Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Weekly Reports about Green Festivals in DC and SF ... and the"Spirit of DC" on her California Run ... Coming Soon!

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

Soon ... once on top of etherous piles of email, EVJerry here intends to get out a series of weekly reports -- two days of attending the Green Festival in DC with the EVADC taking charge of the TEEN AREA, dropping by the Green Festival in San Francisco ... and of course, what the "Spirit" has been up to ... swinging over from Arizonah to Californiah -- meeting Tessie the Tesla at PluginAmerica.com Founder & President, Linda Nicholes, dropping by Silicon Valley EAA Meeting on Saturday, 15 November ... and trucking on up Hwy 101 to link up with Robb Protheroe of PluginSupply.com, right in Petaluma, CA.

Other reports and pixs should be forthcoming!

The California Run will include further rendez vous with EAA Chapters -- North Bay EAA (fingers crossed!), Konocti EAA in Lakeport, CA, East Bay EAA, Greater Sacramento EAA, Tehachapi EAA, Las Vegas EVA, Flagstaff EAA ... hopefully back in "winter quarters" Home Sweet Bisbee, Arizona with a day to spare in order prep for Thanksgiving.

Friday, November 7, 2008

"Spirit of DC" PHEV All Around America Update ... from EVJerry back in DC with the "Spirit" Hanging out at the Beach!

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

Below is an update of things and EVents happening, or anticpated to happen. Please take a moment to read. Maybe even provide feedback to PHEV3A Co-Chairs: Joe Lado JoeLado@yahoo.com or EVJerry Asher EVJerry@usa.net (202) 486-5450

"Spirit of DC" PHEV All Around America Update - 7 November 2008

I. PHEV All Around America (PHEV3A) Taking Winter Quarters in Home Sweet Bisbee

A. The basis for the "Spirit of DC" staying over in Arizona through the winter results from the gifting of a state-of-the-art Li-ion battery pack and charger from Delaware Power Systems out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. See Dr Walter Wu's email regarding gifting the "Spirit of DC" in the Feb 2009 timeframe. And there is Robb Protheroe's offer to integrate the new Li-ion battery pack with the PluginSupply kit and system, once shipped by DPS to Petaluma, CA. See also 11 October email exchange below.

B. The "RVJerry" Rationale:
1. Reconstituting the "Body Beautiful" of EVJerr (Alas! 20 + pounds added) after some 17,000 HEV/PHEV miles on the tusch ... let alone EVJerr's pretty face with lots of media action from coast-to-coast ... and after 40 State Capitals and 34 EAA Sister Chapters visited.
2. Recoup'ing & Replenishing EVJerry's Financial Status ... a tad! Briefly, the "Spirit" had some 108 PHEV Day on the Blue Highways of America.
3. Setting up Fundraising, Media, Lodging, Webblogging, and other Subcommittees for the Grand "Second Half" Finale from San Francisco Bay Area to Home Sweet Capitol Mall on Earth Day. Sidenote: For fundraising -- perhaps it can begin with pledges per mile, or EAA Sister Chapters, or State Capitals visited. of: 1-cent a mile from EAA Chapters; a dime an EAA Chapter from EAA Members; a buck a State ... [brainstorming]

4. Planning out the 2nd "Grand Finale Half of the "Spirit of DC" Sun Belt Run across America ... also to include setting up a "Welcome Home Spirit of DC" Subcommittee.
5.
II. Winter Schedule Planning for "Spirit of DC:
A. Initiating the "Tour de AZ" EVenture ... visiting 15 Arizona County Seats of Government (Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pima, Pina, Greenlee, Graham, Yuma, Havapai, Coconino, Apache, Maricopa, ... . )
B. Visiting Robb Protheroe at PluginSupply.com for Li-ion Battery integration of the "Spirit of DC" TBD after the Green Festival in San Francisco ...
C. Visiting EAA Chapters, done in conjunction at times with "A" and "B" above:
1. California with 11 Chapters at least with re-visits: EVAoSC, Ventura Couty EAA, Central Coast EAA, SFEVA, SF Peninsula EAA, Konocti EAA, East Bay EAA, Greater Sacramento EAA, Tehachapi EAA, ... plus the functional Chapters -- PluginAmerica, and CALCars. And a return to Professor Andy Frank at UC- Davis
2. Nevada: Las Vegas EVA
3. Arizona: Flagstaff EAA and Phoenix EAA.

III. PHEV3A Planning for 2009 Kick-off and Return to DC:
A. Planning as done in conjunction with Green Festival in Washington, DC, 8-9 November 2008 www.GreenFestivals.com and Green Festival in San Francisco, 14-16 November
B. Setting up PHEV3A Committee Open Planning Sessions ... along with developing Subcommittees -- Fundraising, Welcome Back, Publicity, Media, Routing, Webblogging, etc.
C. Conferring with Amtrak on "Spirit's" Auto Train Return from Sanford, Florida.
D. Outlining 2009 "Fun Run in the Sun" with Xtreme BugE -- determining name, setting up committee with co-chairs, settling on date, budget projections, routing, solar contacts, etc
E. Link-up'ing with the <www.GreenTrain.org > folks ... creating possible meet-up in Mid America (i.e. Kansas City, New Orleans, Memphis, ...) with Green Train and the "Spirit" and the "Xtreme BugE" some time after the 5th EPA National Sustainable Design Expo on the Capitol Mall on Earth Day weekend in April 2009. Note: the Green Train leave on its six week venture from Portland and is en route to DC.
F. Considering the possibilities of taking the "Spirit of DC" to Hawaii as retiree with military shipping benefit and Alaska, if the Alaska Marine Highway System offers a courtesy trip for doing an EVducational Tour on Alaska Inner Coastal Waterways.
G. ______________________ [Fill in]
...

That's it for the moment, except we've got a LOT of logbook work to organize as well as pixs to post. Do read the Appendix A below.
EVer,
"Spirit" and EVJerry

Appendix A: Copy of 11 October Email Exchange:

Dr Walter Wu, Delaware Power Systems wrote:

Hi, Jerry:

Thanks for your call and thanks for your trip to educate people of the benefit of PHEV!

I checked with our manufacturer in China and the delivery schedule look like: -- Next delivery will be the end of December 2008. -- If everything goes smoothly, it will take about 4 weeks to arrive US Therefore I expect the pack could be installed on your PHEV from the beginning of February 2009!

DPS will donate a battery pack of 6kwh ~ 7kwh with a 1500W charger.

To further specify the pack, we will need to do the following things:
1. To exchange technical information, we will need to sign a NDA with Plug In Supply I attach DPS's NDA here.
2. Robb will need to tell us: -- Pack voltage and operating voltage range -- Electrical interface requirements -- Dimension requirement: I have seen the current lead acid pack, we will have no problem to fit the space with 6~7kwh Lithium pack.

DPS is building commercial battery packs from smart universal battery modules ("UBM(TM)") as building block. It does not need any extra work or device for battery management and thermal management.

Now, the basic building block is 48Ah/24V UBM (19.6V ~ 29.4V operating range). We can put 5 or 6 of these UBMs in series to make 120V or 144V system. 3. Technical integration of the pack Due to battery system management requirement, technical integration need to be considered carefully.

I am looking forward to talk to Robb for the integration.

Best Regards

Walter Walter D. Wu Ph.D
President & CEO Delaware Power Systems, Corp
12280 Horseshoe Way, Richmond, BC, V7A4Z1
Tel: 604-960-1411 (direct) Fax: 604-271-5806
Web: www.delawarepowersystems.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Jerry Asher [mailto: evjerry@usa.net]
Sent: October-09-08 2:14 PM
To: WWu@DelPowerSys.com
Cc: Robb@PluginSupply.com; EVJerry@usa.net ; JoeLado@yahoo.com; Garlow.Charlie@epamail.epa.gov; DonnaGAustin@mindspring.com

Subject: A'waiting to Converse on Friday ... Also, Shipping Address.

Cheers Walter et Delaware Power System al -

Glad to catch you today in Seattle.

Will be a'waiting to converse further while the "Spirit of DC" takes me to San Diego, CA on Friday. Robb Protheroe, PluginSupply, is game to install the set of Li-ion NCM batteries and set the settings on the "Spirit."

His shipping address is: Robb Protheroe (707) 849-2422 Plug in Supply 302 Fawn Court Petaluma, California 94954 USA

Note, Walter, the "Spirit" will be returning back to Petaluma and re-doing the San Francisco - Sacramento - Davis area, probably within one week of battery shipping.

EVer en route to San Francisco,
"Spirit" & EVJerr (202) 486-5450

EVJerry Asher
Electric Auto Association Chapters Relations
Post Office Box 651 Bisbee, Arizona 85603
Home Phone: (520) 432-3227
Cell Phone: (202) 486-5450 (Weekends/Evenings & Voice Mail)

Saturday, November 1, 2008

"Spirit" Shines in the Sunny & Bright of Arizona at the Bisbee Farmers Market While Rubbing Shoulders with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords ...

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

After an enjoyable night's rest, while EVJerry did his civic Bisbee duty on HalloweeniEV, the "Spirit" got to shine in the sunny & bright warmth of an Arizona morn this "All Saints" Saturday, 1 November 2008 ... at the Bisbee Farmers Market. The "Spirit" was most welcomed to park next the KBRP 96.1 FM booth.

Being the first EVer PHEV in these parts, the "Spirit" certainly enjoyed folks coming by. Even out-of-towners. Especially the first EVer photo opportunity with a Member of Congress -- AZ's own Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords with her husband Mark Kelly at the camera along with a few others.

Another photo op came with Borderland EVA VP, Donna G. Austin, posting the "BEVA" EAA decal to mark the 34th EAA Sister Chapter so visited in the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle All Around America EVducational Tour. Donna is expected to post some pixs taken later on. Furthermore, Donna took in the national EAA application for BEVA newest member, Harry Wolters - a kindred "KBRP Spirit" to the "Spirit of DC."

EVer from Home Sweet Bisbee - future Winter Quarters for PHEV3A,

"Spirit of DC" and EVJerry

PS Again ... Watch for pixs within the next few days!

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy HalloweeniEV from the "Spirit" & EVJerry in the sunny & bright Warmth of Arizonah

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

Getting back into the webblogging routine takes some practice ... or so it seems! Especially remembering to blog, first of all.

While it's Halloween tonight, 31 October ... without much "show & tell" from the "Spirit," let alone EVJerry, however, manana on All Saints Day, 1 November, the "Spirit of DC" will be out there in the Arizona sunshine showing off her signage, electric muscle and circuits and more ... as announced both on the Bisbee Radio KPRB 96.1 FM (LP) and via the good services of the Copper Queen Library, per the Programs Coordinator, Donna G. Austin (who is also the Contact and VP for Borderland EVA) as follows:

Saturday, November 1, Farmers' Market

The Spirit of DC (Direct Current) will be on display at the Farmers' Market. The "Spirit" is a Plug-in Toyota Prius owned by Jerry Asher (a Bisbee local) who is driving the plug-in vehicle all across the country, stopping at every state capitol to demonstrate that the technology for electric vehicles is here and now.

Jerry has also visited 36 affiliated electric vehicle associations on his journey and will be greeting Bisbee's own BEVA ( Borderland Electric Vehicle Association) at the market.

Come and meet Jerry and learn about the Spirit.

You can learn more about the Spirit and Jerry's travels on:

http://spiritofdc.com/ [end of announcement]

Now off to get ready for "Trick or Treat" ... !!!

Aloha EVer from Arizonah,
"Spirit" and EVJerry

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Updating on the "Spirit of DC" ... Moving into "Winter Quarters" While Awaiting Delaware Power System Li-ion Battery Pack Before "Sun Belt" Run ...

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

The "Spirit of DC" is moving into "winter quarters" in Bisbee, AZ. And EVJerry is back at webblogging. Reason being is that Delaware Power Systems out of Vancouver, British Columbia, has offered the "Spirit" a state-of-the-art set of Li-ion battery pack plus charger ... and it'll be some time in January 2009, possibly February, before Robb Protheroe at PluginSupply.com can receive and integrate the new Li-ion battery pack into the PluginSupply.com system. ... Hence, that's the rationale for going into "winter quarters" so to speak! But more info on the "Spirit" and her anticipated EVentful activities below.

But Gads! I need to update since the last posting. Already, it's a week plus since the "Spirit" was at the "Kick Gas Festival" in San Diego! Thanks to former EVA of San Diego Presidential Couple, Bill and Lisa Hammons, the "Spirit" also did a special PHEV photo shoot on Thursday, 16 October 2008 ... before heading over to Phoenix for a visit to the 40th State Capital ... . And the "Spirit" had a special "Ride Along" -- Bisbee's own Donna Austin, who is the VP and Contact for the Borderland EVA - a most recent EAA Chapter. Donna works as the Program Coordinator for the Copper Queen Library in Bisbee.

After Donna's taking pixs of the "Spirit" in Phoenix, Arizona's capital on Friday, 17 October 2008, (the capital's on 17th Avenue & Washington just in case someone wants to view Arizona's finest), the "Spirit" was bound for Tucson. On Saturday morn, the "Spirit" with her Ride Alongs in tow met up Tucson EVA2 members for a "seeing is believing" show & tell at the regular TEVA2 meeting. TEVA2 was the 33rd sister EAA Chapter visited on the PHEV All Around America EVducational Tour.

Upon returning to Home Sweet Bisbee, the "Spirit" has been cooling her tires pretty much for a week or so ... with just local showings and quests for opportunity chargings -- St John's Episcopal Church, neighbors Fred Albert and Peter & Cindy Hermann, ALCO Store in the San Jose Shopping Center, and so on. One local showing was with the Cochise County Fleet Manager, Ruben Miranda, who is keenly interested in PHEVs, HEVs, and EVs.

EVJerry has been working to line up media EVents for the "Spirit." So far there's been radio interviews -- the Home Power Hour with Sustainable Jack and Solar Jim - a FM Low Power station out of Carroboro, and with Bisbee's own Ramses on KBRP 96.1 FM LP. The "Spirit" will be on a "seeing is believing" display at Bisbee's Farmers' Market at 9:00AM this coming Saturday.

Also, it's best to outline some of the planning going on for EVJerry and the "Spirit" per the denoting of "winter quarters" in quotation marks. Essentially, the "Spirit" will be busy in the Southwest -- there are these two workable PHEV3A EVents being projected: First, a "Tour de AZ" for visiting all 15 County Seats in AZ in order to serve as a State model for EAA Chapters to take on as in "PHEV All Around Florida" example; and, Second, a Southwest Run to visit with some dozen EAA California, one Nevada, and two Arizona EAA Chapters.

NOTE: This Arizona stayover will be done in and out of "winter quarters" in Bisbee ... while planning, organizing and coordinating the PHEV All Around America second half Finale - the Sun Belt Run whereby the "Spirit" makes it to eight more State Capitals en route -- New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama! And some half dozen or so remaining separate EAA Chapters to be visited.

SPECIAL NOTE: The expected date of arriving back in Washington, DC via the Amtrak Auto Train from Florida will be Earth Day in order to make the 5th EPA National Sustainable Design Exp0, right on the Capitol Mall, where the "Spirit of DC" was christened a year earlier.

EVen Hawaii and Alaska are being considered for the "Spirit of DC" while awaiting the new Li-ion batteries as part of her PHEV3A Evducational Tours. But further discussion is being held off until more info comes available from a trip to San Diego and a visit with US Navy Transportation personnel as well as from conversing with the Alaska Marine Highway System folks. Funding has been, is and remains a very major consideration in what's turning out to be the longest, largest, most extensive EVent in all of EAA History.

Now, on or about Monday, 3 November 2008, the "Spirit" is tripping back to San Diego, California, but with Nogales, Arizona on the radar screen; it's part of the Arizona County Run, and Nogales is the Santa Cruz County Seat. Then, it's on to Pima County Seat in Tucson and thereafter to Yuma for the 4th County Seat. That's about it for today webblogging. More later on about EVJerry's attending the Green Festivals in DC ... while the "Spirit" cools her tires in San Diego (see >

EVer from Bisbee, Arizona -

"Spirit" & EVJerry

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Kick Gas Festival Video

Pictures from the Kick Gas Festival


Jerry and the Spirit of DC being the stars that they are.



<
EVADC Education Chair Jerry Asher, NEDRA Board Member Bryant Hall from Santa Rosa, CA, former EVAoSD President Bill Hammons, and NEDRA Board Member Chip Gribben from EVADC are shown giving "the finger" to EVAoSD President Joe Gottlieb on exactly where to place the next Electric Vehicle Association decal with EVAoSD lettering among the 30 plus EAA Sister Chapters already on the "Spirit of DC." These decals do mark each of the 50 plus EAA Chapters to be visited by the "Spirit" in her PHEV All Around America EVducational Tour.

Bill & Lisa Hammons, Electric Vehicle Association of San Diego