May meeting update! Meeting to be held at Passport BMW

We have been invited out to Passport BMW for this months meeting on Wednesday May 21st, 2014. We will be able to test drive the BMW i3.  Passport is located at  4730 Auth Pl, Suitland-Silver Hill, MD 20746 and is only 2 or 3 blocks from the Branch Avenue metro designstation.

I would suggest people that want to test drive arrive earlier than normal. We plan to do the test drives through out the meeting so as to give everyone a chance to drive the vehicle. Pizza will be provided as usual.

There is one Level 2 Charger with two plugs so people feel free to drive your EVs to the meeting.

We’ve Got EVents…

Thanks to all who came last weekend for the Science and Engineering Festival/Sustainable Design Expo at the Convention Center.  I feel it really got traction and reached a lot of people.

We still have our EV Grand Prix coming up next weekend, May 10 in Dulles.  Great volunteer opportunities are available that day and the Friday before, even if you have no experience.  Please see our SignUpGenius page.  With our reserved volunteer parking, you can drop the family off at the museum beforehand, then watch the race and EV parade together at midday, all for free.  There is no downside- the Udvar-Hazy Center is even chipping in lunch for racers and volunteers.

March 2014 Minutes

The meeting (White Oak Library again) convened at 7:11 with pizza and drinks.  Our president, Charlie, polled the room for their EVs, and any newcomers to the group.  Again, several new faces.  Two were Chip and Craig from Eurostar Autos in Randallstown, MD, with the remaining Think EVs (of which club members own several), plus Forrest from Passport Nissan.
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Your club officers were introduced, per custom.

Barbara Gonzales from Pepco spoke again, with an update on the utility’s EV pilot program.  She has already begun outreach to dealerships, to spread the word on the program and EVs in general.  Though she claims Pepco’s terms are as good as California or anywhere else, several members had big questions remaining.  The website isn’t as clear as it could have been.

Bruce then introduced Drew and John from Prospect Solar.  Prospect is pioneering distributed, fungible ownership of panels and power (“community solar“), with variants.  For instance, despite Virginia’s legislative foot-dragging, Catoctin Creek Distilling is almost entirely solar.  The obvious benefit is the ability to go solar even with a shaded house (/condo/apartment), by investing in someone else’s site.  You then get a lower monthly bill, via net metering- your home appears to have virtual panels.  Multiple renewable incentives are also virtualized among stakeholders; if you move to a different utility company, you can sell your stake.  If you move within your utility, you do… nothing at all. Continue reading

October 2013 Minutes

Oct. 16th meeting started at 7:45

After usual introductions and meeting of new attendees.
Reports from National Plug-in Day. Jeffrey Jacobs reported Herndon, VA NPID event had 48-45 vehicles ranging from 15+ Model S and Roadsters, Audi Etron, Fisker, and the GM Volts which had the most in attendance.

Annapolis, MD, had 10-11 EVs, possible bigger event next year or also several throughout the year. 30 possible shore power plugs available. Need to arrive earlier next year to avoid headache with Corvette club. Continue reading