Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Club

April 22 Party for the Planet at Mandalay Bay

April/May 2011 schedule
April 23 Workshop
April 30 Workshop
May 7 Workshop
May 14 Monthly Meeting
May 21 Workshop
May 28 Workshop
The Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association participated in the Earth Day
event on the UNLV campus on April 11th

LVEVA members Bob and Gail Brandys brought their electrified DeLorean, Bill Kuehl brought an electrified Hyundai conversion and Lou Gagliano brought a Mitsubishi pickup truck conversion to the UNLV event. School children were bussed in from local elementary schools to view the booth displays, along with UNLV students and faculty.

LVEVA EV Workshop Stages Exhibit in March and Moves Location to North Las Vegas
By Bill Kuehl
On March 19th, LVEVA members expanded their monthly EV workshop to include a public open house and electric vehicle display. Four electric car conversions were exhibited by "do-it-yourself" EV builders. These included a Pontiac Fiero sports car that was part of an EV workshop project, a Hyundai sedan, Mitsubishi truck conversion by Evan Eskelson and Lou Gagliano, and a custom "rat-rod" three-wheel motorcycle built by Gary Reed that included a bubble cockpit and a wind generator as part of its design. Dan Trujillo also exhibited an electric bike conversion. Coffee, snacks and soft drinks were served while a continuously running DVD presentation showed examples of electric car conversions.

The monthly EV workshop is moving its location to North Las Vegas starting in April 2011, hosted by LVEVA member Lou Baker. To learn more about the workshop and related EV seminars, contact Bill Kuehl, Lloyd Reece, or Jon Hallquist through their contact information shown below.

LVEVA to Participate in Earth Day Events at Mandalay Bay
The Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association has been invited to exhibit at the Mandalay Bay's third annual Party for the Planet in celebration of Earth Day on Friday, April 22nd. Exhibit booths representing non-profit, educational organizations from all over southern Nevada will stage the party near the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium.
There is no charge for families to attend the exhibit booth presentations where information brochures and interesting prizes will be given away. An eco-scavenger hunt will be one of the games introducing children of all ages to earth conservation concepts at each of the participating booths. Prizes will be awarded, including discount tickets to the Mandalay Bay Aquarium.
LVEVA Secretary/Treasurer Bill Kuehl will lead the effort to showcase an electric vehicle display outside the entranceway to the Shark Reef aquarium. The LVEVA will staff two booths, one inside the building with other non-profit "green" organizations and one outside on the sidewalk where the electric vehicles will be displayed. Evan Eskelson and other members of the LVEVA will also be exhibiting their electric vehicle conversions, including a Mitsubishi pickup truck, Pontiac Fiero sports car, and a Hyundai sedan.
For more information about the Party for the Planet, contact the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium at:
http://www.mandalaybay.com/entertainment/shark-reef-aquarium.aspx

Electric Auto Advertising billboard 3 wheel EV workshop April 16 2011

Revenge of the Electric Car Documentary at Local Movie Theater this Spring
Director Chris Paine has completed his long-awaited sequel to the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car". Ten years later, the "Revenge of the Electric Car" is going through its final post-production phase and will be premiered at the Tribecca Film Festival in New York on Earth Day, April 22nd. An opening trailer for the film, as well as interactive blogs and background information can be viewed at his web site at:
www.revengeoftheelectriccar.com
The thrust of the film follows the efforts and adventures of four electric car pioneers:
--Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors
--Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan-Renault
--Bob Lutz, former Board of Directors member of General Motors who championed Chevrolet Volt
--Greg "Gadget" Abbot, fabrication specialist and "do-it-yourself" EV builder.
Some long time LVEVA members might remember meeting Greg Abbot during a "Wicked Watts" electric drag racing event staged in 2004 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway by the LVEVA, Roderick Wilde, the National Electric Drag Racing Association, and the Discovery Channel. Roderick and his fabrication crew, the "Suck Amps EV Racing Laboratory", had converted a postal mail van into an electric delivery van they called "Gone Postal". This electric drag racer was built to have a lot of torque and acceleration. The designers were attempting to race their creation against a Dodge Viper sports car on the "Strip" quarter-mile drag strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in front of cameras from the Discovery Channel.
Unfortunately, the powerful battery pack and dual rear-wheel drive motors were so powerful, they continued breaking the mechanical drive train. Greg "Gadget" Abbot gained notoriety within the local EV community by donning four layers of sunglasses to serve as a welding mask while he tried to re-weld the metal parts that were broken on the drive train of the electric postal van. Kids, don't do this at home!
Interested viewers can vote to have the "Revenge of the Electric Car" documentary shown in a local Las Vegas movie theater or made available through direct DVD distribution channels. Visit this web page at:
http://www.revengeoftheelectriccar.com/see-the-film-international.html

Zero Emissions Race Completes Electric Journey Around the World in 80 Driving Days!

After three years of planning and driving, the Zero Emissions Race completed its electric journey around the world in 80 driving days, by beginning and ending in Switzerland on February 24, 2011. Highlights of this first-ever green road race around the world can be found at the racing organization's web site at:
www.zero-race.com
The Zero Emissions Race was originally conceived by Louis Palmer and Dr. Julianna Priskin. Jerry Asher, Board of Directors member of the Electric Auto Association, led the planning for the North American part of the journey. The Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association hosted the teams' visit to southern Nevada during November of 2010.
The initial panel of electric racers came from three countries and the final point winners were:
1. Zerotracer enclosed motorcycle by Oerliken Solar Racing Team from Switzerland
2. Vectrix stock electric motorcycle from Germany
3. TREV three-wheel electric motorcycle from Australia
The three racing teams departed Switzerland on August 16, 2010, then traveled through Eastern Europe into China. After reaching the east coast city of Shanghai, the Zero Emissions Race vehicles were shipped across the Pacific Ocean. They resumed the North American leg of the race in Vancouver, British Columbia and then headed south down the west coast of the U.S. before turning east to visit Las Vegas during the following November. While in Las Vegas, the teams stayed overnight at the MGM Mirage while two of the vehicles recharged under the solar panel arrays at the Center for Energy Research on the campus of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. In the morning, a press conference at the new Aria resort was held at MGM CityCenter where LVEVA President Lloyd Reece and Potential Difference CEO Elliot Small introduced Louis Palmer and the Zero Race team members. After their Las Vegas stay, the Zero Emissions team headed south through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, then crossed the border into Mexico to exhibit at the World Climate Change conference in Cancun.
From Mexico, the vehicles were shipped across the Atlantic, arriving on the exotic African continent in Casablanca, Morocco where they resumed "driving day 72" of the 80-day Zero Emissions Race. From Morocco, they crossed the straits of Gibraltar by ferry and arrived in Spain. The group enjoyed touring Gibraltar and Spain while also taking in some of that country's innovative solar energy initiatives, including a giant solar oven project.
From Spain, the racers traveled into France while encountering colder weather and winds. When they crossed the border into Switzerland, it snowed on the final 80th day of their trip.
Arriving in Geneva, the racing teams crossed the finish line at the Palais de Nations, the United Nations Palace in Geneva whose entrance road is draped with flags from all the nations of the world.
Closing ceremonies were highlighted at the Zero Race web site blog by Dr. Julianna Priskin:
"The Zero Emissions Race closing event was a thrill for the teams, as many journalists waited for their arrival inside the United Nations Palace. This was followed by speeches by Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the United Nations, Mr Andrey Vasilev, Deputy Secretary UN Economic Commission of Europe, and Ms Sylvie Motard, Senior Officer of United Nations Environment Programme. Louis Palmer also gave a speech, and the teams were presented with their prizes. In third place was Team TREV, in second Team Vectrix, and the winner of the Zero Emissions Race was Team Oerlikon Solar. This prize makes Zerotracer officially the most efficient and reliable electric vehicle. The teams were presented trophies made from granite and crystal from the Grimsel Region of Switzerland."
Overall, the racing teams traveled over 17,000 miles through 17 countries and stopped to share the event with enthusiasts in 150 cities. They used ingenious methods and creative sources to recharge their vehicles on electricity found all around the world and were also were uplifted by the generosity of the many people they met along the way who were always willing to help or extend a hand.
Thank you to the three racing teams and all the Zero Emissions Race organizers for inspiring us all.
Happy trails…!

Zilla Motor Speed Controller To Be Manufactured by Manzanita Micro
From Café Electric Blog:
25 Mar 2011 10:36 am
Finally, Good News!
Zilla's are coming back!
I am excited to announce that I am in talks with Manzanita Micro to bring the Zilla controller line back to life soon! We have agreed on the basics and now just need to finalize the details to get Zilla production, sales and support up and running at their facility in Kingston Washington.
It's been a long time since I've updated this blog. My apologies for that. I have been busy during that time communicating with and visiting a number of potential manufacturers for the Zilla. After the last fiasco, I admit I've been slow to move forward. I wanted to make sure I was working with someone who knows the EV market and also has the manufacturing experience necessary to build the Zilla properly. I've known Rich Rudman and the folks at Manzanita Micro for many years. Rich and I go back to the mid 1990's as friends and sometimes friendly rivals. We often observed how similar our companies were. Now that Manzanita has expanded operations into a beautiful new facility and expanded staff to handle larger volumes (I admit, I was very impressed during my recent visit) it looks to me that they have the space and the ability to build Zilla controllers in good volumes. I'm looking forward to working with them to bring the Zilla back, and also I'm eager to get back to product development, maybe starting with improving the Hairball with new code and features.
--Otmar Ebenhoech

Several Tesla charging stations have been upgraded to the new J1772(tm) standard. The charging stations themselves remain, but the cables have
been replaced. So, you will see ClipperCreek charging stations marked Tesla, but with J1772(tm) cables. These are true J1772(tm) charging
stations, and can also be used by the Nissan LEAF and GM Chevrolet Volt.

Tesla TS-70 connectors still remain at Harris Ranch, Rabobanks, Davis parking garage, Woodland (when it gets repaired), Arcata, etc. No plans to upgrade
those any time soon. The ones that were upgraded were all on circuits less than 70 Amps. They were installed a while back, before the J1772 cables were available. The intention at the time of installation was to change to J1772 when the cables became available. All of the circuits to the upgraded stations are at least 40 Amps.

Here is the list of cities from
http://www.evchargernews.com/regions/ch-tesla-tesla.htm

I have marked the upgraded J1772(tm) locations with an *....
Those that are still Tesla are marked#

Arcata#(not published)
Atascadero#
Barstow#
Coalinga#
Davis, UC (Mondavi)*
Davis, downtown#
Dixon*
Fairfield*
Goleta#
Los Angeles#
Menlo Park#
Newport Beach#
Orland#
Rocklin#
Salinas#
San Luis Obispo#
Santa Maria#
Vacaville*
Vallejo*
Woodland#(down)
Yreka#

LVEVA DVD Reference Library
The LVEVA maintains a growing library of DVD reference videos that are available to its members that can be borrowed for one month at a time. Bill Kuehl, LVEVA Secretary/Treasurer is also the LVEVA video librarian. He can be contacted to pick up and return these videos at each monthly chapter meeting. The current list of videos that are available for a one month rental are:
1. "Who Killed the Electric Car" Documentary
2. Plug in Partners National Campaign (2006)
3. EAA Silicon Valley CalCars PHEV Technology Overview (2005)
4. Boulder City Christmas Parade Highlights (2006)
5. Convert Your Pickup to Electric (DIY Video by GrassrootsEV)
Note: This video can be copied to viewer's hard disk to keep!
6. Tom Gage of AC Propulsion speaks at EAA Silicon Valley (2005)
7. Monster Garage EV conversion (Jesse James)
and John Wayland White Zombie Videos (2006)
8. Electric Avenue by George Gladic Fox Valley EAA Chapter 2006.
9. Bruce Katz of Polyplus Battery Company speaks at EAASV (2005)
March 2011
The Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association (LVEVA) will meet on the second Saturday of each month during 2011. Meetings will be held at the Clark County Library on 1401 E. Flamingo Road from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon in the Jewel Box Theater. Members will be displaying their own electric cars in the library parking lot where they will be answering questions before and after each meeting.
Calendar
2011
March 5 EV Workshop and Seminar
March 12 Monthly Meeting
March 19 EV Workshop and Seminar
April 9 Monthly Meeting
April 23 Earth Day Events
May 14 Monthly Meeting
June 11 Monthly Meeting
July 4 4th of July Parade Events
July 9 Monthly Meeting
August 13 Monthly Meeting
September 10 Monthly Meeting
October 8 Monthly Meeting
November 12 Monthly Meeting
December 10 Monthly Meeting

Contents:
--EV Workshop and Seminar March 5th at RETOOL Company location
--NV Energy Smart Grid Rollout Updates
--Nevada Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Readiness Task Force (EVIRTF) Meets at DRI
--Aerovironment Begins Shipping Smart Charging Stations
--Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA)
--GM to Increase Production Numbers and Rollout of Chevy Volt to 50 States
--DOE Evaluates Electric Vehicle Deployment Progress

EV Workshop and Exhibition March 5th at RETOOL Company Location
On Saturday, March 5th, LVEVA Members are hosting an EV workshop and seminar at RETOOL Company. Exhibitor Gary Reid will also be talking about the fabrication of his three-wheel "Rat-Rod" electric motorcycle with wind generator attached. Admission to the general public is $10. Admission fees for LVEVA members are $5 or bring food items to share with other attendees.
For more details, contact LVEVA Vice-President Jon Hallquist at:
Email: jon@grassrootsev.com
Tel: (702) 277-7544

NV Energy Continues Smart Grid Rollout
NV Energy plans to lead the nation by rolling out smart grid programs to its customers in Nevada. The company is investing $300 million, including a $130 million grant from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, to make Nevada a leader in Smart Grid technology. Since September 2010, the electric utility began installing smart meters to its customers in southern Nevada. At present, about 25,000 meters have been installed with a goal to reach 1.3 million installations throughout the entire state by December 2012.
The utility has been working with several different companies to contract for purchase and installation of these systems.
NV Energy recently sent a Request for Proposal to Control4 to bid on a price and installation cost for 20,000 of the company's EMS 100 Energy Management Systems, which consist of a 5-inch EC-100 touch screen display and a wireless thermostat. More details on Control4's products can be found at its website at: www.control4.com
A decision to go forward with purchase and installation of the Control4 systems will be made by NV Energy in the first quarter of this year. If the decision is implemented, installation of these systems by Control4 will begin in June 2011 and continue through 2012. These installations will initially be part of a volunteer program for NV Energy customers, similar to its existing Cool Share program.
NV Energy customers will be able to refer to the data collected by the smart meters to more actively manage the energy usage in their home, building on the company's existing Cool Share Program that uses a web-connected thermostat to help volunteer participants manage their air conditioning usage during the hot Nevada summers while also helping the electric utility company balance the extreme swings of its peak and valley load demands at the same time.
While the touch screen allows customers to monitor their ongoing energy usage in their home, the system can also receive web-based communication signals from NV Energy regarding the timing of ongoing price changes as rate schedules shift during the day. The EMS 100 system can be programmed by the customer to interact with these signals by turning off certain appliances at these times, so that the household can conserve energy and lower their monthly utility bill. A wireless Zigbee communications system within the thermostat allows it to communicate with plug-in modules installed within the home that act as radio receivers. These modules are plugged into an AC wall outlet and the appliance is plugged into the module. The receiver modules contain built-in relays that can turn off and on electric appliances, lights and other power-consuming devices by remote control, as well as control traditional air conditioning and heating functions. This creates a local wireless Home Area Network (HAN) where the touch screen LCD display and thermostat sensing system run the company's Control4 Advantage software. The EMS 100 system can also communicate with NV Energy's main administrative system, allowing the utility to signal and receive data from multiple Home Area Networks within its customer base, eventually scaling to over a million customers on its "smart grid" within the state of Nevada by the end of 2012.
Over the next few years, NV Energy is striving to implement new "demand response" programs to save 150 to 400 Megawatts of power usage each day, especially during peak demand periods. The average home is estimated to consume about 1.3 kilowatts of power every day, so one megawatt of electric power can service about 750 homes each day. If NV Energy succeeds in saving about 200 Megawatts of power per day, that would allow for 150,000 more homes to be built and added to the state grid over the next decade without the need for additional generating capacity. This, in turn, would help keep costs steady for both residential and industrial consumers while Nevada transitioned to using cleaner forms of renewable energy generation.
This also opens up a lot of possibilities for electric vehicle owners who already have the opportunity to subscribe to monthly rate schedules that allow for cheaper electricity consumption during off-peak night time hours, when their EVs would be recharging. An electric car would be viewed by the EMS 100 system as another appliance on the Home Area Network whose demands for recharging power could be controlled and turned on each night just when the off-peak hourly rates "kick in". Potential "apps" for the EMS 100 system might also start to include "Vehicle to Home" applications that would allow some of the stored electricity from an electric car battery pack to be returned back into the home during peak demand periods to provide power for appliances, when the vehicle was not being used for transportation during the day. This would allow the NV Energy customer to also save on the purchase of more expensive electricity during daytime peak demand hours.
For example, if a person's household did consume the average 1.3 kilowatts of electricity every day, an EV owner in southern Nevada is eligible for different "Time of Use" rate schedules at:
http://www.nvenergy.com/home/paymentbilling/timeofuse.cfm
A Nissan Leaf with a 24 kilowatt-hour battery pack could provide a continuous flow of three kilowatts of electric power for eight hours during the day. If this stored DC battery power was converted through an electrical inverter back into 110 VAC or 220 VAC household current, it could supply twice the needs of an average house during peak daytime usage, but also cut the overall cost of electricity consumed by 25 percent each day.
If enough electric cars became part of Nevada households over the next decade, potential "Vehicle to Grid" applications could allow the utility to balance its peak and valley demands by using these banks of mobile storage batteries as reserve power sources that could help regulate and smooth out power demand over the entire state grid.

NV Energy and U.S. Dept. of Transportation Initiate Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Readiness Task Force at Desert Research Institute
On February 23rd, the Desert Research Institute hosted the first kickoff meeting of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Readiness Task Force, also known as EVIRTF. This is a Nevada statewide effort being led by NV Energy and the Nevada Department of Transportation to make sure that the state power grid and roadway infrastructure is ready for the rollout of new plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs) that can extend their range by plugging into a network of public recharging stations.
There are also additional infrastructure issues that must be dealt with in making sure that vendors, electricians, general contractors and other electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) providers across the state are equipped and trained to handle the emergence of new vehicle technology platforms like the Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi iMiEV, Ford Focus Electric, Chevrolet Volt, Toyota Prius PHV, Fisker Karma, Tesla Roadster and other vehicles that will begin to appear on the roads of Nevada this year.
Emergency response teams must also be aware of how to handle the power supply of an electric car if it is involved in an accident and requires the extraction of human beings.
Also, how will electric vehicles assume their fair share of road maintenance taxes that have always been funded by gasoline taxes at the pump. Should these fees be collected as an annual user fee when renewing license registration for an electric car at the DMV or included in some kind "pay as you drive" tax? How should plug-in hybrid electric vehicles be taxed when their road usage can be from a combination of electric and gasoline sources?
The EVIRTF will be establishing a web site that will enable channels of communication between all levels of government, fleet vehicle organizations and businesses as well as be a resource for consumers who may be considering purchasing plug-in hybrid or plug-in battery-powered electric vehicles.
Stay tuned…!

AeroVironment Begins Shipment and Completes First Installations of Residential Smart Charging Systems
" Chargers wirelessly communicate with grid to create "smart refueling" hubs
" Open architecture ensures interoperability with utility systems nationwide
MONROVIA, Calif., Feb. 14, 2011 - AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that it has begun shipping and installing its UL-listed single-family and multi-unit residential Smart Charging Dock (model EVSE-RS+). Designed with an open architecture to ensure interoperability with the thousands of individual utilities nationwide, the grid-connected system charges electric and plug-in electric hybrid cars by turning drivers' homes into convenient, smart refueling hubs.
"Our Smart Charging Dock is designed to flex with the needs of utilities and drivers," said Mike Bissonette, senior vice president and general manager of Efficient Energy Systems at AeroVironment. "The open architecture ensures that utilities will be able to incorporate it easily into their own monitoring systems. It also communicates wirelessly with the grid and provides feedback that helps determine the optimum charging times to effectively manage demand on the grid."
AeroVironment designed its Smart Charging Dock and supporting software to integrate easily with a utility's IT network over various communication methods, including GPRS (cellular), Ethernet, WiFi™and ZigBee®. The charging system enables communication with the utility to allow for easy monitoring of energy use, troubleshooting and data analysis to help optimize the grid. Utilities can then assess charging patterns and proactively manage the needs of electric vehicles on the utility's generation and distribution systems. Utilities will ultimately be able to aggregate collected data for a global view of EV energy usage and user habits.
The company recently announced that it would be providing and installing the charging systems and data network for the nation's first privately-funded EV charging "ecosystem" in Houston for New Jersey-based NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG), an example of how AeroVironment collaboratively supports an energy company and its EV-driving customer base. AeroVironment is working closely with NRG Energy to ensure that its charging hardware and software work seamlessly with the company's management system, allowing for grid optimization, CO2 footprint data and energy consumption reports.
AeroVironment's Smart Charging Dock can charge an electric or plug-in hybrid car automatically or be pre-programmed by a utility or driver for optimal power draw so that the car charges when energy costs are lowest. EVSE-RS+ is designed to be compatible with all SAE J1772-compliant electric car models from major automakers.
About AeroVironment, Inc.
AeroVironment is a technology solutions provider that designs, develops, produces and supports an advanced portfolio of electric transportation solutions and electric-powered Unmanned Aircraft Systems(UAS). AeroVironment's comprehensive EV charging solutions include EV home charging, public charging, fast charging, data collection, grid-integrated communications and complete installation, training and support services for consumers, automakers, utilities, government agencies and businesses. AeroVironment's industrial fast charging systemssupport more than 15,000 electric materials handling vehicles in mission-critical supply chains for Fortune 500 enterprises. AeroVironment's power cycling and test systemsprovide EV developers and EV battery manufacturers with market-leading simulation and cycling capabilities. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company's battery-powered, hand-launched unmanned aircraft systemsto provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance and communication. More information is available at www.avinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
###
Additional AV News:http://www.avinc.com/resources/news
AV Media Gallery:http://www.avinc.com/media_gallery
Follow us:http://www.twitter.com/aerovironment

AeroVironment, Inc. Contacts:
Steven Gitlin
+1 (626) 357-9983
pr@avinc.com

Deborah Rappoport
For AeroVironment, Inc.
+1 (310) 482-4276
deborah.rapoport@fleishman.com

Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA)
The Electric Drive Transportation Agency (EDTA) is an EV industry interest group representing a broad cross section of the electric vehicle industry including both carmakers, suppliers and electric utilities. It has been instrumental in helping shape both public policy and government incentive programs for EVs, which include the gamut of e-drive technologies from hybrids to fuel cell vehicles. The EDTA is a co-sponsor of the annual worldwide Electric Vehicle Symposium that draws together EV industry leaders from around the world.
In January, the organization announced its "Driving Forward: An Action Plan for the Electric Drive Era" just prior to the State of the Union address. Many of the recommendations put forth in the five-point action plan are policy and procedurally-related: fixing local regulations and tax code to allow faster and wider deployment of e-drive vehicles. Others are funding-related, encouraging the Congress to provide additional financial incentives and aid to help in the rollout; recommendations that may be hard to swallow given the current cost-cutting mood on Capitol Hill.
Briefly, the five key points of the plan are:
" Reduce Market Hurdles to Speed Deployment of Electric Drive Vehicles
" Educate Consumers, Communities and Stakeholders
" Ensure U.S. Leadership in Electric Drive Manufacturing
" Standardize Regulatory Policies for Electric Drive Vehicles and Infrastructure
" Accelerate Technology Breakthroughs
The entire 8-page plan is availed in PDF format [http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/18588].
With respect to accelerating technology breakthroughs, EDTA proposes that more be done to better co-ordinate federal research efforts starting with appointing an Interagency Electric Drive Working Group coordinator "to ensure that Department of Energy programs are aligned with other federal level efforts to promote electric drive." They also recommend that research and development efforts be expanded across relevant agencies, including the Departments of Transportation and Defense.
All of these are doubtless important points: implementing them is another matter, especially if they cost money, require close coordination between vying agencies, or involve creation of additional bureaucracy. Traditionally, many of these special projects were included as "earmarks" in various federal programs, something having little relevance to the bills on which they were attached. The President's pledge during the State of the Union to veto any bills with such earmarks attached is likely to diminish this vehicle as a way to fund the types of projects that EDTA is recommending.
GM to Increase Production Quantity and Speed Up Rollout of Chevy Volt in 50 States
During the Washington, D.C. Auto Show, GM announced that it has expanded its original plan to rollout just 10,000 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid electric cars during the first year within just five regions. The company's intitial cautious rollout allowed them to see how demand would shake out. GM initially planned a slow ramp up to manufacture 60,000 Volts a year by 2012.
Due to industry buzz and popular demand at the Chevrolet Volt web site, the company recently doubled its estimates, planning to increase production during 2011 to 25,000 vehicles while ramping up manufacturing capacity to 125,000 cars per year by 2012. Rollout to dealerships is being stepped up to all 50 states by the fourth quarter of this year.
This was due to a favorable response of 300,000 registrations at the company's Chevrolet Volt web site.
The recent bankruptcy and downsizing of GM has helped it shed debt but also caused the once dominant automotive giant to emerge with just four main brands - Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick and GMC. The company also shed 900 dealerships but still managed to sell 120,000 more cars and trucks in the last quarter of 2010 than it did in the first quarter of 2010 when the company still had eight brands and its original existing base of dealerships.

DOE Releases New Analysis Showing Significant Advances in Electric Vehicle Deployment
Washington, District of Columbia, United States February 8, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
The U.S. Department of Energy today released One Million Electric Vehicles by 2015 (pdf - 220 kb), an analysis of advances in electric vehicle deployment and progress to date in meeting President Obama's goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. The analysis shows that while the goal is ambitious, it is also achievable based on steps already taken as part of the Recovery Act and additional policy initiatives proposed by President Obama -- including improvements to existing consumer tax credits, programs to help cities prepare for the growing demand for electric vehicles, and strong support for research and development to continue reducing the cost of electric vehicles.

"President Obama's goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 represents a key component of our strategy to dramatically reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and ensure that the U.S. leads the world in the growing electric vehicle manufacturing industry," said DOE Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs David Sandalow. "This is a race America can win -- if we answer the President's call to out-innovate, out-build, and out-compete the rest of the world."

One Million Electric Vehicles by 2015 details DOE investments in electric vehicle infrastructure, research and development, and demonstration projects nationwide that are laying the groundwork for achieving the President's goal. These projects include support for nearly 50 manufacturing facilities and demonstration projects nationwide. These efforts are helping to reduce the costs of advanced batteries and electric vehicles and gathering real-world data for consumers and local communities that will inform future deployment efforts.

The Department's analysis of the current market outlook indicates that manufacturers are planning to produce in the range of one million electric vehicles by 2015. While industry-wide, manufacturing capacity is not likely to be the limiting factor in reaching the President's goal, additional policy steps are needed to further drive innovation, reduce costs, and spur consumer demand.

The Obama Administration is proposing a three-part strategy that supports electric vehicle manufacturing and adoption through improvements to tax credits in current law, investments in research and development (R&D), and a new competitive program to encourage communities to invest in electric vehicle infrastructure. This plan will drive demand and position the United States as a global leader in manufacturing and deploying next-generation vehicle technologies. The strategy includes:

Make electric vehicles more affordable with a rebate up to $7,500: The President is proposing to transform the existing $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles into a rebate that will be available to consumers immediately at the point of sale, instead of having to wait for tax returns to be filed.

Advance innovative technologies through new R&D investments: Building on Recovery Act investments, the President's FY2012 budget proposal will include enhanced R&D investments in electric drive, batteries, and energy storage technologies.

Reward communities that invest in electric vehicle infrastructure through competitive grants: To provide an incentive for communities to invest in EV infrastructure and remove regulatory barriers, the President is proposing a new initiative that will provide grants to up to 30 communities that are prioritizing advanced technology vehicle deployment.

Combined, these policies will help achieve the President's goal of one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 while creating new jobs and strengthening U.S. leadership in the growing EV market.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Vehicle Technologies Program funds research and development for energy efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle technologies.

LVEVA DVD Reference Library
The LVEVA maintains a growing library of DVD reference videos that are available to its members that can be borrowed for one month at a time. Bill Kuehl, LVEVA Secretary/Treasurer is also the LVEVA video librarian. He can be contacted to pick up and return these videos at each monthly chapter meeting. The current list of videos that are available for a one month rental are:
1. "Who Killed the Electric Car" Documentary
2. Plug in Partners National Campaign (2006)
3. EAA Silicon Valley CalCars PHEV Technology Overview (2005)
4. Boulder City Christmas Parade Highlights (2006)
5. Convert Your Pickup to Electric (DIY Video by GrassrootsEV)
Note: This video can be copied to viewer's hard disk to keep!
6. Tom Gage of AC Propulsion speaks at EAA Silicon Valley (2005)
7. Monster Garage EV conversion (Jesse James)
and John Wayland White Zombie Videos (2006)
8. Electric Avenue by George Gladic Fox Valley EAA Chapter 2006.
9. Bruce Katz of Polyplus Battery Company speaks at EAASV (2005)

EV Repairs and Service
Western Petroleum Station
2051 E. Sahara (corner of Eastern Avenue and Sahara)
Las Vegas, NV 89104
Contact: Jim Johnson
Telephone: (702) 457-2675
Web site: http://storefront.dexonline.com/jims-texaco

EV Parts and Kits for Sale:
GrassrootsEV.com
Las Vegas Office
Address: 5225 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89118
"Electric Vehicles and Everything for Them"
Contact: Jon Hallquist
Tel: (702) 277-7544
Email: jon@grassrootsev.com
Web site: http://www.grassrootsev.com
OKA NEV ZEV Parts and Kits for Sale: www.okaauto.com
OKA NEV ZEV KIT cars in stock now for immediate delivery prices start at $5,000 FOB Las Vegas. We also have 4844 ALLTRAX Controllers(48V 400 A DC for Series motor) in stock (more than we need) $550 list, $375.00 NET.
Contact: Miro Kefurt
OKA AUTO USA : www.okaauto.com
Distributor: MIROX Corporation
5015 W. Sahara Ave. #125-130
Las Vegas, Nevada 89146
USA
Tel: (702) 683-8292
E-mail: okaauto@aol.com

For Sale: Chrome "Electric" Emblems for EV's
Mike Chancey - Posted 06/25/00
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Checked: 07/13/03
Chrome "Electric" car emblems, just like the OEM factory lettering. Okay, so you own a beautiful electric vehicle, but does the world know? Show them with these profession quality "ELECTRIC" emblems. Fabricated from weather resistant thermoplastic, these signs feature a bright chrome like finish on the letter faces with a subtle matte black background. They mount easily with the self adhesive High Tack backing. Simply peel off the protective cover, and press the sign into place. Each sign is approximately 1.25" in height and 7" in length. Only $6.00 each or four for $20.00, plus $1.75 shipping and handling per order. Discounts for larger orders available. Send check or money order to:
Mike Chancey, 1700 East 80th Street, Kansas City, MO 64131, or order online.
EV's For Sale:
For Sale: Zap Motors "Xebra" Sedan
-- Speed Up To 40 mph
-- Range Up To 25 miles per charge
-- Seats Four Passengers
-- Hatchback with Rear Storage area
-- Power Supply: Lead Acid Battery Pack
-- DC Electric Motor
-- DMV Classification: 3-wheel electric motorcycle (Zero Emission Vehicle)
-- Dimensions: 10 ft. length x 4.66 ft. wide x 5.05 ft high
-- Gross Vehicle Weight: approx. 2,805 lbs.
-- Less than 2,000 miles of operation to date
-- Replaced and upgraded batteries in battery pack to increase range
-- Onboard charger plugs into any 110 VAC outlet
-- Ocean Blue color paint
-- Upgraded radio with CD player/speakers
-- Fabric seats
-- Upgraded brake package
Asking Price: $9,700 or Best Offer (Original Cost $11,700 plus taxes)
Contact: Myreen Aschenbach
Email: patmyreen1@embarqmail.com

For Sale: Electric 1985 Pontiac "Fiero" --Record-Holding Race Car
This 1985 Pontiac "Fiero" Conversion currently holds four National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) Class Records.
1. Class MC/F (Modified Conversion 97-120 volts)
2. Class MC/E (Modified Conversion 121-144 volts)
3. Class MC/D (Modified Conversion 145-168 volts)
4. Class MC/C (Modified Conversion 169-192 volts)
The 1985 Pontiac Fiero has been converted with:
1. A new Netgain Warp-9 Electric DC Motor coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission.
2. A DCP T-REX 1000 Water-cooled Controller with an Input Voltage Range of 96 to 336 Volts and Motor Current Rating at 1000 Amps.
3. The Battery System is at 192 Volts. The battery pack consists of sixteen 12-volt sealed ODYSSEY PC-680 batteries with the capability of increasing battery pack capacity and voltages to compete in the NEDRA MC/B Class (Modified Conversion 193-240 volts) or to a maximum capacity of 336-volts to compete in the MC/A Class (Modified Conversion 241 volts and higher).
4. Tires are B.F. Goodrich G-Force T/A Drag Radials P215/60 R14 that connect the Electric Motor torque to the road for "no slip" acceleration.
5. Battery Charger is a 120- to 240-volt Variable Transformer with a heavy-duty full bridge rectifier. Additional cables and connectors are installed for Dump Charging from a DC battery pack.
Asking Price: $10,000 or Best Offer.
Contact: William Kuehl
Address: 4504 W. Alexander Road, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89032
Telephone: 702-636-0304

LVEVA Board of Directors:
Lloyd Wayne Reece, President
Jon Hallquist, Vice President
Bill Kuehl, Secretary/Treasurer
Al Sawyer, Jan Himber, Richard Furniss, Dan Trujillo
Newsletter Editors and Contributors:
Richard Furniss, Lloyd Reece, Bill Kuehl, Al Sawyer, P.E.,
Jan Himber, Stan Hanel
WATTS HAPPENING
is published monthly by the
Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association,
a chapter of the Electric Auto Association
Las Vegas Electric Vehicle Association web site
http://www.lveva.org
Electric Auto Association web site
http://www.eaaev.org
Electric Auto Association
Membership Renewals
323 Los Altos Drive
Aptos, CA 95003-5248
Current EVents contact:
At http://www.eaaev.org/eaaboard.html
Ron Freund
Chairman, CE Publication
Address Correspondence to:
LVEVA
2816 W. El Campo Grande Avenue
No. Las Vegas, NV 89031
Call for Information:
Lloyd Reece (702) 898-8299
Richard Furniss (702) 453-6196
Jan Himber for Al Sawyer (702) 642-4000
Bill Kuehl (702) 636-0304