EV Events

Would you like to have an electric car conversion workshop in your area? Electro Automotive has been presenting workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area for 20 years. Now the same workshops can come to your area. What we need to make it happen is a local liaison to:

* Locate an appropriate venue for the workshop
* Locate sources of large equipment, tools, and large components for display
* Supply an errand runner/assistant during the workshop
* Get the workshop listed on local community events calendars
* Get coverage by local media
* Receive shipments of books, display materials, parts, tools, etc.
* Provide any needed direction signs to location
* Handle check-in at the workshop

In exchange for this local assistance, the liaison will get a percentage of the registration fees. If members of an EV club wanted to do the legwork as volunteers, the money could go to the club as a fundraiser. We would also promote the event on our web site, as well as issuing press releases and posting on various Internet sites.

We do need minimum registration numbers to make the workshop economically viable for us. If you are considering hosting one in your area, we would recommend that you survey your club membership to see how many would be likely to participate. There will always be many non-club registrations as well, and some people will travel in from out of town.

There are two types of workshops we can present.

One Day Seminar

This is an all day lecture that covers the complete conversion process, including choosing a suitable chassis, stripping it, choosing an appropriate drive system, designing, fabricating, and installing battery racks/boxes, motor mounts, and other component mounts, wiring, suspension upgrades, troubleshooting, driving, charging, and maintenance. Registration is $100 per person for the day. The book "Convert It" will be available for sale at a discount to people attending, as well as handouts of the presentation.

For this, we need:
* Minimum 75 registrations, maximum 300
* Minimum 8-12 weeks lead time to secure facility and promote event
* Lecture hall or suitable space. Size would depend on anticipated registrations. It could be a hall that the local EV club already has access to for their meetings. If it's a conference room at a hotel, it might be possible to start small and upgrade in size if more registrations come in.
* Lectern, microphone, projector screen (we can bring projector), power strip for projector, chairs (preferably with writing surface), several tables for check-in and display items
* Display components or vehicles - if local EV club members have motors, chargers, controllers they could bring for display, or whole vehicles.

6-Day Hands-On Workshop

In this workshop, we take one or two cars from stripped donor chassis to running conversion in six days. Mornings are spent in a classroom and afternoons are spent in the shop working on the car(s). This is a much larger project, with more requirements. Registration is $1,500 per person for the six days. The book "Convert It" and the "VoltsRabbit Installation Instructions" are included in the registration, as well as lecture handouts.

For this, we need:
* Minimum 5 registrations, maximum 18 (not counting sponsors)
* Minimum 12-16 weeks lead time AFTER donor car(s) secured. We would not want to set the actual workshop date until the sponsor(s) were committed, the donor car(s) were in possession, and the shop space confirmed.
* Classroom space with lectern, projector screen & stand, chairs & tables or desks. This is best if it can be a free/donated space.
* Shop space. For a one car workshop, 24' x 24' is a minimum. For a two car workshop, 24' x 36' minimum. This is also best to be free or donated, as rental for shop space can be cost prohibitive. It could be a large empty space with garage doors, concrete floors, good lighting and plenty of electrical outlets as a minimum. Compressed air would be desirable. Several heavy duty workbenches will be needed. A lift is nice, but not necessary. An actual auto shop space would be fantastic. This might be at a school during break between semesters/quarters.
* Tools & equipment. We will supply a list of large tools needed, such as engine hoist, floor jacks and jackstands, shop vac, etc. These can probably be borrowed from local club members. We will bring two sets of hand tools, but if students can bring their own, or EV club members can provide some extras, that would be a big help.
* Donor car & kit sponsor. For each 9 students, we need one sponsor to provide the donor chassis and purchase the conversion kit and batteries. The donor MUST be an '81-'84 VW Rabbit or an '85-'93 VW Cabriolet. NO EXCEPTIONS. The only way we can do this workshop in six days is to have a completely pre-fabbed kit, so no design or fabrication is necessary. The sponsors will receive free registration for one person in the workshop, plus free labor to assemble their conversion. We would work with the sponsor to make sure the vehicle is a good candidate for conversion, and we would want to see extensive photos of it both inside and out before approval.
* Prep work. The donor car(s) must be brought up to spec on brakes & wheel bearings, transmission, 12V electrical system, new suspension parts from kit installed, internal combustion systems stripped out, and engine bay and transmission steamcleaned prior to the workshop. This can be done by the sponsor, EV club members, or an auto shop. We will provide details on the prep work needed.

If either of these options interests you, please contact Shari Prange at shari@electroauto.com and we can discuss details.

I was 2nd 3rd March at the journalist days on the Geneva car salon.

Now I publish more and more about the salon.

BYD E6 - Even more details to be published in the next days
Tata Nano electric an electric car from India, a symbol for the development that all mankind will drive cars in the future and this is no problem with solar and wind electric power.

Video:

http://www.tropheeandros.com/VIDEOS/2010/clermont/electrique_3.flv

No noise, so it seems like they are going really slow, until you see the driver's view... then you realize these are drifting on ice quite quickly.

http://www.tropheeandros.com/

The Isle of Man TT is splitting with TTXGP and launching its own zero emissions race. "This is an indication of how seriously we take [zero emissions racing]," says TT representative Simon Crellin, "we're bringing it under the same umbrella as all other TT racing."

Brutal...They can't even get along for a few years.

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2010/01/tt-zero-isle-of-man-tt-splits.html

2010 Tesla Roadster – Want to go for a ride?

High Gear Media is ready to put you in the driver’s seat of the 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport. All you need to do–tell us what you think about cars. We’ll publish your article on one of more than 70 sites in the High Gear Media network–and one lucky winner — the person with the skills — will get the chance to drive and write about the Tesla Roadster Sport from their hands-on road test. Check out all the contest info, read below and show us what you can do.

Some tips on writing a winning post:
Write! It just takes one post to be a winner. The more entries you produce, the better your chances of winning.

Make it brief — but not short. We’re looking for articles longer than 250 words.

Keep it focused. You can write at length about your current car, your dream car, or the auto industry in general–but stay on the topic.

Make sure your facts are in order. Our editors write about cars all day long. Opinions are great–if you have the facts to back them up.

Grammar counts. We’re looking for writers who know their way around the English language. Check your spelling, your verb tenses, and your sentences for punctuation and proper usage.

No cheating. We use a few tools to detect stories that have been published elsewhere, by other sources. Any article that plagiarizes material from other sources, doesn’t cite quoted sources, or improperly uses copyrighted material will be disqualified.

Don’t forget the visuals. Our publishing system gives you access to a vast library of car photos. Choose one or a few to use with your post for maximum impact.
Some ideas for entries:
The future of the car: is it powered by electric, hybrid, diesel, or good old gasoline? Describe your vision of the future.

Review your car: Tell us why you chose your current vehicle, other cars you considered, and why you made your choice.

In the news: report on a story from the auto industry–and make sure to identify the year, make and model of the car or cars relevant to the story.

Compare cars: Tell us why two cars are alike, or similar–and why you’d recommend one over the other to family and friends.

Today and yesterday: Own a classic from the past? Explain to High Gear Media’s readers how your classic compares to the same nameplate sold today.

Car advice: Found an easy way to get good service for less? Or when to maintain your car for the upcoming season? Share your expertise with others.

Car technology: Know how the latest technology helps drivers, and what they need to know before they shop? Lend your brain to other car shoppers and let them know why anti-lock brakes, stability control or Bluetooth help them become better drivers.
Have ideas? http://www.highgearmedia.com/iwanttowrite

Mosport International, Toronto will hold Canada\'s first TTXGP race in July 2010. The event scheduled for 8 – 11 July 2010 is in conjunction with rounds four and five of the 2010 Parts Canada National Superbike road racing Championships. It looks like a clear road ahead for TTXGP global racing...

Mosport International, Toronto will hold Canada's first TTXGP race in July 2010. The event scheduled for 8 – 11 July 2010 is in conjunction with rounds four and five of the 2010 Parts Canada National Superbike road racing Championships.

Read more here:

http://www.egrandprix.com/news.php?id=36

The Nissan LEAF is touring America, and first deliveries are expected 1 year from now

Southern California (already occurred)
Los Angeles: Nov. 13-17
Orange County: Nov. 18
San Diego: Nov. 19-21

Northern California
Berkeley/Walnut Creek: Nov. 23-24
San Francisco: Nov. 25-29
Santa Rosa: Dec. 1
Sacramento: Dec. 1
San Jose: Dec. 3-6

Pacific Northwest
Seattle: Dec. 8-12
Vancouver, Canada: Dec. 14-15
Portland, Ore.: Dec. 17-23

Southwest
Phoenix/Tucson: Dec. 30-Jan. 5
Las Vegas: Jan. 6

Midwest/East Coast
Detroit: Jan. 11-13
Knoxville/Chattanooga, Tenn.: Jan. 16
Middle Tennessee: Jan. 19-21
Washington, D.C.: Jan. 26-28
Raleigh, N.C.: Jan. 29
Orlando: Feb. 1-2

Texas
Houston: Feb. 5-6

New York
New York City: Feb. 9-14

Nissan LEAF tour home page

Going 17 kms from home to IBM Huergo II building on the BETM (Borromeo's Electric Travel Machine)

http://www.vimeo.com/7375528

I'm at Interbike - They allowed me to attend as Media due to owning VisForVoltage. I've been collecting a bunch of information and have seen some very interesting bikes. I'll be posting some about this over the next few days.

Main thing to note is this is a big big big international trade show all about bicycles. The electric bicycles are a drop in the bucket here. I'd guess the electric bicycle presence is a little bigger than before, but I have no comparison as it's my first time here.

The Light Electric Vehicle Association appears to be a new feature of the electric bicycle scene. They had a set of meetings here yesterday which drew together a bunch of bicycle dealers some of whom currently sell electric bikes. Hopefully it'll turn out to be a good thing.