Starting in June, I’ll be wearing yet another hat in this space. I just accepted an invitation to become a member of the “Stakeholder Advisory Board” for Green Auto Digest. The board will convene monthly, helping sort out thorny issues concerning the adoption of EVs and other alternative fuel vehicles: charging standards, utility metering, battery recycling, vehicle-to-grid, etc.
Should be fun.
Here’s a video interview I gave at a recent electric vehicle conference, in which I argue that an appealing consumer value proposition for EVs is what will drive adoption. Obviously, at the same time, we need to find a way to power these cars without coal, by increasing the amount of renewable energy that is available at night when most EVs are charged. To me, this means wind, much of which currently has little or no value at night.
2GreenEnergy Associate Lindsay Oliver makes a big deal about integrity as the backbone of his business dealings. In fact, a mutual friend told me about him, “He’s impeccably honest – at times perhaps too honest.”
Given that, it should come as no surprise that Lindsay has spearheaded the development of a website called ProvenIntegrity.com on which he lists people and companies that have demonstrated honor in their dealings with him.
I’m proud to say that we’re on the list; thanks for the mention, Lindsay.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGaE_Lb3gtY]
My guest here was Dr. Brooks Agnew, CEO of Vision Motors, creator of affordable light-duty battery-electric trucks that will soon be manufactured in the United States and India.
As we’ve seen all too frequently over the last few years, anyone can design an electric vehicle. But how many people can make an attractive, high-quality, freeway-capable battery-electric pickup truck with 75+ miles of range, and sell it profitably at under $25,000?
You’re about to meet one.
Not that you needed another, but here’s an article painting a frightening picture of what life on planet Earth will look like by 2050. One of the things I found interesting about it is that it offers this theory for the reason for our inaction at this critical point in time, as the oceans are rising and the species are disappearing: “One answer may be found in our DNA. Growing evidence suggests our brains aren’t wired to handle future threats. We may be hardwired to deal with the present proximate, not the future probable.”
I’m reminded of what my friend Tom Konrad told me in an interview: (more…)
Sorry for the last-minute notice, but if you’re available tomorrow at 1 PM EDT (10 AM PDT), and you’re looking for some insight into the electric vehicle market (electric trucks in particular), please join Dr. Brooks Agnew, CEO of Vision Motor Cars, and me for our monthly webinar.
In contrast to most entrepreneurs in this space, Brooks comes from the auto manufacturing world; he’s been at the helm of the launches of a great number of the “Big Three’s” best-loved models over the years. I’ve known him for a few years now — even took a test drive in an early prototype. Personally, I think he’s a good bet to repeat his success here in electric transportation – but I’ll let you come to your own conclusion on that one.
Hope you can join us. Here’s the sign-up sheet:
Glenn Doty writes:
Craig,
I don’t think that cold fusion is a worthy discussion point – as its advocates do not adhere to the common discipline of science.
Whether or not a study can technically be classified within the empirically reductive philosophy that is “science” can be tested with the following questions:
1) Can this issue be investigated empirically?
2) Is there a relevant theory that this can be linked to?
3) Can this be tested directly?
4) Is there a coherent and explicit chain of reasoning?
5) CAN THESE RESULTS BE REPLICATED? and
6) Is the research disclosed to encourage professional critique from other researchers?
The stuff revolving around “cold fusion” fails on the second, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth criteria. Hence: not science. (more…)
Individuals, corporations, businesses and even colleges can all play a part in creating a more eco-friendly environment. With hundreds of different ways to reduce energy and waste, a college campus is a great place to put into place some new and environmentally-conscious measures. Here are six of the top ways that a college can be more eco-friendly.
In most college campuses, both students and teachers arrive by car regularly. While it might seem impossible to eliminate the use of gas-guzzling vehicles on a college campus, it is still possible to implement measures that encourage other forms of transport. Offer special parking privileges to those who carpool with three or more students in each vehicle. Or you might encourage students to take the bus or even walk to school if they live within walking distance.
In listening to The Writer’s Almanac this morning, I learned that it’s the birthday of Arthur Conan Doyle, who gave us the character Sherlock Holmes, and thrust the power of deductive reasoning onto the world stage a century ago. Holmes told us, “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly, one begins to twist facts to suit theories rather than to twist theories to suit facts.”
I bring this up because it’s so precisely relevant to the discussion of global climate change; this is exactly what the deniers claim, i.e., that the theory is based on a manipulation of facts to suit a theory. Having said that, 97+% of climate scientists don’t see it this way.
There are many components to the cost of growing food and shipping it to its final destination – a surprisingly large part of which is energy. Moving water around the state of California uses 18 percent of all the electricity and 31 percent of the natural gas consumed in the state.
And of course, pumping water is only one element of the energy that is part of the food supply chain. Think of the:
• Manufacturing and transportation of fertilizers and pesticides
• Sowing, harvesting, and processing
• Transporting the food to market
The average food item we consume in the U.S. travels 1200 miles to reach our supermarkets, and even “fresh” food is two weeks old (and far less nutritious than it was when it was harvested) by the time it gets to us. (more…)
