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CalCars Resources on Technology & Related Business Models

See also our Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Memos to California officials: General Memo (Sept '04) and Detailed Memo (April '05) and National Policy Memo.
  2. 2004-05 Prius:
  3. EVWorld Electric Hybrids Department collects news on gas-optional or plug-in hybrids
  4. Oil & Security by former Sec. of State George P. Schultz and former CIA Director James R. Woolsey, Committee on the Present Danger, revised version August 2005
  5. Ending the Energy Stalemate by the bi-partisan National Commission on Energy Policy, December 2004 (see kudos for link to key page)
  6. Set America Free, Policy report by security-focused organizations
  7. American Public Power Association PHEV Symposium, November 17-18, 2005 includes links to 9 up-to-date presentations.
  8. Hybrid Electric Vehicle Working Group Presentations, November 15, 2003 full-day "summit" workshop at EVS-20: view/download talks by 18 top experts who gave a picture of the state of the technology and status of PHEVs.
  9. Implementation of AB1493 (the Pavley bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions): Following its enactment, the California Air Resource Boards (CARB) considered ways to implement the law. The staff's "Initial Statement of Reasons for Proposed Rulemaking" (long and based on complex assumptions), showed plug-in hybrids as one of the most effective solutions. A PHEV reduces carbon dioxide more than any other vehicle except an all-electric; fuel cell cars trail behind at about the same level as non-grid-chargeable hybrids (assuming that hydrogen and electricity both come from natural gas). CalCars testified at the implementation hearings, September 23-24, 2004 in Los Angeles.
  10. Plug-in Hybrids: State of Play, History & Players, by Ben Ovshinsky
  11. CalCars Links: A listing, with annotations, of government, organization, industry and research sites for clean, efficient vehicles (last updated early 2004).
  12. Research Clips (OLD): Compendium of national and California press clips from 2002-early 2004 on alternative fuel, automotive technology and business subjects (2MB Word document, last updated in April, 2004).
  13. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Research Reports
  14. New Technologies Resources
  15. Advanced Technology Groups
  16. Examples of "Pump-priming" and "Pre-sell" Strategies; Indications of Public Support
    • Public Receptivity: "pledge" websites:
    • Golden Carrot Award: In 1993, 24 utilities joined the Super-Efficient Refrigerator Program, initiated by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), funding a $30M race, won by Whirlpool for designing and selling a chlorofluorocarbon-free fridge that exceeded the Energy Department's highest standards by 30% -- precedent for a new utility effort based on utilities' interest in promoting grid-connected vehicles and V2G technologies
    • Greener Fleets: Fuel Economy Progress and Prospects, 33-page, December 2002 report by American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
    • Virgin Galactic has a waiting list of over 7,000 people interested in paying $190,000 for a suborbital flight on larger versions of Burt Rutan's SpaceShip One--a potential initial market of $1.3B.
    • Eclipse Aviation raised over $230M, and collected over $65M in early non-refundable deposits from eager customers for delivery of small efficient $1.4M jets. In December 2005, its order backlog was over 2,300, two-thirds from fleets. It expects FAA certification in March 2006; see background article in Wired
    • Segway Human Transporter: Inventor Dean Kamen pre-sold first 3 production units via high-priced auctions (unit #1 of this $3-5,000 item went for $160,100), then started taking pre-orders 8 months in advance, with incentives for first people ordering
    • Moller International is developing a four-passenger vertical take-off and landing "Skycar." Over 100 customers reserved early delivery positions with first deposits ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 (additional deposits tied to developmental milestones).

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