New Vehicles, New Teams Bring Excitement to Green Car Championship

GREENFIELD, Mass.--April 29, 2002--They're coming from all across the United States: dozens of clean running, "green" vehicles in the biggest display of its type in the world.
    More than three dozen vehicles are already registered for the 2002 Tour de Sol: The Great American Green Transportation Festival. These vehicles will spend a week in May (May 12-18) as part of the electric vehicle championship traveling from Baltimore through Washington, Philadelphia, and Trenton to end with a celebration in New York City.
    Along the way, tens of thousands of people will get to see some of the most exciting vehicle technologies, including the newest hybrid vehicles on sale in the U.S., as well as dozens of futuristic and innovative concept vehicles built by major manufacturers, visionaries, and students.
    Leading the Tour during this year's 300-mile road rally will be the brand-new Honda Civic Hybrid, the U.S. on-road debut of this high-mileage (46 mpg city / 51 mpg highway) 5-passenger sedan. The new gasoline-electric Civic model is Honda's second-generation hybrid. The Honda Insight, now entering its third model year, was the first hybrid on sale in the U.S.
    Other major automakers participating this year include Toyota, showcasing its successful Prius hybrid sedan, and DaimlerChrysler, which is bringing two prototypes, the Natrium fuel-cell-powered car, and the Dodge RAM HEV, which the company plans to offer in 2004. In addition, they will show the GEM, a neighborhood electric vehicle already on the market here in the U.S. Ford will showcase its all-electric Th!nk city, and Th!nk neighbor at several festivals.
    Battery-electric (pure electric) vehicles and gas-electric hybrids, which combine an electric motor with an internal combustion engine to maximize fuel economy, account for nearly two dozen of this year's entrants.
    Among the hybrid vehicles are eight student-built entries. College entries include Western Washington University, Swarthmore College, the University of Tulsa, San Diego State, Naugatuck Community College, and Ohio State University. High school teams are coming from Falmouth, Maine, and West Philadelphia, and there is one entry from a long-time electric vehicle enthusiast from Oregon. These cars use an electric-drive system with various fuels, including gasoline, ethanol, biodiesel, and propane.
    Battery-electric vehicle entrants also include a large number of student entries. Three college teams in this division include University of Pittsburgh, University of Maine, Clarkson University, and the New Hampshire Technical Institute. High school battery-powered teams include teams from Salisbury, CT; West Philadelphia, PA; Endicott, NY; Cinnaminson, NJ; North Haven, ME; and Southborough, MA. Additionally Electrovaya, developer of advanced lithium ion batteries, and three independent teams from Maine, New Jersey, and Massachusetts are competing.
    Other exciting entries include a hybrid bus built by Advanced Vehicle Systems, a fuel cell vehicle from New Jersey, and several solar-electric vehicles and one-person scooters and motorcycles. Two scooters are entered by the United Nations Environmental Programme and the Los Angles International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 18, to demonstrate that low-cost electric vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be made in the USA. Additionally, several Honda Insight and Toyota Prius owners will compete for the green vehicle award. All these vehicles will be on display alongside pedal-assisted vehicles, bicycles, and other exhibitors. Test drives will be offered in market-ready vehicles at the many festivals.
    The Tour de Sol is an annual event that combines a five-day-long competitive road rally with a series of festivals showcasing Earth-friendly vehicles, and other "green" transportation options. The lead sponsors for this year's events are the United States Department of Energy and American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
    Other major sponsors include the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Ensco, Inc.; AirLink Communications, Inc.; and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Supporting sponsors include DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, Ford TH!NK Mobility, Aramark Corporation, Arlington County Commuter Assistance Program, AutomotiveWire, ECD/Ovonic, Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas, National Grid, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New York City Department of Transportation, New York Power Authority, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, State of Maryland, Sustainable Development Fund, U.S. Department of Transportation, and Verizon.
    Tour de Sol festivals will be held during National Transportation Week, May 12-18, 2002, in Baltimore, MD (May 12-13); Washington, DC (May 14); Annapolis, MD (May 15); Philadelphia (May 16); Trenton (May 17); and New York City (May 18). All the festivals are free and open to the public.
    The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association is the nation's leading regional association involved in promoting awareness, understanding, and development of non-polluting, renewable energy technologies. Headquartered in Greenfield, Massachusetts, NESEA has worked successfully in the fields of transportation, building construction and renewable energy for over 27 years. For more information on the Tour de Sol festivals, electric-drive vehicles, school field trip opportunities, and free educational resources, go to www.nesea.org or call 413/774-6051.