Home

Oregon Electric Vehicle Awareness Day at Pioneer Square

Jul 8 2006 - 9:30am
Jul 8 2006 - 5:00pm

Location

Pioneer Courthouse Square
United States
See map: Google Maps

Body:

Contacts: Gary Graunke (503) 264-9249 and Eric Johnson at (503) 348-6392; www.oeva.org

Group to display electric vehicles

PORTLAND, Oregon ¾ The transportation transition from fossil fuels to sustainable, renewable energy options will be highlighted on Saturday, July 8th, when the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association (OEVA) holds its annual Electric Vehicle Awareness Day at Pioneer Square in downtown Portland.

About 20-25 electric and hybrid vehicles will be on display. Attendees at the free event will be able to view the latest advances in electric car conversions and learn about the environmental and economic benefits of driving vehicles powered by electricity instead of gasoline. With the advancement in battery technology, plug-in hybrids are making economic sense. The more electric a hybrid vehicle is, the better the energy efficiency and the less pollution. A first for OEVA will be the exhibition of a 1921 Milburn electric. From 1892 to 1912, electric vehicles held equal market share with steam and petroleum-based vehicles. Recent attempts by automakers and citizens to revive electric vehicles will be visited in the upcoming documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car,” showing in Portland theaters on July 21.

Vehicles will be on display from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. with local hobbyists and electric-vehicle experts on hand to answer questions. “Even amateurs can build economical, freeway-capable, zero-pollution, renewable-energy-powered vehicles for everyday commuting using century-old technology,” said OEVA Co-chairman Gary Graunke. “People often ask me how many miles per gallon I get. After pointing out that my converted [Honda] Insight uses only renewable electric energy from PGE and no gasoline at all, the energy equivalent miles per gallon would be 200 to 266 MPG. It gets 6 to 8 miles per KWH of electricity, and a US gallon of gasoline is the same amount of energy as 33 KWH of electricity [DOE].”

The OEVA was formed more than 20 years ago. Its more than 100 members reside in the Portland metro area and central Oregon. The OEVA is a local chapter of the Electric Auto Association. More information about OEVA can be obtained by calling (503) 264-9249 or online at www.oeva.org.

»

Insurability?

Submitted by Robert Pace on July 7, 2006 - 7:44am.

I read somewhere (can't recall where it was), that a prospective buyer of an all electric car was called by the dealership and told the car he ordered was in. The dealership gave him the vehicle ID so he could get his insurance before he came in to complete the purchase.

Apparently, the buyer couldn't find an insurance company that would write him a policy for an all electric vehicle. Has anybody else heard that getting insurance on these type vehicles is difficult? Or have any feedback on insurability? Beyond that, sounds like a great opportunity to see electric car options all in one place.

»