Category: Blog

All Charged Up Again

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The Governor’s ready to drive a plug-in hybrid.

Today’s REVI Forum in Hartford, CT (for Regional Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) provided inspiration and fodder for several blog entries, so I’m feeling a burst of energy.  Panelists representing utilities, regulators and policy makers discussed an “EV readiness roadmap” which aims to support car charging for vehicles rolling out within the next couple of years.  Six auto manufacturers also gave presentations – Nissan, BMW, GM , Ford, Mitsubishi and Toyota – and some brought vehicles along.

This Mini’s connector is not the current J1772 standard (but I’d still like to drive it).

Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell got a ride and photo op (challenging the CA. Governator for EV supremacy, perhaps?).

For charging services, however, everyone’s looking to the home garage to provide “early adopters” with electron fuel.  Where does this leave enthusiasts living in condo complexes and apartment buildings?  Hmm… will see see extension cords dropping from 3rd story windows?  Drivers pulling juice from street light poles?  Perhaps I overestimate the pent-up market here, but the auto companies seem poised to ramp up volume, and with unknown barrels of potential gasoline spewing into the Gulf, it seems to me that consumer demand could quickly outstrip utility readiness.  So much credit goes to REVI chair Watson Collins, of Northeast Utilities, for putting the forum together and drawing attention to issues.

Driven to Distraction

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Good intentions are truly the road to hell – and that’s my excuse for not posting here for months. A complete site redesign is in the works, if that’s any consolation.

Projects for Tyco and VeriSign have also my consumed attention, but tonight the British-American Business Council held an event in Cambridge that charged me up again. Phil Guidice, Commissioner of MA DOER came to encourage regional cleantech entrepreneurs. He offered some intriguing charts comparing the Massachusetts business environment to California’s, but another attendee raised the question: are our local VCs on board? Who will really back Massachusetts’ bid to become a cleantech leader?

This writer posed a question about smart grid investment, but was too timid to ask the real question: will our Senator-elect support legislation that will further DOER objectives?

Cars, Colbert and Chutzpah

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Shai Agassi, CEO of Better Place just put in an appearance on The Colbert Report, and I have to applaud him for playing a role to the hilt. Who else is trying to make electric cars hip and sexy? Colbert’s first remark noted Shai’s casual outfit. In jeans & black t-shirt with white wind-turbine graphics, Shai looked the antithesis of an automotive industry exec.

Most of the interview centered on comparing cars to cellphones (swappable, disposable, etc.) but Colbert pointed out that hefty cars have traditionally played a role in courtship. Hmm. Agassi shrugged that off, giving the impression that he believes that cool, new environment products can provide the cachet that cars (traditionally) and phones (currently) offer young consumers.

So my question is: can we wait for them? Or do we need to promote electric cars to drivers of all ages, right now, to get real traction in this market? Given that Colbert’s audience probably skews to youth, I’ll credit Better Place with effective use of their charismatic leader on this show. But I still think we need to persuade a larger market, faster, to switch to electric drive. Can Shai reach those boring, suburban seniors who put on so many miles, or must he simply outlive them?

Back to the Future

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Coming back from a recent MCAN meeting, we stumbled upon the legendary car chargers of Alewife MBTA parking (2nd floor, right as you exit). Most of these are wrapped in black plastic, but someone is making an effort to expose them.

Alewife station sign
Signage at Alewife

The charger itself is an ICS-200 (“Intelligent Charging Station”) a 240V,40amp unit. The manufacturer’s website look like it hasn’t been touched since 1999 – and neither have these chargers, I’ll bet. But they meant well, I’m sure.

Fearless Flying

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After twice getting tangled up trying to navigate Logan Airport yesterday (practically my home town!)and twice paying tunnel tolls, the electric podcars planned for Abu Dhabi look really enticing – sort of combination ski-lift and theme park ride. This rendering is a concept for Gotgaten, Sweden – but I can see them hanging from Boston’s Zakim Bridge.

Rendering by visulogik
Rendering of Podcars by visulogik