Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Available for Rides and Photos at Washington Symposium

WHAT: "Plug-in Hybrids: Accelerating Progress 2007," a symposium on the technology and policy challenges of commercializing plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

WHY ATTEND: The opportunity to be driven in and photograph plug-in electric vehicles. Learn how they can increase the security of the United States by deriving power from the electric grid, while also reducing pollution and U.S. dependence on foreign oil. According to the Department of Transportation, "Plug-in cars capable of 50 miles per day would meet the needs of 80 percent of the American driving public." See http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/phev/default.asp for more information.

WHEN: Wednesday 19 September, 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. (Rides available from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.)

WHERE: Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, D.C.

SPEAKERS: Keynote addresses by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), former CIA Director and Set America Free Founder James Woolsey and FERC Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff. Panelists include Alec Proudfoot, Google; Keith Cole, General Motors; Herman Wiegman, GE Global Research Center; Ric Fulop, A123Systems; and Mark Kapner, Austin (Texas) Energy, among others.

WHO: The symposium is sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, IEEE-USA, the Electric Vehicle Association of Greater Washington DC and the Set America Free Coalition.

IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of more than 215,000 engineers, scientists and allied professionals who are U.S. members of the IEEE. IEEE-USA is part of the IEEE, the world's largest technical professional society with 370,000 members in 160 countries. See http://www.ieeeusa.org/.