We held this month’s meeting at Rose’s house in McLean (thanks Rose!).  Aside from solar electricity and heating, Rose provided us with fresh baked bread, and a meeting room normally used for bluegrass and such.  Anyway, on to the vehicles- even the pizza guy was using an Insight.

Charlie called the meeting to order at 7:25, with a roll of club officers, then honored guests.  Boris and Stanley, employees of ASUS, were visiting for an EV study and dissertation.  The two will make recommendations to the Taiwanese government.  Others in the meeting introduced themselves, including some new faces due to the Virginia location this time.

Our featured guest was Brandon, from the University of Delaware.  Brandon arrived in a UDel AC Propulsion EV, a converted 5-door based on a Scion.  Brandon’s project will suggest policies for DNREC (Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control).  This is in part based on a survey he gve us.  One aspect of the survey was extender batteries- the concept of add-on modules for longer trips.

Brandon then spoke at length on V2G- “Vehicle to Grid” power and billing.  Yes, getting paid for having an electric vehicle.  At the moment, the University of Delaware is running longer-term programs on frequency regulation of the grid using parked EVs.  Minor amounts of charge capacity are either supplied or drawn as needed, to keep the AC frequency at 60 Hertz.  In exchange, the grid pays the EV owners for the priviledge.  The UDel fleet includes cars parked on campus, as well as participants at home.  More owners and EVs are wanted, though you must be a Delmarva Power customer for this particular program. Continue reading →

Charlie began the meet at 7:13, with introductions (several new faces and new EVs) including our first speaker: Ty Robinson of Environment Maryland.  Ty briefed the club on that state’s policies on EV adoption and renewable power, and Environment Maryland’s efforts for more aggressive rollouts on both.  (Virginia signatures are welcome too!).  The nonprofit claims Heather Mizeur and Alonzo Washington as supporters; it is then offering (unpaid) internships.  The club floor also held forth on related energy questions.

A Skype conference with Ben Rich in Centerville began at 7:31.  Ben, owner of a Zero Motorcycle among other EVs, recounted the cross-country tour seen in Kick Gas.  (EAA members can watch this documentary at a discount.)  Organized by Susan Jones of Nashville, the tour went from Charleston, SC to San Francisco, via public charging and RV/camping sites.  EVs spanned from a Nissan Leaf, through the motorcycle and 2 scooters, to an e-bike which was swapping batteries.  Ben’s now continuing across other areas, and into Canada; he plans on a Mt Washington climb and a Tail of the Dragon run.  This began a discussion of several club members’ Zero motorcycles and Vectrix scooters.

We then broke for refreshments and conversation, and re-convened at 8:06.  The Crystal City Fathers’ Day Car Show drew pretty much the gamut of (4-wheel) EVs; there was no Fiat 500e on display, but there was a Smart and a Honda Fit, plus an old Ford Ranger EV.  Our treasurer Scott reminded the club that Maryland EVADC license plates are still available for $25; you can do all the forms by mail, or walk into the Glen Burnie MVA.

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It’s field-trip time.  We held this month’s meeting at Passport BMW in Marlow Heights, MD.  Unfortunately, the dealership only had a corporate-owned display model of the new i3, and headquarters says it can’t be test-driven.  Test-drive i3s with the range-extender engine (“REx”) were due the next day, held up at port by final stickering of the hybrid variant.  (Full-BEV i3s are already in customer hands.)  Still, the club checked out the elegant interior and surprising back seat.
We were met by Sean, Passport’s i3 point man.  After plenty of tire-kicking, we kicked off the meeting proper at 7:12.  General Manager Joe welcomed us and gave a quick brief… we then gave him an earful that was anything but brief.  Passport, like other dealers branching out from gassers, is willing to learn, and admitted “everything’s going to have to evolve.”  Even their body shop is onboard. Club members shared their war stories of clueless or simply inexperienced dealers, and some outright haters.  This is why Tesla starts their own showrooms.  We also offered our suggestions for talking to both the current, educated EV base, and the coming buyers who haven’t done their own research.  Passport was quite receptive to all this, in addition to their hospitality.

Phan from BMW Corporate then gave a fuller presentation.  Although the i3 can out-handle a MINI and beat every other BMW, 0-30 (yes, EVERY other), it’s not some design exercise or track-day ringer.  It’s a fully-fleshed-out system for the future, with the materials and factories also engineered for sustainability.  The Leipzig factory is powered by wind; the cloth fiber is harvested from what was considered a weed.  That it’s a blast on track day is then an added bonus; yes, it’s a real BMW.  Phan has been to BMW track events around the country, and shared the “EV grin” with folks accustomed to ICE lag, backlash, and windup, not instant EV torque.  And this is all before the i8. Continue reading →