News of three major events:

• Former Intel CEO Andy Grove has been added as a keynoter to the international conference on plug-in cars.
• The third annual "Hybridfest" in Madison Wisconsin features a strong focus on PHEVs
• Save the Dates for the September 4-5 Cascadia/Microsoft conference: the Pacific Northwest's headline event
• Plus pointers to articles about Oregon and Washington plug-in projects

PLUG-IN 2008 Conference & Exposition in San Jose, CA July 22-24, 2008 http://www.plugin2008.com

In a major new addition to the program, Andy Grove, former Intel chairman and CEO, will provide a keynote address at Plug-In 2008. This inaugural three-day international conference will showcase the latest technological advances, market research and policy initiatives shaping the future of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Grove will discuss the critical importance -- and business opportunity and viability -- of moving transportation from oil to electricity. Grove was TIME Magazine's Man of the Year in 1997 and was named by the Wharton School of Business and Nightly Business Report as Most Influential Business Person of the Last Twenty-Five Years in 2004.

Additional highlights of this conference on PHEVs and EVs:

• A pre-conference battery workshop and 18 breakout sessions with 80-plus scheduled speakers addressing issues ranging from car buyers and PHEVs, to reducing petroleum use with PHEVs, to "smart charging" and the home interface, and more.
• Comprehensive exposition featuring displays including plug-in vehicles, batteries and the latest innovations associated with PHEVs and electricity infrastructure. Vehicles scheduled for display include a plug-in Prius, a Ford Escape PHEV, a PHEV Dodge Sprinter, a Ford F-150 PHEV, a plug-in ACE Formula Racing Car, and other plug-in and electric vehicles, motorcycles and scooters.

If you don't attend the whole conference, come to the Public Night, Tuesday at 6PM to see the booths on the exposition floor and attend the panel discussion on PHEVs and their role in the transportation and energy future.

HYBRIDFEST in Madison, WI July 19-20, 2008 http://www.hybridfest.com

This third annual event will focus on rising fuel prices and will feature a number of PHEVs and a live Prius conversion. Felix Kramer is speaking both days.

From the press release: After two years of growing crowds and nationwide publicity, Hybridfest continues to amaze the skeptics who thought that a grassroots event, organized by volunteers, and held in Madison, Wisconsin, would never succeed. The more than 12,000 people who visited Hybridfest 2007 would disagree. One of this nation's largest events dedicated to clean and sustainable transportation will once again be held as part of the Dane County Fair, July 19-20, 2008. Free public admission to Hybridfest 2008 will be included with the purchase of every Dane County Fair ticket, and parking at the fair is free. Most Hybridfest events are scheduled for the air-conditioned comfort of the Alliant Energy Center.

This year's show will include displays by manufacturers, dealers, environmental groups, vendors and exhibitors, as well as vehicle test drives. Toyota Motor Company, the world's largest auto manufacturer and maker of more hybrid vehicles than any other, is proud to again be Hybridfest 2008's Diamond Sponsor. Felix Kramer, founder of CalCars, will join a varied lineup of speakers on a wide assortment of topics including current and future vehicles, as well as various environmental, fuel-efficient driving and other technology issues.

Hybridfest 2008 will again be the "home" for hybrid owners from around North America. Owners travel from all across the country and Canada, many hypermiling to Madison, to meet, teach and learn with other hybrid and fuel-economy enthusiasts like themselves. Visitors will have the unique chance to see incredible vehicles in the Hybridfest Owners' Vehicle Showcase, and to talk with the owners about their real-life driving experiences. Hybridfest 2008 will also feature the nation's premier fuel economy competition, the MPG Challenge, which will again test some of the world's best hypermilers to achieve the best fuel economy over an open-road course. Last year, MPG Challenge winners achieved from 60 to 168 MPG in various vehicle classes.

Sunday speakers include: • Ron DeLong, creator of the ScanGaugeII: Using the XGauge feature in the ScanGaugeII • Wayne Gerdes, owner of CleanMPG.com: Total Cost of Ownership. Why You Want to Purchase a Hybrid Today • Mike Granoff, Head of Oil Independence Policies for Project Better Place: electric car infrastructure • Benjamin Jones, co-founder of ecomodder.com: Modifying Your Car for MPG's • Peter Koczan, Hybridfest 2007 MPG Challenge participant: Tips and Tricks for Maximizing Fuel Economy on the Highway • Felix Kramer, CalCars.org: The Campaign to Commercialize Plug-In Hybrids • Richard Krueger, automotive writer and fuel economy instructor: Five Easy and Safe Ways to Improve Your Fuel Economy • Francis Voge, Executive Director of Wisconsin Clean Cities: information about the "greening" of fleets.

From the Hybridfest web site....

Although the public portion of Hybridfest spans two days (Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20), as a Hybridfest member you'll have access to even more fun:

• An extra half day of activities on Friday, July 18
• Post-show activities Saturday evening, July 19
• Pre-show activities Sunday morning, July 20
• T-Shirt, Goodie Bag, Showcase rights, awards, door prizes, free
  fair admission, "How-To" sessions, etc.

BEYOND OIL: Save the Dates September 4-5 in Redmond WA

"Beyond Oil: Transforming Transportation: A National Demonstration Project" Redmond, WA September 4-5 at the Microsoft Conference Center Fifth Annual Cascadia-Microsoft Conference on Transportation Technology, co-sponsored by Microsoft, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Idaho National Laboratory, PEMCO, Washington DOT and Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

The topic of the conference is urgent and timely. With oil over $120 a barrel and gas approaching $4 a gallon, America will spend $450 billion this year to buy imported oil, accelerating an unprecedented transfer of wealth. Our near total dependence on oil in transportation harms national security, the economy and the environment.

Learn how we can accelerate the day when we have a choice in transportation fuels. Hear experts discuss how flexible fuel, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can be combined with advanced vehicle software and communications capabilities that will increase safety, reduce time in traffic, dramatically decrease emissions and bolster national security.

Hear speakers describe a national demonstration project that can be launched this year that would showcase these advanced transportation and energy solutions. And hear panels discuss how governments and the private sector can work together to create the transformed transportation system of the future. Workshops include advanced cellulosic biofuels, tolling, traffic management, green highway and clean port strategies as well as advanced air, passenger rail and marine technologies.

Register early, as attendance is limited. http://www.discovery.org/­scripts/­viewDB/­index.php?command=view&id=351&program=Cascadia

OTHER PACIFIC NORTHWEST NEWS
See the article in The Oregonian, "The new span is key to a 'green highway'" Sunday, June 29, 2008 by Bruce Agnew and Matt Rosenberg from Cascadia, that situates plug-in cars within a larger transportation planning context:
http://www.oregonlive.com/­commentary/­oregonian/­index.ssf?/­base/­editorial/­1214533540146360.xml

Oregon Utility, Readying for Waves of EVs, Installs Charging Stations in Two Cities
http://blogs.edmunds.com/­greencaradvisor/­2008/­07/­ oregon-utility-readying-for-waves-of-evs-installs-charging-stations-in-two-cities.html

Seattle Mayor Introduces City's First PHEV [report on regional 13-Prius program]
http://www.greencarcongress.com/­2008/­05/­seattle-mayor-i.html