Jerry Scores Another One in Salt Lake!!!

What A PHEV Wednesday at Morningside Elementary School for the "Spirit of DC" ...!!! 23 September 2008 - PHEV Day 89.

Cheers PHEV3A'rs, EVADC'rs, and EVnthusiasts, One & All -

While the "Spirit of DC" is depending more and more on inputs from a number of folks, especially the EAA Chapter members being visited, EVJerr thought best to post an email (slightly edited)as sent to this extraordinary teacher, Mrs Patti White, in acknowledgment of "What a PHEV Wednesday!" at Morningside Elementary School in Salt Lake City, UT as set up by Brent & Kent Singleton of Utah EV Coalition (UEVC) as follows:

Cheers a AM, Patti, Heroine of Morningside Elementary!

What a Wednesday! What kids! Wave after wave. So delightful. The "Spirit" was EVer so pleased to meet so many kids who are solarly interested in the FuturEV. So neat to see Principal Brumley EVer so into this EVent set up by Brent & Kent Singleton, Utah EV Coalition ... with wonderful support from UEVC'rs: Kyle, Corry, Spencer, Matt and Carl.

The "Spirit" is looking forward to seeing pixs and maybe quite a few student narratives on the website:

www.SpiritofDC.com . . .

It's expected that Kent will do a write-up with pixs to forward to the newspapers here in Salt Lake City. Afterall, yesterday was a National EVent - the "Spirit of DC" Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle All Around America (PHEV3A) being hosted on a State level - the Utah EV Coalition, and attended at the green grassroots level by Morningside Elementary School's 300+ students with 14 teachers in tow! Simply serendipitously amazing!

Yet, if I understand correctly, the kids at Morningside Elementary also have a newspaper, so maybe the "Spirit" will see lots of extra press coverage in her PHEV3A trek. Who knows but maybe the your kids want to opt Kent and beat him to the press with a newspaper story of their own. Maybe even later, after some interaction with www.BestOutreach.com, there's EVen a bigger story -- kids building their own EVs at Morningside Elementary School!

Remember that this was the very first school that the "Spirit" has visited. You've all set a "Wow" standard! Also, keep a'tracking the "Spirit" by clicking on "MAP" as she goes down "Blue Highways" of America and Canada ... Driving Carefully (adding more meaning to the DC in the "Spirit of DC" as coined right there at Morningside!).

EVer with an upbeat heart,

"Spirit of DC" and EVJerry Asher - the "Ride Along" (202) 486-5450
[end of email sent]

Soon after a day of rest for the "Spirit" and an EVdventure out to the Bonneville Salt Flats, especially to view the flat scene and activities such as the Buckeye Bulle, the "Spirit" will moveth EVJerry on Friday, 26 September 2008 to Boise, Idaho - the 34th State Capital, ... then to Helena, Montana's capital ... and afterward to rendez vous with the Panhandle EVA of Idaho.

EVer,

"Spirit" and EVJerry

PHEV Day 87 - Monday, 22 September 2008. Denver Capital and the Rocky Mtns in Early Autumn Delight ... en route to Salt Lake City, Utah

Cheers PHEV3A'rs, EVADC'rs, and PHEVnthusiasts, One & All -

Graciously and thankfully, others such with Minnesota EAA and HbridFest.com have jumped in as PHEV3A team mates and played on the website. This has been SUPER! EVJerry is still "OBE" (overcome by email). Yet, today, Monday, either the first or second day of Autumn in the Rocky Mountains, and after a most refreshing stayover at Frank & Renee Lado' most hospitable home in Lakewood, a Denver suburb, EVJerry will endeavor to project out what's in store for the "Spirit of DC" in the next few hours and days.

First order of things is to visit the State Capital here in Denver, possibly with some news coverage. Next, in the early afternoon, the "Spirit" want to meet up with the Denver EV Council members (DEVC) - a former EAA Chapter (with a number of DEVC'rs still EAA Members) ... either in Denver, or over in Boulder at DEVC Prez, Graham Hill's work place - 21 Wheels.com. Hopefully, we can break tortilla chips or something ... before the "Spirit" moveth EVJerry along Highway 40 to Steamboat Springs ... Craig, CO en route to Salt Lake City, Utah and a rendez vous with Utah EV Coalition members on Wednesday. PLUS, it's expected that quite a number of kids in Patti White's class at the Morningside Elementary School are tracking the "Spirit" and her arrival around noon on the 24th of September.

Do endeavor to check forward and back on the blogs. Expectation is that others will be blogging in ... even posting pixs, too! NOTE: EVJerr's endeavoring to do a brief week in review so look for that as well.

EVer from a Lakewood Public Library,

"Spirit" & EVJerry (202) 486-5450

Jerry and the Spirit in Bismarck, North Dakota. Good Report

Go here to Visit the KFYR-TV's website to see the video.

Spirit of DC visits the Twin Cities, MNEAAEV

After a visit to the capitol building in St. Paul, Jerry made his way over to Minneapolis and charged up the Prius batteries with solar generated electricity from the roof of Chris Born's garage. Believe it or not, this is the first time the Spirit has recharged with solar.
The original PV system was 4.1kw, completed in fall of 2003, which supplied about 85% of the electric needs of the house. About a year ago another 1.8kw was added to the system, specifically to charge an electric vehicle. Chris is about 1/3 of the way through the conversion process for a 98 S-10, and until the EV is operational, the panels are putting out substantially more power than is used in the house.
Several members of the local chapter of the EV Association came to welcome Jerry and learn about plug in hybrids. One of the members, John Seppanen, came in his ElectraVan. WCCO-TV (CBS) did a short report on the event. After 1.5 hours, the batteries were pretty well topped off and Jerry went a few miles to another event in Minneapolis. From there he headed up to visit Lee Hart.

The Spirit of DC in KC at MAEAA

Sunday the MAEAA had it's monthly meeting and the Spirit visited us for a show and tell. It was great to meet Jerry and have dinner with him. He has lots of valuable information to share. We will try to post some pictures on the next post.
Our club web site is: http://www.maeaa.org/ Many of our club members will be driving their clean vehicles in the Overland Park Parade on September 27th event.
Submitted by Al Pugsley driver of an all electric Chevy S-10. Future plug in hybrid owner as I have a Prius and hope to buy a factory plug in within two years.

PHEV3A Space Reserved for HybridFest.com Folks - Eric Powers and Linda Weideman

Hi, Jerry and everyone --

I've put the full-size pictures that I have from yesterday up on my MobileMe
gallery.

Click here for Pictures

It was great seeing you yesterday -- and a big THANK YOU for my first-EVer
PHEV run!

Safe travels--
Linda Weidemann
Hybrid Fest

PHEV3A Space Reserved for Southern Wisconsin EV Proliferation Inputs - Ben Nelson, Thomas Ngo

PHEV3A Space Reserved for FVEAA - Ken Simmermon

The Spirit Makes EAA Website Cover

On the front page of the EAA website there is a small blurb on the Spirit of DC and its adventure all around America.

The Spirit of DC

EVADC's own Jerry Asher is driving his PHEV Prius conversion to all 50 states to promote Plug-In Electric Vehicle technology to the masses. His conversion was done by our very own Mike Harvey. Follow his exciting journey chronicled on the Spirit of DC website. Find out when he's in a town near you!

PHEV Week Plus In Review

Cheers PHEV3A'rs, EVADC'rs and EVnthusiasts, One & All -

EVJerry here has been endeavoring to put into play a new approach with EAA Chapter members being the webbloggers. It has met with some success! Especially as spreading the email load on being OVE = overcome by email! That includes webblogging en route. Now to summarize highlights for a PHEV Week Plus in Review from PHEV Day 62, Wednesday, 27 Aug 2008 and on.

Upon returning to New Hamsphire and rebonding with the "Spirit of DC," and after Drew Gillet and Hobbit's EVfort on the "Spirit" ... PHEV All Around America has been going forth from getting a few pixs taken on PHEV Day 62, Wednesday, 27 August 2008, by Ken Williams (603) 224-5301 (800) 464-3415at the Concord Monitor (and Ken getting an handful of PHEV and EV-related literature in return). The "Spirit" went 59.9MPG for 34.1 miles in the first run back from Manchester to Concord, NH. Filling up in 79,467 Miles ... 4.9 gals x $3.53 = $17.34. Note: Drew had gone 58.7MPG for 285 miles while caretaking the "Spirit" while EVJerr was on his 'Dental Break.'

On PHEV Day 63, Thursday, 28 August 2008, after a night stay in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the run to Alain St Yves was 60.8MPG for 34 miles. The "Spirit" was EVer so warmingly greeted by Alain, his wife Guylain, his son Charles and Charles' girlfriend, Vanessa. Most fortunately for webblogging, Alain posted pixs and more.
The run then to Ottawa for meeting other EVCouncil of Ottawa members was 65.9MPG

From Alain's, the "Spirit" made the Run to Ottawa with 65.9MPG for 32 Miles, 58.2 for 85 and final tally of 56.5 for 103.5 ... before linking up with EVCouncil of Ottawa President, Juergen Weichert and his family - Julie, Princess Helene (9) and Master Josef (4), and staying over at the Weichert's.

More to follow. ...

Solar Taxi and Three Rivers EVA

Cheers Rolf and GoldiEV,

Below a quick up date after the Run Around Lake Ontario ... visiting EVCouncil of Ottawa Members in Montreal and Ottawa and not being able to link up with EVSociety - Toronto nor Durham EVA ... but making it this AM to link up with the SolarTaxi Gang and more:

Cheers Jonathan & Three Rivers EVA'rs -

After a most entertaining morning with the Solari Taxi www.SolariTaxi.com with Louis Palmer and gang on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls with the guys at Niagara Helicopters , the "Spirit of DC" is heading for Pittsburgh later this Saturday afternoon. Check out the details on www.SpiritofDC.com ... when I can post an update.

Hopefully, we can talk by cell phone later today as well about demo'ing the EVADC-lead sponsor of the Plug-in Hybrid EV going all around America on its PHEV Day 64.

- Updated to add more details -

The Spirit of DC enjoyed visiting with the members of the Three Rivers EVA. She even got to meet the club President's electric car - the PA Electrics Xebra, while EVJerry spent some time talking with the various club members.

The Three Rivers EVA meets on the third Saturday of every month at the PA Electrics shop in Export, PA. www.threeriverseva.org/meeting.html

PA Electrics currently sells Electric Bicycles, Electric Tricycles and kid-size Electric Scooters. They plan to expand this fall into selling DOT certified Electric Scooters and Electric Motorcycles. Though their dream is to one day offer Electric vehicles of all types - up to and including Electric Cars.

Three Rivers EVA President, Jonathan Belak and his family took EVJerry out to lunch. Jonathan had a chance to try out hypermiling in the Spirit of DC on the way to the restaurant and his wife Bonnie drove the Spirit of DC back to PA Electrics. Their daughter Jolene was disappointed that she was unable (not old enough) to drive it as well, but she at least got to ride in the Spirit of DC.

Bonnie thought it was a lot of fun to drive - but hard to keep under 34 mph when going downhill - in order to stay in EV mode. That is one advantage the all electric Xebra has over the PHEV Prius - the Xebra can coast downhill with abandon, and never have to worry about going out of EV mode. LOL. However, the PHEV Prius can handle steep hills better than the all electric Xebra. Of course, there are newer modification available that will allow a PHEV Prius to go up to 54 mph and still stay in EV Mode. Hopefully when Toyota begins to offer factory Plug-in Hybrids - that is the speed threshold that they choose to implement.

EVJerry stayed overnight with the Belak's and Monday morning was able to view Murrysville's large living Tree Sign on the way back over to the PA Electrics shop.

Then while the Spirit of DC visited some more with the PA Electrics Xebra, EVJerry spent some time talking with Lynda Lyman of the Penn-Franklin News. Bonnie from the Three Rivers EVA has promised to scan and email EVJerry the article when it comes out in the local paper.

After leaving PA Electrics Monday afternoon - the Spirit of DC meet up with several more members of the Three Rivers EVA in downtown Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Science Center, before heading off Monday night to Ohio.

The Three Rivers EVA club Treasurer and her daughter took a lot of pictures during the visit, too many to share here in the blog. But if you would like to see all 52 of them - just visit this link on Flickr - http://flickr.com/photos/bsbjjbjmb/sets/72157607053836744/