Hybrid Consortium Presents Award at the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Yokohama, Japan
YOKOHAMA, Japan--The Hybrid Consortium (“Consortium”), the Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI), and the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS-22) presented the Hybrid Consortium’s Hybrid Vehicle Advocacy Award to Mr. & Mrs. Dave Spector at the opening reception of the 22nd Electric Vehicle Symposium on October 25, in Yokohama, Japan. Mr. Spector is a well-known television talk show host and personality in Japan and appears on several shows weekly nationwide.
Mr. Spector also attended the Electric Vehicle Symposium’s Ride and Drive event to test drive some new hybrid, electric and fuel cell cars being demonstrated by car manufacturers including Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Mr. Spector’s test drive and award was covered by Japan television news.
Following his test drive, Mr. Toshio Kobayahsi, President of the Japan Automobile Research Association, introduced Mr. and Mrs. Spector to present the award. He was joined on the stand by Mr. Ed Kjaer, co-founder of the Consortium and Director of Electric Transportation for Southern California Edison , Mr. Brian Wynne, President of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, Mr. David West, VP Marketing for Raser Technologies (NYSE Arca: RZ) and co-founder of the Hybrid Consortium, and Mr. Patrick Schwartz, President of Raser Technologies. Following an introduction to the Plug-in Hybrid Consortium by Mr. Kjaer, the Consortium’s Hybrid Vehicle Advocacy Award was presented to Mr. & Mrs. Spector in a ceremony at the opening reception in association with the Japan Automobile Research Institute, the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA) and the Electric Vehicle Symposium.
The Hybrid Vehicle Advocacy Award is presented to outstanding individuals and organizations whose support has a positive impact on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle development. Mr. Spector accepted the award and entertained the large crowd with a humorous speech in both Japanese and English.
“It is an honor to receive this award. As an automobile enthusiast, I was thrilled to drive some of these new hybrid cars. I was expecting them to drive like golf carts! I was totally surprised to discover that the new electric motors have more power and accelerated faster than combustion cars,” said Spector. “I plan to let the world know that not only is driving a hybrid the right thing to do, it is also a lot more fun.”
The 22nd Electric Vehicle Symposium is being held October 23-28 at the Pacifico exhibition hall in Yokohoma, Japan. It hosts exhibitions of the latest hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicle technology from leading automakers and suppliers. The Symposium hosts the largest hybrid vehicle test drive event in the world. The exhibition and symposium are open to the public.
The Hybrid Consortium is a participating exhibitor at the Symposium with many of its members presenting and exhibiting at the show. The Consortium also held its October meeting on October 25th at the Symposium.
About EVS-22
The Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition (EVS) is the world's largest international symposium of its kind and hosts International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell expositions. The first symposium was held in 1969 in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States, and will celebrate its 22nd symposium in 2006. Affiliated with the World Electric Vehicle Association, the symposium has been organized alternatively among Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. This will be the second time for Japan to host EVS since 1996. More information at: http://www.evs22.org
About The Hybrid Consortium
The Hybrid Consortium was organized to coordinate and accelerate the development plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The members of this growing Consortium plan to develop compatible components and cost effective working designs, to help make PHEVs commercially viable. More information at: http://hybridconsortium.org
