Green Machines

Global warming is one of today’s hot-button issues. Vehicle emissions play a large role in contributing to the global warming problem, especially here in California.

There are, however, forward-thinking individuals, companies and organizations working to offer a new wave of clean-air technology.

Some of them will be part of a special “Green Machines” exhibit at this year’s Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Half Moon Bay Airport.

You can be part of it too!

CalCars.org

The California Cars Initiative — http://www.calcars.org — is a Palo Alto-based nonprofit startup of entrepreneurs, engineers, environmentalists and consumers promoting 100+MPG plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Somewhat uniquely, the organization itself is a hybrid, focusing both on public policy and technology development, and harnessing buyer demand to help commercialize PHEVs.

After seven years, the campaign by CalCars and our partners for plug-in hybrids has reached its first stage of success: we have automakers, the Obama Administration, corporate CEOs and many others all saying PHEVs are the future. In 2008, the TARP program provided $25 billion for large and small US automakers to build advanced vehicles, much of which will go to plug-ins. And early in 2009, the stimulus program included $5-$10 billion in incentives for the production of plug-in cars. GM now plans build the first production PHEVs, with demonstration fleets of the Chevy Volt in 2009 and production in 2010, followed by the Saturn Vue. Toyota plans a leased demonstration PHEV fleet to selected corporate fleet customers in 2009. Chrysler plans to produce PHEVs in 2010-2012. A Chinese carmaker, BYD, was first to sell PHEVs, beginning in December 2008 in China, and other small companies are moving ahead. Though over eighteen automakers now express interest in PHEVs, most remain far from production or "commercialization," and their production is dependent on future decisions and the companies' ability to stay in business.