Who is "Cascadia"? They are part of the infamous "Discovery Institute" (defenders of Creationism and Intelligent Design) which causes me to be very distrustful of the group.

There is an energy conference at Microsoft on Sept 4-5 sponsored by Cascadia. Interestingly, they have excluded one of the strongest local proponents and innovators of plug-in hybrid technology, Ed Furia of AFS Trinity, from the conference itself (though, at the governor's request, he'll have his prototype vehicle available for test drives in the parking lot).

It just makes me wonder what the actual AGENDA of this conference is when they go out of their way to exclude someone like Ed.

Chinese auto manufacturer, Brilliance.

My neighbor's company has produced a 150 mph plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The two prototypes are coming to Seattle next week - I hoping for a chance to drive one!

Good deals on rental cars.

Quoted: Hotwire offers cheap travel deals on flights, hotel rooms, rental cars, vacation packages and cruises. Book your next travel deal at Hotwire.com.

click to play

I like how a smart card can be used to unlock the Flexicar (and the australian accent is so fun to listen to...). This is a Google AdWords Ad.

Quoted: http://adwords.google.comMonique Conheady talks about how Google AdWords helped accelerate the growth of her business

click to play

Beautiful demonstration of the crash-worthiness of Renault autos.

Quoted: Renault Werbung

A great photo set from the recent classic car show in Kirkland.

The Auto XPrize draft is out - they are asking for public comment (by end of May).

The original XPrize (Space) seemed simpler to describe: put a vehicle in space (100km), capable of carrying 3 people, twice within 2 weeks.

This prize's goals seem more complex and do not capture the imagination as simply:

- 100 MPGe (gasoline equivalent energy)
- 200 g/mi CO2 emissions, production cost limits, CO2 emission caps for production.
- Fixed timeline for awarding the prize. The Space X-Prize was not on a set schedule (though may have had an expiration date). The Auto Prize will be awarded in 2009 according to the current proposal.
- Requiring a business plan for production and sale of the vehicle.
- Two classes: mainstream (4 person, 4 wheels), and l alternative (2 person ... would a motorcycle qualify?) The alternative class receives 25% of the total prize money.

Seems to me that on-board solar may be a big component in this prize - as it can provide "free" energy (will not count against MPG, and will have zero emissions). Another alternative could be human power. If you're carrying 4 people, you might as well have them all peddling!

Note that any fuel source can be used (e.g., liquid hydrogen, compressed hydrogen, compressed air, batteries, etc.). But the contest will count the "energy inputs" into the vehicle and convert to gasoline-equivalent energy. If you use compressed air, the AXP will "charge" you for the amount of electricity used to power your air compressor. Any "exotic" fuel (like hydrogen) - will have the burden of making the case the the infrastructure will be available to deliver the fuel to the mass market.

A car vending machine! This is the biggest I've seen. The 3-stack parking lifts are pretty common in NY. This is AMAZING!

redotting derek