Electric Vehicle Conference Shatters Records - Advances Industry
18 December 1997
Electric Vehicle Conference Shatters Records - Advances Industry
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 18 -- The transportation industry is
being lead into the next century on the wheels of the electric vehicles. The
1,900 attendees at the 14th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS-14)
held this week in Orlando, Florida, were treated to a series of technological
announcements and unveilings that once were reserved solely for the world's
major auto shows.
From fuel cells to advanced batteries, the world's major automakers and
utilities rolled out surprise after surprise at the electric vehicle (EV)
industry's largest showcase. Along with attendees, 188 credentialed media and
1,600 public visitors were able to see and drive the world's most advanced
cars, trucks, busses and motorbikes.
"Nothing could be more representative of an industry on the move than the
large number of significant announcements and product reveals we had here,"
said Robert Hayden, executive director of the Electric Vehicle Association of
the Americas (EVAA), host of EVS-14. "EVS-14 can and will be regarded as the
auto show for advanced technology transportation."
Several products were available for testing at EVS-14 for the first time
in North America. They include:
* The Toyota Prius hybrid, a stylish sedan that runs on gasoline and
batteries;
* Nissan's Altra electric vehicle that runs on advanced lithium-ion
batteries;
* Bombardier Motor Corporation's neighborhood electric NV; and
* AeroVironment introduced an EV "quick-charge" system that can charge
an EV in fifteen minutes or less. Norvik and MagneCharge also showed
fast charge products, and all of them were able to demonstrate their
safe operations, even in heavy rain.
Other product and program announcements included:
* Ford Motor Company announced a multi-million dollar fuel cell
partnership with Daimler Benz and Ballard Power Systems;
* General Motors will replace several of Walt Disney World Resorts fleet
vehicles with EVs; 3M Corporation and Hydro Quebec have teamed to
produce a lithium polymer battery -- one of the most advanced battery
technologies in the world; and
* Panasonic Corporation announced it will supply nickel metal hydride
batteries to American Honda Motor Corp. and Ford.
Participants at EVS-14 -- from Ford to Kennedy to Iacocca
At many times, EVS-14 resembled a who's who of the automotive and
environmental communities. William Clay Ford, Jr., chairman of the Ford Motor
Company's Board of Directors' Environment and Public Policy Committee, served
as the opening keynote speaker at EVS-14 and gave a rousing kick-off speech.
He provided a broad overview of the efforts to bring EVs to market, including
the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for the industry.
"If you look around here at EVS-14, it's obvious that a lot of individuals
and organizations are putting tremendous resources into developing
breakthrough transportation technology," Ford said.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. gave the closing keynote speech. He spoke of the
importance of industry and environmentalists working together toward bringing
sustainable technologies such as EVs into the lives of all citizens.
And Lee Iacocca participated in EVS-14's media day as part of his new
joint venture partnership with Unique Mobility to market the Ethos family of
electric and hybrid vehicles. Iacocca heads EV Global Motors, which has
joined with Unique and Italian car designer Pininfarina in a cooperative
effort to market lightweight EV transportation such as bicycles, scooters and
commuter cars around the world.
"Lee Iacocca's energy, insight and vision should jump start the interest
in and demand for alternative transportation," said Ray Geddes, Chairman and
CEO of Unique Mobility.
For the first time, automakers get immediate consumer feedback
EVS-14 was marked by another first in North America -- everyday consumers
were able to test drive the more than 40 EVs at EVS-14. Automakers then were
able to survey individual consumers about what they liked and disliked about
their EV driving experience. Electric cars, trucks and motorcycles were
available for visitors to indulge, their curiosity. Among the companies
showing EVs were BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and
Toyota.
The public also was treated to the more than 100 high-tech displays from
each automaker, utility, component supplier, battery manufacturer and
government organization exhibitors attending EVS-14. The displays included
hardware, new products and interactive activities that helped the public to
better understand the technology associated with EVs, particularly
infrastructure.
"EVS-14 also marks significant progress in the development of
infrastructure, which is critical to the commercial success of EVs," said
Diane 0. Wittenberg, president and CEO of Edison EV. "We are getting a
glimpse of the future, as a number of companies are previewing fast charging
technology, which holds the promise of charging an EV as quickly as fueling a
gasoline-powered car."
Symposium sessions serve as industry-wide tutorial
EVS-14 delegates had the opportunity to attend presentations by almost 250
authors on subject as far ranging as marketing to infrastructure to
environmental impact. Combined, the sessions served as both informational and
educational, allowing industry members to learn and benefit from the work of
their counterparts in the variety of disciplines associated with EVs. Between
sessions, delegates also had the opportunity to test drive vehicles and get a
real-world understanding of the technical issues being discussed.
"Anyone attending the entire Symposium could walk away confident that they
now know just about everything there is to know about this industry," added
Hayden. "As this industry continues it rapid growth, events like EVS-14
become increasingly important in keeping every one in this business aware of
technology and market advances."
EVS-15 will be held in Brussels, Belgium in October 1998.
SOURCE Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas