Detroit Edison Press Release: Electric Vehicle Workshops

08/09/96

ELECTRIC VEHICLE WORKSHOPS EDUCATE INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC

    TROY, Mich., July 30 -- Detroit Edison is partnering
with the Big Three automakers and utility industry to prepare U.S.
utilities, and Southeastern Michigan, for the launch of commercial
electric vehicles.
    The utility will host the third "Fleet Managers' Conference"
Aug. 5-6 at the Troy Marriott.  The conference, sponsored by the Edison
Electric Institute, will focus on developing utility electric vehicle
programs.
    Additionally, Detroit Edison, Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Corp. and
General Motors Corp. will cohost the Southeastern Michigan "EV Ready"
Community Workshop Aug. 7, also at the Troy Marriott.  Southeastern
Michigan was selected to participate in a national program to place
5,000 electric vehicles in 10 communities by December 1997.
    The free workshop will provide information on how local communities
can participate in the program, which begins this fall.
    Both conferences will feature charging station displays and
ride-and-drives of advanced electric vehicles.
    "These workshops will help key players in the utility industry and
government continue to meet their needs, while making the transition
from today's conventional transportation to the advanced electric
vehicles of the future," said John Olsen, Detroit Edison's electric
vehicle program manager.
    At the fleet managers' conference, industry experts will present
general information about product availability, cost, performance,
infrastructure, batteries and components, as well as federal Energy
Policy Act mandates which became effective this year.
    Participants will he able to drive Ford's Ranger pickup and Ecostar,
Chrysler's EPIC van, GM's EV1 and Chevy S-10 pickup, the Solectria sedan
and pickup truck, and Toyota's RAV-4 sports utility vehicle.
    Ride-and-drives are scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 5, and noon
to 2 p.m. Aug. 6.  For registration information, call the EEI on
202-508-5561.
    The Southeastern Michigan EV Ready workshop is part of a series of
free informational meetings in urban areas across the United States,
conducted by the departments of Energy and Transportation, the Electric
Transportation Coalition and the Electric Vehicle Association of the
Americas.
    Industry experts will inform representatives from local government
and institutions about the costs and availability of electric vehicles,
and related equipment.
    Presenters also will discuss health and safety, charging stations,
government policies and incentives, economics and other issues related
to becoming "EV Ready."
    The final ride-and-drives will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m., and
at 3 p.m. Aug. 7.  For registration information, call the Electric
Transportation Coalition on 202-508-5993.