Plug In America

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Plug In America (also known as PIA) is a non-profit educational organization that promotes and advocates the use of plug-in cars, trucks and sports utlilty vehicles (SUVs) powered by domestic electricity which it claims will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and improve the global environment. It is currently a chapter of the Electric Auto Association. The Executive Director (as of 2007) is Chelsea Sexton.

PIA advocates the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and other vehicles which utilize electricity, from the power grid or from electricity-generating devices such as solar cells, as a substantial source of motive energy.

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[edit] History

Plug In America was initiated by Don't Crush, a coalition organized to stop automobile manufacturers from destroying electric vehicles at the end of their lease. Because of Don't Crush's previous success in preventing the destruction of Toyota and Ford electric car models, and exposing General Motor's decision to discontinue its plug-in hybrid, the group hoped to strengthen its cause for plug-in vehicles by forming PIA.[1] According to a company press release, Plug In America strives to "revive plug-in auto producion" by collaborating with a variety of public and private organizations and businesses to promote "cleaner, cheaper, domestic sources of energy."[2] The organization works in conjunction with environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, automobile corporations, such as Toyota and GM, and, more recently, in forming a political alliance with the Bush administration.[3]

[edit] Environment

According to a study conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute, "a nonprofit think tank funded mainly by electric utilities," and the Natural Resources Defense Council, "[i]f most Americans switched to electric hybrids by 2050, greenhouse gases would be slashed by 450 million metric tons annually -- the equivalent of taking 82.5 million cars, about one-third of the U.S. fleet, off the road." The study also concluded that the beneficial extent to which plug-in hybrids would reduce greenhouse emissions far outweighs the negative effects that their dependency on other sources of energy would have. If 60 percent of Americans were to drive plug-in hybrids by 2050, the study projects a 7 to 8 percent increase in energy usage which would, conversely, eliminate the need for "3 million to 4 million barrels of oil per day... more than twice what the United States imports each day from Saudi Arabia." In fact, regardless of the energy source--"whether coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind or solar"--plug-in hybrids, which charge at night when energy demand is at a minimum, "generated 40 to 65 percent less greenhouse gas than gas-fueled vehicles and 7 to 46 percent less than conventional hybrids," the study determined. However, while these numbers support Plug In America's stated objectives, the study's impartiality remains in dispute--it was funded by a number of companies with a vested interest in the profits electric hybrids would provide, "including many electric utilities, such as American Electric Power, Pacific Gas & Electric and Edison International." Additionally, due to their being equipped with an auxiliary gas tank for driving long distances, the degree to which plug-in hybrids will actually diminish emissions is uncertain.[4]

"California Air Resource Board (CARB) rejected the staff’s proposal to shrink the number of Zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs) required of automakers in 2012-2014 from 25,000 down to 2,500 vehicles, and instead set the target at 5,357 vehicles – an improvement from the low numbers staff proposed, yet only 70% of current regulations."[5]

There currently is no delivery system yet for hydrogen cars only, but the system is being worked out.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Plug In America
  2. ^ EvWorld The Future in Motion (September 1, 2005): Plug In America!
  3. ^ Plug In America Press Release (March 27, 2008): California Regulators Eviscerate Clean-Car Mandate Again - a 70% Drop
  4. ^ San Francisco (July 20, 2007): Cleaner Future? Plug In
  5. ^ Plug In America Press Release (March 27, 2008): Legislative Steps Needed Toward Zero-Emission Vehicles
  6. ^ GreenTech Pastures (April 1, 2008): California and non-gasoline autos- was that hydrogen talk just hot air?

[edit] External links