Wynn Makes National News
Austin ChronicleJanuary 26, 2006
Austin’s
Plug-In Hybrid Campaign
Mayor Will Wynn was making national news Tuesday in Washington D.C. with the announcement that Austin's campaign to urge the accelerated production of plug-in hybrid vehicles is going nationwide.
The initiative hopes that city and individual enthusiasm, such as Austin's 600 "soft" fleet-vehicle orders and 11,000 citizen petitions, will entice automakers to mass produce the ultra-efficient vehicles, which use new, larger batteries that charge from a regular wall outlet to achieve a range of 25-35 miles of all-electric driving, as well as fuel economy in excess of 80 mpg.
A number of cities are already on board, with the goal of enlisting the 50 largest U.S. cities. The plug-ins are said to be a near-term solution to improve air quality, reduce foreign-oil dependence, and even tap unused electric utility capacity by charging the vehicles overnight, when few people demand energy.
The Travis Co. Green Party endorsed the plan, but with reservations. "Austin is the most congested mid-sized city in the country. We've got to move beyond roads and cars." They called for an end to the current "road building frenzy," and for more public transportation options as well as improved support for bicycling and walking.
For more info, see
www.pluginpartners.org – Daniel Mottola
National Press Conference
National Press Club Promotes Plug-in Hybrid Electric VehiclesRenewable Energy NewsJanuary 23, 2006
This Tuesday, January 24 at 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at the National Press Club, Holeman Lounge, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, DC,
Austin Energy and the Plug-in Partners Coalition will host a press conference to launch a national campaign for plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Find out why cities and counties, national policy organizations, electric utilities, national security experts, and environmental groups are uniting behind the push for flexible-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicles (electric-gas vehicles that can be recharged by plugging them into standard sockets).
Hear how the
Plug-in Partners campaign makes a compelling case for automakers to produce plug-ins.
Talk to some of the leading flexible-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicle experts in the country to understand the development of the next-generation of hybrid vehicles.
Speakers who will be available to address technical questions include
Austin
Mayor Will Wynn;
Charles Fox,
Deputy Secretary for Energy and Environment for Governor George Pataki of New York;
Frank Gaffney,
President, Center for Security Policy;
James Woolsey,
Former CIA Director and currently with Booz Allen Hamilton;
Kateri Callahan,
President, Alliance to Save Energy;
Alan Richardson,
President & CEO, American Public Power Association;
Dr. Joe Romm, Executive Director, Center for Energy and Climate Solutions
Andy Frank,
Professor, University of California - Davis, widely regarded as the inventor of plug-in hybrids.
Smith hosts Briefing
Smith Shows Support for Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles
December 8, 2005
Washington, D.C.
Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX-21) hosted a congressional briefing on
plug-in hybrid vehicles today with members of the
House Science Subcommittee on Energy.
The group heard from
Roger Duncan, Deputy General Manager of Austin Energy. His initiative seeks to demonstrate to automakers that a market exists for plug-in hybrids. “If this initiative is copied by other cities, people will save money on fuel, conserve energy and reduce harmful emissions,” explained Congressman Smith.
Conventional hybrids batteries are recharged by capturing the energy released during braking or through a generator attached to the combustion engine.
Plug-in hybrids offer the additional option of recharging batteries by plugging the vehicle into an appropriate outlet. Recharged plug-in hybrids can be driven 20-60 miles without internal combustion engine power (all-electric, zero-emission).
This means less pollution and cleaner air.
“
The plug-in hybrid vehicle has the potential to reduce oil dependence on foreign oil imports,” said Smith. “Forty percent of the oil consumed in the U.S. is used to fuel cars and trucks, at a cost to consumers in 2004 of $250 billion. U.S. dependence on foreign oil is projected to rise to more than 60 percent by 2020,” Smith pointed out.
Under the direction of the Austin City Council, the City of Austin and
Austin Energy are leading a national campaign to demonstrate to automakers that a market exists today for plug-in hybrids. They are trying to enlist other cities to do the same.
The so-called “50-City Plan” seeks support from utilities to develop $50-$100 million in incentives from utilities for plug-in hybrid procurement and fleet purchase commitments by government, private businesses and consumers.
Smith commented, “
Austin is setting an example for the rest of America with this unique initiative.”
