Texas may get some bad press but here's the flip side > (electric vehicles)

[Dover]

One of the many positive things about Texas (particularly Austin) is that organizations like this are more the rule than the exception. There are many hands-on educational opportunities where professionals and laymen can mingle, introduce new ideas and models and then test them out.
It's a grassroots, roll up your sleeves, get organized and try something new entrepreneurial place. Very civicly responsive and inclusive...user friendly too. I could make a long list of groups and programs, but just thought I'd list this one as an example. (If you are curious about other projects and programs,
you might start by getting the newsletter from AustinEcoNework for current events). http://www.austineconetwork.org/

So check this out and ask yourself, 'might your city be doing something similar?' What IS it doing to bring about sustainable solutions?
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Note: Due to the increase in interest for the CleanTX Forums, the location of the events has moved to the Commons Center at the Pickle Research Campus and the date has changed to Wednesday evenings.


Grid Connected Vehicles: Will Electric Vehicles Soon Jam the Streets?


The chances of vehicles plugging into the nation's electric grid in the coming decade have never looked better. The Toyota Prius has proven to auto industry and consumers that cars with batteries work. What's missing is the ability to plug vehicles into the grid and running larger battery packs to drive mainly on electricity.

Current battery technology has made the potential of Plug-in Hybrids with comparable range and features to standard vehicles as well as short-range, electric vehicles a reality. Investors and large companies have allocated resources, pioneers are building cars, early adopters are converting and driving them, and demand for electric vehicles is growing. Soothsayers are also predicting cars with bi-directional chargers — drivers will not only be able to fuel up their vehicles from the electric grid, but also sell their batteries' electricity back to the Utilities during critical peak hours to help avoid construction of new power plants. In this scenario, grid-connected vehicles become small, renewable energy power stations.

The upcoming CleanTX Forum will address the impending growth and opportunities in the emerging grid-connected vehicle market. We will address the following questions and even show you some “vehicles of the future” that are actually available today…

What is the product and market outlook for electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles?
What is the opportunity for the utility and for the auto industries?
What are the major consumer behavior, public policy, and technology barriers that might slow commercialization?
What are the entrepreneurial and economic opportunities in Austin to build this industry?


Event Details

Date:
Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Time:
5:00-6:00 Registration/Networking + Vehicle Demos

6:00-8:30 Panel Discussion


Moderator
· Dave Tuttle – Chairman, Austin's Digital Horsepower Initiative; CEI Advisor, UT DARPA Urban Challenge Team, UT ChallengeX Team

Speakers:
· Jaycie Chitwood – Senior Strategic Planner, Advanced Technologies Department, Toyota Motor Company

· Roger Duncan – Deputy General Manager, Austin Energy

· Robert Kanode – CEO, Valence

· Sunil Chhaya, PhD – Senior Project Manager – Electric Transportation, Electric Power Research Institute

· Kevin Klein, PhD – Global Automotive Marketing Manager, Freescale


CleanTx Forum

The CleanTX Forum provides the networking and environment for professionals interested in learning more about clean technologies and building the Austin cleantech community. Our mission is to promote entrepreneurship in the field of clean technology and renewable energy in Austin, by providing a forum for executives, entrepreneurs, investors and analysts to share real-world experiences, opportunities, and challenges in the field. The Austin Cleantech Forum will also schedule ad hoc events when cleantech leaders are available to travel to Austin. We will also announce and support workshops and demonstrations of new technologies in the community and will highlight Austin’s growing list of cleantech successes.

[greenman3610]

1. v2g - WSJ covers Austin's ambitious plan

AUSTIN POWER, In Quest for Cleaner Energy,Texas City Touts Plug-In Car
Mayor's Unusual Plan
Links Wind, Batteries;
Pitching Auto MakersBy JOHN J. FIALKA
March 26, 2007; Page A1
AUSTIN, Texas -- Of all the plans cooked up by cities to combat pollution and global warming, the one hatched here is among the most ambitious -- and, some say, one of the more quixotic.
Mayor Will Wynn is pushing a new version of the electric car called the plug-in, which runs almost entirely on electricity and has a big rechargeable battery. But that's not all. Mayor Wynn envisions the parked electric cars plugging into a network operated by the city's utility, which would then use the powerful car batteries as a big storage system from which to draw power during peak demand.

http://realneo.us/about-realneo/austin-power-in-quest-for-cleaner-energy-texas-city-touts-plug-in-car


read this, then google V2G -
the future is taking shape.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. ummm..."Pickle Research Campus"? Is there a backstory to that? nt

[IDemo]

3. It isn't just that "Soothsayers are also predicting cars with bi-directional chargers"

AC Propulsion is already supplying bi-directional grid interface technology, and their EV power system is currently being used in the Tesla Roadster.

[Javaman]

4. Let's make something very clear...

Austin is not Texas. Austin is the enlightened version of Texas. Austin puts the Sane in the insanity that is Texas.

So when referring to Austin in the future, please refer to it as a separate entity apart from Texas.

Thank you :)

[Javaman]

5. Let's make something very clear...

Austin is not Texas. Austin is the enlightened version of Texas. Austin puts the Sane in the insanity that is Texas.

So when referring to Austin in the future, please refer to it as a separate entity apart from Texas.

Thank you :)

[IDemo]

6. Binary enlightenment?

:hi: