
The trophies are on display in the automotive shop and Simmons
has received notes and e-mails of congratulations from all
corners of the school. The EV Competition Team has even been
invited to participate in the spring sports pep rally.
"For some kids, this is the only competition they're ever going
to be in. It's our sport," Simmons said. "While everyone else is
running around the track, we're driving around the track."
Copyright � 2005, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
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EVLN(Some drivers beating prices by converting to electric)-long
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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20050423-9999-1b23evs.html
Some drivers beating high gas prices by converting their cars to
electric
By Mark Maynard UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
April 23, 2005 RONI GALGANO / Union-Tribune
Paul Marshall of North Park drives a 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit that
he converted to electric power. The conversion took three months,
and he has since logged 1,600 miles. The car can travel about 40
miles on a charge, more than enough for Marshall's daily
commute.
The rapid rise in gasoline prices has become a shocking spectator
sport in San Diego, but a growing number of motorists are finding
relief and pride as they zip past the pumps and fill up at home �
by simply plugging in their electric cars.
The push for electric vehicles, or EVs, is an old story getting a
second read � and not just because the price of fuel is poised to
break the $3-a-gallon mark.
"Yes, we are seeing more interest, and I anticipate more after
Earth Day," said Bill Hammons, president of the Electric Vehicle
Association of San Diego. Yesterday was Earth Day.
Hammons estimates that there are about 200 electric cars and
trucks on the road in San Diego County, plus the scooters.
But don't look for one on a dealer's lot. Left in the dust nearly
10 years ago by hybrid gasoline-electric powertrains and further
distanced by the emerging fuel-cell power plant that runs on
hydrogen and leaves emissions of just water and heat, electric
passenger cars aren't offered today by any major automaker.
That hasn't stopped electric-only enthusiasts from converting
gasoline-powered cars themselves.
"Now that gas prices are going up again, people are taking
another look at EVs," says Ken Koch, owner of KTA Services in
Upland. "EVs are part of the overall answer to conserving
petroleum."
Resources for electric vehicles
BOOKS
"Build Your Own Electric Vehicle," by Bob Brant, 310 pages with
illustrations. Complete textbook, covers every subject, $20;
published 1994.
"Convert It," by Michael Brown with Shari Prange, third edition,
128 pages with illustrations. Takes you through conversion
process step by step; $28.50; published 1993.
"The New Electric Vehicles," by Michael M. Hackleman, 272 pages
with 465 photos. Conversions, solar cars, boats, planes; $25;
published 1996.
COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS
http://www.kta-ev.com/
http://www.evparts.com/about/index.php
http://www.acpropulsion.com/
http://www.metricmind.com/
http://www.electroauto.com/
http://evalbum.com/geobook.html (vehicles, hybrids and parts for
sale)
http://eSpyder.org
MEETING
The Electric Vehicle Association of San Diego will meet Tuesday
at 7 p.m. in the San Diego Regional Transportation Center (in
the Autotorium, Interstate 15 and El Cajon Boulevard). Paul
Marshall will talk about converting an "autosaur" � his '84 VW
Rabbit convertible � to an EV. Meetings are held the fourth
Tuesday of the month, January through November, and attendance
is free. Information and newsletter: www.evaosd.com.
KTA and a few other such companies sell electric-vehicle
components and systems. Conversion kits cost about $2,500 to
$6,500, not including batteries or upgrades for performance. Car
choices range from vintage British roadsters and small sports
cars to four-seat convertibles, sedans and pickups.
Home-built EVs are freeway-capable, but the fundamental problems
have not been solved � limited driving range, weight of the
batteries and their replacement cost.
The battery charge is good for 40 to 100 miles of driving,
depending on the type of batteries used. Deep-cycle, lead-acid
batteries are the least expensive but have the shortest life. A
battery pack can range from $800 to more than $2,000 and will
last four to five years. Nickel-metal hydride and lithium ion
batteries give about 2� times the range but cost about 10 times
more than lead-acid batteries.
"Hydrogen will be great when it's available, but EVs are viable
today," said Paul Marshall, 42, who drives an electric 1984
Volkswagen Rabbit convertible that he converted.
"As a culture we are going on this consume, consume, consume
mentality. And I just don't think that's healthy for us or the
environment," he said. "I felt I was under the Big Brother thumb
of the oil companies and being squeezed. And I thought, I'll show
you."
Building his electric Rabbit took three months, and he has been
driving it since December. He has logged 1,600 miles since and
drives it most days from his condo in North Park to his office in
Old Town.
His car can travel about 40 miles on a charge, which is plenty
for his needs.
"When people say, 'Is that all?' I tell them to check your
mileage and see how many miles you drive a day," he said.
Marshall, an electrical contractor who designs home lighting and
entertainment systems, worked through KTA Services to make the
conversion.
The electrical components, including batteries, cost about
$10,000. The battery pack of 18 8-volt lead-acid golf cart
batteries cost $930, purchased from U.S. Battery. His total cost
was $20,000, including the car's new upholstery and other body
pieces.
Key to doing a project like this is to be honest about your
abilities, Marshall said. The electrical wiring was his
specialty, but the idiosyncrasies of a German automobile were out
of his range.
"I knew I would farm this job out to several people," he said.
The shop he chose was three blocks from home. A marine service in
his Old Town office complex did all the welding. And he bought a
"donor" Rabbit for spare parts.
The electricity cost is a little over a dollar per charge,
Marshall said. Even factoring the cost of a replacement battery
pack, Marshall said his EV costs much less to own than a
gasoline-powered vehicle. He estimates the total cost at about
$600 a year.
In configuring his car, Marshall wanted it to run as it did when
it was a gasoline-powered car.
"I don't want to take people for a ride and have them say, 'Eh,
it's all right, but it's kind of wimpy,' " he said. "I wanted the
best home-built car I could get. And I got it."
Major automakers have looked at electric vehicles in the past but
haven't found a way to sell them profitably.
Toyota Motor Sales USA offered the battery-powered RAV4 EV from
1998 to 2003 as a lease or to own for $43,000. The compact sport
utility vehicle had a following, but Toyota only sold about 200 a
year, well below the threshold of profitability for a mainstream
car maker.
That's why Toyota built the popular gasoline-electric Prius to
overcome the limitations of EVs, said spokeswoman Cindy Knight.
"What we found was pretty limited market acceptance of a
battery-powered car," Knight said. "Surveys said people were
interested, but buyers stayed away in droves."
That hasn't deterred Lee Campbell from considering an electric
vehicle.
Campbell saw oil prices going up some time ago and downsized from
a full-size Chevy pickup that was getting about 12 miles per
gallon to a compact Chevy S10 pickup with a 4-cylinder engine
that he says gets about 20 miles per gallon.
A retired engineer, Campbell soon will get started on converting
the S10 to electric.
He ordered the components in January from Electro Automotive,
near San Jose, but there has been a delay in getting a main part.
The adapter plate, which connects the transmission to the
electric motor, is being specially machined for his 2000 pickup.
Campbell will do much of the work himself, but he will have a
shop pull the gasoline engine and possibly install the electric
motor. He also found a shop that uses a welded type of plastic
for battery boxes, which is lighter than the commonly used
stainless steel.
"Being an ex-engineer, I'm kind of handy at doing the electric,"
he said. He also plans to add solar panels to the truck's tonneau
cover to act as a trickle charger to keep the accessory battery
full to run the lights, horn and other electric convenience
features.
He is expecting a cruising range of 60 to 80 miles using 20
6-volt, deep-cycle, lead-acid batteries, which cost $2,000, he
said. He plans to drive 40 to 50 miles a day and calculates it
will take 24 kilowatts per charge to top off the batteries.
He has installed solar electric panels on his house in
Tierrasanta, which will partially take care of the charging of
his electric vehicle.
"I tell people I'm getting electricity straight from God," he
said.
John Lane of San Diego says EVs have gotten a bad rap because
most are weird-looking and tiny.
"People think that to make an EV you have to cover up the rear
wheel and make it ugly. Why not take a design from the '50s, like
an original Corvette?" he said.
Lane, 36, hopes to convert a 550 Porsche Spyder replica, which
replicates the classic lines of the 1953 sports car.
Finding the parts is no problem, he said. Finding the 550 Porsche
Spyder replica builders is not so hard, either. Finding an EV
builder for the project is a little more difficult.
"I'm not really a hobbyist and I don't know how to build these
things," Lane said.
A turn-key electric 550 Spyder is offered at the Web site
www.eSpyder.org for about $30,000 to $40,000, but five to ten
buyers must commit down payments before construction can
commence. Currently there are three interested buyers.
Lane's ultimate goal is a car that can be charged from solar
panels at home. "That's what people are looking for in terms of a
really clean car.
"I think you have to have a certain level of consciousness about
your actions to be interested in electric vehicles," he said.
"Anyone interested has gotten to the point where we don't need to
burn so much fossil fuel.
"Hybrids prove that people want normal-looking cars that happen
to be alternatively fueled," he said.
� Copyright 2005 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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EVLN(75 diesel-electric hybrid FedEx Express trucks)
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informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
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http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050422/225055.html?.v=1
Press Release Source: FedEx
FedEx Announces Plans to Add up to 75 ''Clean Air'' Hybrid Trucks
to Fleet Friday April 22, 9:00 am ET
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 22, 2005--FedEx Express, a
subsidiary of FedEx Corp., has announced plans
to add up to 75 hybrid, diesel electric trucks to its service
fleet in the next 12 months, contingent upon pricing and
availability. The announcement coincided with the unveiling of
two FedEx hybrid trucks in the nation's capital on Thursday,
which brought the company-wide total of hybrid trucks in use to
18.
"Placing hybrid trucks in Washington D.C., and the planned
increase for next year reflects the growing viability of hybrid
trucks," said John Formisano, vice president of Global Vehicles,
FedEx Express. "It also shows the commitment of FedEx to pursue
the use of promising technologies that both reduce fuel costs and
provide more environmentally responsive vehicles for the
communities in which we live and work."
The Washington D.C. rollout is a joint initiative with
Environmental Defense and Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN - News).
The FedEx Express E700 hybrid electric vehicle decreases
particulate emissions by 96 percent and travels 57 percent
farther on a gallon of fuel than a conventional FedEx truck,
reducing fuel costs by more than one third.
The project began four years ago when Environmental Defense, an
organization recognized for its work with industry leaders to
create environmental and business innovations, and FedEx Express
began working together to create the next generation delivery
vehicle.
"The commitment by FedEx to purchase hybrids demonstrates the
business viability of these trucks on the road," said Gwen Ruta,
director of Corporate Partnerships, Environmental Defense. "As
fuel prices continue to rise, fuel efficient trucks are an
investment that every company should be making. And since hybrids
also reduce air pollution, oil dependency and climate change,
they're not only good for business but good for America."
Cleveland, Ohio-based Eaton Corporation, one of the world's most
recognized industrial manufacturers, produced the hybrid electric
powertrain for the vehicle.
"Eaton continues to be pleased with the performance - and the
potential - of our advanced technology hybrid powertrain system,"
said Jim Sweetnam, senior vice president and group executive of
Eaton's Truck Group. "The system is working extremely well in
FedEx Express trucks in Sacramento, New York City and Tampa with
high reliability, and we look forward to continued success with
the Washington, D.C. roll-out. In order to encourage wider
adoption of hybrid technology, we need the support of Congress
for the passage of incentive tax credits for purchasing this
clean, fuel-efficient technology. Doing so would provide benefits
for our communities, our environment and our nation."
FedEx currently has 18 hybrid trucks in service in Sacramento,
New York, Tampa and now Washington, D.C. The vehicles are
performing exceptionally well. They have experienced up-time
ranging from 96 to 99 percent, which is impressive for any new
vehicle considering that the average up-time for rest of the
fleet is 99.6 percent.
The trucks are meeting environmental goals based on recent lab
testing at the Southwest Research Institute, which found a
particulate matter reduction of 96 percent, a NOx reduction of 65
percent and increased fuel efficiency of 57 percent, compared to
the 1999 baseline vehicle. New trucks are expected to be placed
in Texas and New York City.
The project partners, Environmental Defense, FedEx and Eaton,
have worked closely with a number of suppliers to find
innovative, effective solutions to allow greater adoption of
hybrid electric vehicles by more fleets around the country.
Freightliner Custom Chassis was instrumental in supplying the
chassis and assembling the 18 vehicles that have been placed into
operation over the past year, starting in Sacramento.
Utilimaster, Hitachi and Detroit Diesel each provided key
components and worked with project partners to customize their
components for the hybrid trucks.
Power of Innovation Produces New Vehicle
FedEx Express and Environmental Defense began working together in
2000 to create a delivery truck that would dramatically decrease
emissions and fuel use. Through a competitive process, Eaton
Corporation was selected from more than 20 manufacturers who
expressed interest in creating a cleaner vehicle using a variety
of technologies. Since the beginning of the project, progress
toward goals has been assessed against the 1999 FedEx Express
W700 standard delivery vehicle, which represented the most common
model in the FedEx Express fleet.
Eaton's Innovative Technology Produces Hybrid Electric
Powertrain
Eaton's hybrid-electric powertrain effectively combines a diesel
engine and electric motor to drive the vehicle. A computer
determines the most efficient combination, depending on current
operating conditions and driver demand. A four-cylinder engine
replaces the six-cylinder version currently used in the FedEx
Express W700 delivery vehicle. The engine size is reduced because
of the added power provided by the electric motor. A particulate
trap has been added to the truck to further reduce emissions.
Batteries capture and store energy during the "regenerative
braking" phase of the vehicle's operation, providing a source of
stored electric power for the motor during future acceleration.
Therefore, all electrical charging of the battery is provided by
the hybrid electric powertrain, and no external electrical
infrastructure, such as a power cord or electrical outlet, is
needed. This balance between conventional and electric technology
is an innovative method to improve environmental performance and
decrease fuel use while eliminating the need for high
electrical-demand infrastructure costs. The hybrid electric
truck's operating characteristics will remain virtually unchanged
from that of a conventionally powered FedEx Express vehicle.
Eaton's hybrid electric powertrain has been placed in the
standard white FedEx Express W700 delivery truck, which utilizes
a Freightliner chassis and a Utilimaster body. The hybrid
electric E700, which bears an OptiFleet brand decal on the sides
and rear of the vehicle, has a gross vehicle weight of
approximately 16,000 lbs. and a cargo capacity of approximately
670 cubic feet.
About FedEx
FedEx Corp. provides customers and businesses worldwide with a
broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business
services. With annual revenues of $29 billion, the company offers
integrated business applications through operating companies
competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the
respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most
admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than
250,000 employees and contractors to remain "absolutely,
positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and
professional standards and the needs of their customers and
communities. For more information, visit fedex.com.
About Environmental Defense
Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization,
represents more than 400,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental
Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative
private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to
the most serious environmental problems. The work of
Environmental Defense in this project was supported by a lead
grant over three years from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund.
Additional support was received from the Hewlett Foundation, Oak
Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the David H. Smith
Foundation. For more information, visit
www.environmentaldefense.org.
About Eaton Corporation
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with
2004 sales of $9.8 billion. Eaton is a global leader in
electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution
and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial ,
mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drivetrain
systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air
management systems, powertrain solutions and specialty controls
for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 56,000
employees and sells products to customers in more than 125
countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Contact:
FedEx Media Relations Anthony Hicks, 901-508-4377 or Eaton
Corporation - Truck Components Don Alles, 269-342-3311 or
Environmental Defense Media Relations Jessica Mendelowitz,
212-616-1219 Source: FedEx
Copyright � 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved
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===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Ed Begley Jr. shows EVs to La Mirada High School students)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/Stories/0%2C1413%2C207~12026~2827506%2C00.html
Article Published: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 - 8:29:43 PM PST
Celebrity on campus Begley touts virtues of protecting environment
By Mike Sprague , Staff Writer
LA MIRADA -- You don't have to spend lots of money to be good to
the environment, actor Ed Begley Jr. told La Mirada High School
students Wednesday.
Begley, famous for roles in "St. Elsewhere,' and "A Mighty Wind,'
spoke to about 250 students in each of two separate meetings as
part of the school's first Earth Day Festival. He drove to the
school in his Toyota RAV4 electric vehicle.
"What you can do is not just buy expensive things like hybrid
cars or solar panels,' he said. "You can pick the low- hanging
fruit first. You can get a compact fluorescent light bulb, buy an
energy-efficient thermostat or do home gardening so you can get
fresh produce.'
Or you can ride a bike the most energy efficient way of ground
travel, he said, citing a Scientific America study.
"With a bowl of rice and a ear of corn, you can go 30 miles,' he
said.
The school's Future Energy Program an after-school club sponsored
the program that included the two talks by Begley and a festival
with displays of solar power and other alternative energy
sources.
On display were several electric vehicles, a solar-powered
dollhouse built by the school's wood shop students, and a solar
oven.
A $10,000 grant to the school from BP America helped pay for the
festival and the work of the club.
Teacher and club sponsor Norma Williamson said she believes
students learned that it's important to recycle.
"Hopefully they learned that to recycle and care about the
environment can be something glamorous,' Williamson said. "Even
glamorous actors care about the environment.'
Freshman Alex Moreno, 14, called Begley's speech informative.
"It gave us a lot of ideas on how we can save the environment,'
Moreno said. "I'm going to save to buy one of those (electric
vehicle) cars.'
The festival held after Begley's talks also impressed some
students.
"I really do care about the environment,' said junior Lauren
Slaughter, 17. "I want to learn more.'
Slaughter said she already is trying to do her part by walking
and taking the bus.
Not every student was environmentally conscious. Some came for
the food on sale.
"We don't get this every day,' said sophomore Andrew Bueno, 15.
-- Mike Sprague can be reached at (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3022, or
by e-mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED] .
On the Net: http://www.earthsite.org/
Copyright � 2005 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
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--- Begin Message ---
<<< [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Not to be confused with the Einstein quote "make it as simple as
> possible but no simpler".
Actually, the two are quite similar. In both cases, they are reminding
us not to make a problem overly complex to no purpose. >>>
...but wasn't Einstein's quote part of his discussion of some of the theories of
quantum mechanics?
--- End Message ---
--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(2 EV1 solar vehicles was the saddest feature of Earth Day)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://horus.vcsa.uci.edu/article.php?id=3671
Earth Day Engages and Saddens by: Brett Miller
So you went to Wayzgoose. And like me, you were distracted by the
music, the crowds, the noise, and the food. Everyone was either
pumping up the volume or pumping out the grub.
But off to one side, on the high ground near Rowland Hall and
BC�s Cavern, something important was happening: Earth Day. A
low-key celebration of solutions to make a difference in the
bitter struggle for Planet Earth, this series of events and
handful of booths suffered reduced attendance due to the sheer
volume of competition.
What exactly did you miss? Two words: �wilderness� and �solar.�
No fewer than five organizations offered fairgoers the
opportunity to get involved in efforts to either protect or
restore Orange County wilderness/wetlands areas, including Amigos
de Bolsa Chica, the California Coastal Commission, Friends of the
Foothills, the Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land.
According to Todd Leslie of Friends of the Foothills, the World
Wildlife Fund has designated O.C. as one of the world�s top 25
�hot spots,� ecologically sensitive areas that collectively
support as much as 40 percent of the earth�s species. Who knew?
Swamp denizens of another sort were in attendance also:
politicians. Beth Krom, our newly elected mayor of Irvine, made
an appearance early in the program; Karl Warkomski, mayor of
Aliso Viejo and a perennial champion of environmental issues,
came immediately after.
Also prominently on display were two EV1 solar vehicles and a
panel of rooftop-mounted photovoltaic cells that could easily
recharge them. This was perhaps the saddest feature of Earth Day
because automakers and Congress recently succeeded in killing off
the U.S. electric vehicle industry. General Motors, in
particular, led the charge, insisting that as many as possible of
the 1,300 RAV-4-based vehicles be hauled off to the Arizona
desert and flattened. Fewer than 300 survive despite buyers�
desperate pleas that they be allowed to pay cash for, and thereby
keep, their beloved electrics.
Why this hostility on the part of automakers and government?
Simply put, the EVs were too efficient. They cost less than $10
per month to operate and required almost no repairs over the life
of the vehicle. Manufacturers, the auto repair industry and the
oil industry would all have taken a hit to the bottom line.
They thought it was better to promote the hybrids, which address
perceived need without severing the consumer�s dependence on
expensive gas, car repairs, and replace-ment vehicles.
Bill Korthof, owner of one of the two EV1s and president of EE
Solar, expressed little sympathy for this business ethic.
GM is getting what they deserve. Toyota�s going to bank-rupt them
and I�m glad to see it,� Korthof said. Toyota manufactures the
Prius hybrid as well as its standard line of fuel-efficient
vehicles and is expected to outperform GM in the U.S. automobile
market.
Even if you couldn�t buy a green vehicle, however, you could
still join the party. At the Green Party of California booth
Susan Sayre, a member of the party�s Orange County council,
explained why differences exist between county, state, and
national platforms. Greens are carefully �consensus seeking� in
all they do, which may come as a refreshing change to anyone
accustomed to the major parties� �one size fits all� approach.
Then again, it might not.
According to Sayre and others at the booth, there are
approximately 160,000 registered Greens in California and it is
the state�s fastest-growing political party.
The Greens may have backed Ralph Nader in the election, but
people at the CalPIRG booth were adamant that there has never
been a connection between Nader and their organization. They are
strictly non-partisan and urge anyone who might have thought
otherwise to take another look. Current CalPIRG campaigns include
fighting for laws that promote solar-energy homes, and a new
outreach program designed to promote the �spirit of activism� in
high school students.
If planting the seeds of awareness isn�t what you had in mind,
then perhaps planting a real seed is.
Find out how to get involved in any of the worthy causes
represented at Earth Day, from recycling on-campus to cycling
off-campus and getting your hands and bottom really dirty, by
contacting the UCI Volunteer Center by visiting their web site,
www.volunteer.uci.edu.
�2004 New University Newspaper
Attn: <Person or Department Name> University of California,
Irvine 3100 Gateway Commons Irvine, CA 92697-4250 Newsroom:
949-824-4286 Fax: 949-824-4287 General Information:
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Letters to the Editor:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
===
GM gets what they deserve
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2005/commentary05042207.htm
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
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'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
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--- Begin Message ---
EVLN(Club Car introduces the 'Run-a-bout'nEV to UAE)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.ameinfo.com/58010.html
Club Car introduces the 'Run-a-bout', a new electric vehicle for
gated communities
Club Car, the producers of the worlds leading golf car, are
introducing a new model into the Middle East this year 'The
Run-A-Bout'.
United Arab Emirates: Monday, April 18 - 2005 at 12:01
The Run-A-Bout is the first neighbourhood electric vehicle that
can be legally registered for road use within the fast growing
number of gated communities and private residential complexes in
the region.
Colin Baxter, Managing Director of Hyrdoturf International, the
Middle East representative of Club Car stated 'Club Car believes
there is a great potential for a vehicle which is environmentally
friendly and fun...a 'Run - A - Bout' vehicle for the whole
family located in residential areas in and around the city.' Mr
Baxter continued 'Through Club Car's contract last year with
General Motors we were able to launch into the business of
producing on-road electric cars to comply with the environmental
California State Legislation.'
The Run-A-Bout is fitted with all the standard car safety
requirements including seat belts, roll-over protection bar,
headlights, reflectors, windscreen wipers, mirrors, roof mounted
break lights, horn and a space for licence plates. The vehicle
will reach up to 40 kms per hour - the maximum speed limit in
gated communities. It also has a rear fitted shopping trunk.
Hydroturf is also offering extended credit terms for purchasing
the Run-A-Bout.
Dubai Police have recently stated that all such vehicles sharing
road use with standard road vehicles for example, in hotel
grounds, must be legally licensed. This makes the Run-a-bout the
only vehicle in its category in the UAE to legally comply with
this new regulation. Nick Tarratt, Golf Advisor, Emaar said," I
am impressed with the Run-A-Bout'. Now that Hydroturf has
received Dubai Police approval to use the vehicles on Estate
Communities I am sure that they will prove very popular with
residents. Now these communities are taking shape they are ideal
for short trips around the Estates of Dubai. Club Car is a
reliable and trusted brand and with their safety roll bars and
seat belts I am confident they will do very well in this
marketplace."
The Run-A-Bout's are powered by Trojan deep cycle batteries, each
car contains six 8 volt recyclable batteries which will run for
50 kms on full charge. They are charged overnight using a
standard 13 amp household power point. On average a set of
batteries will normally last two years.
Currently there are two centres where these vehicles can be
serviced, Hydroturf on the Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai the
distributor for Club Car in the Middle East and Khalifa General
Trading, Hydroturf's dealer in Abu Dhabi.
Baxter concluded, 'The Club Car Run-A-Bout has come at a time
where demand is on the increase in the region for a vehicle of
this type. Large gated communities and private residential
complexes are on a dramatic rise in the region and with the
introduction of The Run-A-Bout, transportation around these
complexes will become safer, easier, environmentally friendly and
definitely more cost effective. Governments and inner city
planning authorities around the world have been looking at
alternative environmentally friendly transport solutions. The
initial emphasis has been focused on public transport such as
electric buses and trains. However, subsequent research indicates
that people prefer to utilise their cars and taxis, which provide
them with the convenience that their busy lives demand. The
Run-A-Bout has become a perfect and viable solution for this. The
future is most definitely electric!'
� 1996 - 2005 AME Info FZ LLC. All rights reserved.
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
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EVLN(Electricity powers CCC-Columbus vehicle)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
http://www.columbustelegram.com/articles/2005/04/17/news/news2.txt
Electricity powers CCC-Columbus vehicle
By JULIE BLUM, Telegram Staff Writer
COLUMBUS - White and black checkered flags and small bales of hay
surrounded the course.
Ross Breitkreutz, a Columbus High School junior, sat in the black
electric vehicle, which was second in the outer lane of the
12-vehicle race. He was wearing a black helmet and jacket and
sunglasses. His blue-gloved hands gripped the wheel.
Just a few minutes earlier, his team of fellow students at
Central Community College-Columbus were going over the final
preparations for the Power Drive Rally, a light-electric vehicle
competition.
Put on by Omaha Public Power District and Nebraska Public Power
District, the competition is offered to high school and college
students who design and construct an energy-efficient electric
vehicle that they race at rallies across the state in the
spring.
The college was hosting the rally Friday as part of the 2005
Alternative Fuels Day Odyssey.
The event is coordinated by the National Alternative Fuels
Training Consortium and showcased the economical and
environmental advantages of alternative fuel vehicles. Several
alternative fuel vehicles, which run on other forms of fuel other
than just gasoline, were on the campus for the public to view.
The race featured several students from schools in the Midwest,
including the team from CCC-Columbus comprised of both high
school and college students.
To begin the event, the group of vehicles were led around the
course for the first lap of the hour-long race by the lead car.
After that one-third of a mile lap was complete, the drivers were
able to go at their own speed, racing to see whose handmade
vehicle could get in the most laps.
All the vehicles in the event were made by the students, said
Steve Anderson, OPPD chairman of the Power Drive Advocacy
Committee. By working hands-on with the vehicles, students are
gaining experience in industrial technology skills. That was one
of the goals of starting the Power Drive program, Anderson said.
"OPPD started the program seven years ago to increase the
interest in industrial technology classes in high schools," he
said. In the last few years, student enrollment in industrial
classes such as automotives and welding have waned and Power
Drive is designed to get youth interested in those areas again.
The program started in 12 Nebraska high schools during the
1998-99 school year. It has since grown to 80 schools in Nebraska
and surrounding states, Anderson said.
When schools sign up for the program, students are given starter
kits and a list of rules for construction of vehicles used in the
Power Drive Rallies. There are eight rallies held each year with
a state competition held in Omaha in May.
For CCC-Columbus, this was the first year the school had a car in
a competition. Students said they worked on the vehicle every
Wednesday evening since September. Friday was the first test they
had to see if their automotive skills were up to the task.
For four laps, they were. But about halfway through the fifth
lap, one of the wheel wells broke, sending the vehicle out of
commission. The students didn't seem too broken up about it.
"Next time I get to break it," Matt Garbers, CCC-Columbus student
who worked on the vehicle, told Breitkreutz.
By completing one lap, the team did qualify for state. They also
hope to have the vehicle up and running for a couple of future
races prior to state.
Despite the misfortune, students said they know of the importance
of vehicles that run on alternative fuels.
"Fuels are not going to be here forever. Plus fuel is going to be
six bucks a gallon soon," Breitkreutz said.
Greg Jochum, a master technician at Ernst Toyota in Columbus who
was at the event to help showcase a couple of the business'
alternative fuel vehicles, said cost for gasoline is causing
sales of alternative fuel vehicles to increase.
While gasoline-run vehicles still outnumber the ones on the roads
that are run by other fuel sources, he said that could change
with the younger generation that is growing up in a time of
technology and awareness of such vehicles.
"It's something we are going to see a lot more of," Jochum said.
Reach Julie Blum at 563-7535 or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-
Bruce {EVangel} Parmenter
' ____
~/__|o\__
'@----- @'---(=
. http://geocities.com/brucedp/
. EV List Editor, RE & AFV newswires
. (originator of the above ASCII art)
===== Undo Petroleum Everywhere
__________________________________________________
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