Dear
The next few days are packed with Sustainable Transport Activity and there is much to be done to move things forward. Please join in and do what you can.
At the very least lets help get people turned out for The 11th Hour Movie
Russell Sydney
310-450-7419
In this
Sustainable Transport Club
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Community Based Action= One Medium Speed Electric Vehicle Initiative Welcomes your Support and Participation = Two Stop the Growth of Private JETS in SM at the rally for runway safety Tuesday, August 28 = Three Reminder- Join the Bio Brigade 100 Biofuel Vehicles Parade this Saturday 8-25 = Four Big Idea from the Biodiesel Community Conference Outreach and Education - One A Movie to See and Support – The 11th Hour - Two BioDiesel Community Conference a Huge Success - Three Alternative Fuels & Vehicles
Conference + Expo - Four Pier Screening: Drive-In
Series Tabling Opportunity: Sept 6, 2007 Getting your Sustainable Ride * One Skeuter having a Special Sale for Club Members * Two Maps for Plug in Vehicles * Three Silicon Battery testing results * Four Blue Tech Diesels Expected Fourth Quarter by Order Only Legislative Actions > One Legislative Action Alert From Plug In America – Clean Energy > Two Getting School Buses Healthier with BioDiesel - SB70 You can find the subject you want by looking for the separator bars or by using the active links above with the blue color and underlines. This is a two-way newsletter. You can get word out to the group by sending in any relevant information for inclusion in this newsletter. |
Community Based Action Medium Speed Electric Vehicle Initiative Welcomes your Support and Participation Who wants to revive the electric car? What is that you say, a Tesla is not in your budget! There are some other electric cars that are more affordable and can go full speed but the largest numbers of electric vehicles available are all neighborhood electric vehicles or NEVs. The problem with these is that they are limited to going 25 miles per hour. The medium speed electric vehicle initiative wants to change that speed limit to 35 miles per hour. The medium speed electric vehicle initiative started in Montana and Washington State and we are bringing people together to get it going here in California. It simply sets up specifications that are needed to allow NEVs to be able to go 35 miles per hour and be registered and insured legally. These specifications need to be added to the California vehicle code. The plan is to get the California Legislature to pass a bill that will let this become state law. This would not only allow people to use these vehicles but it would put very strong pressure on the Federal Government to deal with this issue. That means that we need to get sponsors for the bill and to rally support for the effort. We need one or more sponsors in both the State Assembly and in the State Senate. These sponsors will need support from lots of their colleagues so we need representatives on board from all over the state. Please contact us if you are willing to help us to get information to your local representative to support this effort. Reply to this email or call 310-450-7419 Lets include electric two-wheel vehicle in this initiative while we are at it! While we are doing this we can also include specifications for medium speed electric mopeds. Electric mopeds are limited to going 30 miles per hour in California, which is just not fast enough. Going 40 miles per hour allows these two wheel vehicles to keep up with traffic and create a much safer riding experience. The problem is that bikes that go over 30 miles per hour need to meet safety regulations for motorcycles. This means testing and a review process that is designed for superbikes that go 120 miles per hour. That process has taken over two years for the people who have tried it. It is a serious barrier to adopting the new technology. A list of simple specification can be identified that will allow a bike to be safer at 40 miles per hour than one would be at 30 miles per hour. Understanding the problem with low speed limits on these vehicles. The problems fall into two categories – Safety and Utility. The problems are about the same for a NEV as they are for an Electric Moped. Safety
Safety is an issue because slow moving vehicles are subject to a number of unsafe conditions. The first thing you will notice is faster cars tail gating you. That means you are a fraction of a second away from a rear impact if anything goes wrong in front of you. The second thing that happens is excessive lane changing from the vehicles behind you. With a whole line of cars changing lanes to get around you that is a hazard to cars in both lanes and that hazard could end up creating impact on the NEV or the moped. Then there is the illegal passing that occurs when people pass the slow moving vehicles by using the turning lane. That can result in them having to return to the lane the slower vehicle is in as an emergency response to on coming traffic. It also creates the possibility of a head on collision with oncoming traffic if someone moves into the turning lane from the other direction. Then there are the people who think it is cool to pass on the right at 25 mile per hour when there is only one lane. A car door opening means lots of damaged vehicles and people when this is going on. There are other things that happen because people in fast vehicles are rushing to a red light and get impatient with slower vehicles. The new speed limits proposed would reduce these by 70 percent or better. Utility
We need to get sustainable vehicles on the road today, not two or three years from now. The NEV and Moped speed restrictions reduce the utility of these vehicles and are limiting their niche in the market place. There are larger areas of our metropolis where traffic does not move much faster than an average of 35 miles an hour. The new speed limits will make these vehicles much more competitive with gas vehicles for off freeway use. When this increase in utility is added to the increase in safety from the higher speeds then these vehicles become much more desirable. Increasing the speed limits should more than double or triple the number of these vehicles being put into use. Not only does that mean more EVs on the road but it means a higher volume for the manufacturer and for distribution. This in turn will improve the profits for these companies. That profit will allow additional marketing and new products being available more quickly. It will give those companies what they need to produce a full speed vehicle and bring it to market. This is a really strong path to getting sustainable transport in place and you can be part of making this happen. Please get in touch to do what ever you can to make a difference. 310-450-7419 |
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Stop the growth of
private jets in SM at the rally for runway safety Private Jets and Helicopters are possibly the least sustainable forms of transportation. They produce major pollution – both noise and air. They get gallons per mile not miles per gallon and carry very small numbers of people. Here is a chance to stop their growth in our community. RALLY
FOR RUNWAY
SAFETY Tuesday, August 28,
2007 — 5:30 Santa Monica City
Hall If there is one time to
“air” your airport safety grievances, this is it. Why? * In 2006, there were
137,000 landings and take-offs (including 18,000 jets) at Santa Monica
Airport. We have no
Runway Safety Areas to prevent planes which land too fast, or fail to take off,
from crashing into nearby homes. * The Federal Aviation
Administration’s latest sub-standard safety proposal, to be presented to the
City Council on August 28th,
will not
adequately protect us from the increasing number of larger and faster planes flying into
our neighborhood. The FAA is playing “runway roulette” with our lives. * Representatives Henry
Waxman and Jane Harman, dissatisfi ed with the FAA’s proposal, are sending
representatives to the Council meeting. They want to hear from the community. At their request, the
City Council will hear us early in the meeting. At their request, the City
Council will hear us early in the meeting. Community The
media will be present. 5:30 – 6:30 PM —
Rally for Runway Safety Location: Front steps, Santa Monica
City Hall, 1685 Main Street. Sponsor: Concerned Residents
Against Air Pollution. For talking points, go to
http://www.JetAirPollution.com and
http://www.FriendsofSunsetPark.org (click on “SM Airport” link). Bring signs, or make one
there. 6:45 — Santa Monica
City Council Meeting Location: City Hall Council
Chambers (2nd fl oor). If you don’t wish to speak,
your presence
will send
a message. More Ways to Help Email the Santa Monica
Councilmembers at Council@smgov.net Email Congressman Waxman at
http://www.house.gov/waxman/contact.htm or send a fax to him at
(323) 655-0502. FR I E N D S O F
SU N S E T PA R K your neighborhood
organization voice mail: (310) 358-7117.
email: friendsofsp@yahoo.com More Back ground information: The city is doing an analysis of the engineering and
safety implications of this latest FAA proposal. The FAA is sending a rep to the August 28th City Council
meeting to discuss the proposal, which seems to be designed to protect
the aviation industry, rather than the residents of Santa Monica. Residents are organizing a Rally for Runway
Safety on Tuesday, August 28th, at 5:30 PM in front of City
Hall, to be followed by speeches to the City Council during public comment at
6:45 PM. Congressman Henry Waxman and Congresswoman Jane Harman are
sending representatives to the Council meeting to hear what the community has
to say. Waxman and Harman have the power to resolve these problems. If the thought of large, fast planes running off the west end of
the S.M. Airport runway and crashing into homes, due to the FAA's playing
"runway roulette" with our lives, is of concern to you, plan
to attend the Rally for Runway Safety and the City Council
meeting on Aug. 28th. Even if you don't wish
to speak, your presence alone will send a message to the City Council and to
Congress. ************************************************* |
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Reminder- Join the Bio Brigade 100 Biofuel Vehicles Parade this Saturday 8-25 Turn out to drive the event- Turn out to cheer the start- Turn out to cheer the ending and see the exhibits- What: Bio Brigade featuring 100 biodiesel vehicles to kick off the opening gala party for DO IT NOW: LIVE GREEN, a sustainable and experiential exhibition with Ben Maltz Gallery at Otis College of Art & Design. The exhibition focuses on the home and features products made from renewable, recycled, and repurposed sources by individuals and companies who are creating designs with environmental integrity. The show represents the intersection between art and functionality and will provide a sensory exploration and practical demonstration of today's sustainable designs that visitors can touch, feel and experience first hand as they tour the exhibit. Where: The Bio Brigade will depart from BioBling's HQ in Culver City, head west on Culver Blvd., south on Lincoln to Otis When: Meet at BioBling at 3pm, depart 3:30pm, Arrive at Otis at 4pm, where 4 cars, plus the LA Biodiesel Coop trailer will be staged front and center |
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Big Idea
from the Biodiesel Community Conference We had a great event at the Conference with over 150 people showing up! A great idea came out of our work on the education side. What would happen
if we could get all the * The children would get cleaner exhaust to breath compared to regular diesel. * That would reduce asthmatic reactions. * The children would become aware of renewable fuels. * Their parents would become aware of renewable fuels. * The conversion for each school district could become news and get media coverage. * The fuel would be put to the best possible use – helping kids stay healthy verses running long distance trucks or other invisible uses. How can we help this to
come about? - The first step is to support the legislation tied to AB 70 - see legislative section below by clicking here. - We can support the Green Ambassadors in their networking and education program. - We can contact the science teachers at our local schools and see if they would want to educate their kids about renewable fuels and Biodiesel. If you find such a teacher we can get people to come and do the talk. - We can talk this up at school meetings and with the PTA. Asthma is becoming a huge problem for our kids and we can help that while promoting our sustainability cause. Please let us know how you can contribute to this effort. Reply to this email or contact the Green Ambassadors. |
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A Movie to see and support – The 11th Hour This will play the role of the sequel to the Inconvenient Truth. And it does no leave you wondering what can be done. It leaves you pumped and ready to renew your effort on projects like the Sustainable Transport Club. This is a well put together documentary that not only delivers credible information but it does it in such a way that it keeps your attention and makes it feel personal. It makes the case for a sustainable future and points us in the direction we need to go. You are encouraged to see the movie. Take lots of friends. Pass word along and get your friends, friends to see it. This is a great movie to use for special events and for organizing efforts. Catch a preview at: Get
connected at |
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BioDiesel Community Conference a Huge Success With over 150 people showing up at this event and a fantastic group of organizers making this happen, this turned out to be a great event. We are working to follow up on the goals we set and look forward to great results from all of this. Here are the summary notes from the working groups. Please check them out and let us know if you would like to help accomplish some part of all this. We can forward your info to the right people. Just reply to this message and tell us what you are interested in. Special Thanks to Southern California Disposal for sponsoring the event and making it possible. Biodiesel Community Conference Notes Biodiesel 101 Group -
Education Group
Station Development
Fleets and School Buses
Legislation
Group Recommended Actions to the Biodiesel Community
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Alternative Fuels & Vehicles Conference + Expo "In times of change, the learner will inherit the earth, while the learned are beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists." Eric Hoffer The United States consumes 21 million barrels of oil a day with the
majority going for transportation. Cars and light trucks emit 20% of the
nation's carbon dioxide pollution, the heat-trapping gas that causes global
warming and that number is growing. The International Energy Agency has
joined the choir of those saying peak oil is real and imminent. The times they
are a changin' and the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) is pleased
to announce the Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo,
May 11-14, 2008. Las Vegas, Nevada is the place to be for learners navigating
the evolving alternative fuel marketplace. |
Outreach
and Education
Pier
Screening: Drive-In Series Tabling Opportunity: Sept 6, 2007 The Santa Monica City Environmental Programs Division is putting on a screening of the movie and we can help move things forward by getting word out and doing the tabling thing there. Please let me know if you would like to table with the Club. Here is what the organizers have to say: We are co-sponsoring a screening of Who Killed the Electric Car on the Santa Monica Pier and would like to invite you to participate. If you are interested please let me know. Also, please forward this email to any colleague or transportation related group you may believe would be interested in reaching the SM community.
For more information contact Andrew Basmajian Phone: 310.458.8916 Main Phone: 310.458.2213 Fax: 310.393.1279 Web: www.smepd.org |
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Skeuter
having a Special
Sale for Club Members Special discount to get you started on two wheel electrics. This is for those of you who would like to try out using electric scooters and do not want to put a lot of cash into the experiment. Zane is one of our people and he has a special price on entry-level scooters for people who use the magic words – Sustainable Transport Club. When you use these words here is what you get: 600 watt electric moped/scooter with a $300 discount. These scooters are normally $1495 and you still get the 6-month warranty (3 on the batteries) and pay $1195 when you know the magic words. Why would you want to do this! They are fun – they run errands really well – they can handle short commutes. They will let you learn to ride safely and get going with this new technology. These are a great way to try out using this technology. They are good little bikes that can solve a specific part of the sustainable issue. They solve the cold start problem for local trips. Cars run cold for the first few miles of every day. That is when they use the most gas and create the worst pollution. Using a scooter like these will let you run local errands with zero emissions. I have three bikes and the one closest to these is great for trips to the farmers market, the cleaners, Trader Joes, the local coffee house and local restaurants. You can put one bag of groceries on the back, one between your feet and a third in your backpack if needed. There is a special technique for picking up your dry cleaning – call me! I could use this for my commute as I live near my work. This is a good starter bike. When you decide you want more power and range that is available also. My starter bike is my back up for my bigger bikes for when I forget to charge or I am waiting for a part. At this price there is no excuse for polluting your own neighborhood with cold start trips. Call Zane 310-425-4051 or email zanehcb@gmail.com I will do my part on this and give the first three Club members who do this a free rider training and safety training session. The Club is not receiving any direct benefit from this except to support one of its own and to get you started. We want you to keep going and ride safe. |
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Maps for Plug in Vehicles The St. Patty's day meeting of the Sustainable Transportation Club had someone asking if there was a map of plug in locations around LA for electric vehicles. Terry Connor, continued to ask and Dency Nelson of Plug in America provided the answer. Here are the links
http://www.cleanfuelconnection.com/
Check out the maps and see just how far you can get with your EV’s
Feel free to contact Terry for more info. Terry Conner - Your Environmentally Friendly Farmers Agent (310) 365-6073 Cell (310) 370-6965 Office |
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Test results on Silicon Batteries One and a half years of testing has been completed on the
new Silicon batteries from China. Here is a summary of the results. The tests
have been with the Green Saver Brand. The scooters that are coming in with these should still be worthwhile and there are replacement batteries you can use now. The other thing that is happening is that lithium batteries are coming down in price and are being tested by several people for use in these scooters. There is also at least one nickel metal Hydrid battery company that is interested in creating packs for this application. There is a good chance one or both of these options will be available when current Silicon batteries have run their course. Lithium batteries should get these bikes up to the fifty-mile range factor that will really make a difference. |
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Getting your
Sustainable Ride EVT Z20 is about to
become reality and prices will change soon. This is probably the best deal on a truly street worth scooter out there. These bikes have not been tested or even seen by us but the specifications are as good as they get and the price is better than most. This company has been working hard to get this bike street legal for over two years and the company is one of the oldest and well established around. They are in Florida but the price might make that all right. Here is what they have to say: The Z-20/R-20 Waiting List
Registration will be officially closed on August 31, 2007. On this date
prices for all our models will change to the normal selling price announced
some time ago of $2,499.00. If you have registered before the
waiting list is closed, we will honor the introductory price package offered
for two months after said closing date. Past that date the introductory price
benefit for those registered will end. As of August
31,2007 if you have not already sent in your deposit and model preference and
color choice you will have until October 31,2007 to still do so at our
introductory price of $1,999.00 plus the cost of shipping (Introductory Price
Package for both Z-20 models include windshield and trunk assembly kit
at this price). The Waiting List
Registration closes on August 31, 2007. You will no longer be able to
register after this date and the price will be raised to $2,499.00. If by
10/31/07 you have not sent in your deposit you will lose your option to
purchase at the Introductory Price offered. Please do yourself a favor and take advantage
of our special offer and send your deposits ASAP and be part of EVTAMERICA
revolutionary world of electric transportation. CLICK HERE TO SEE AND PRINT DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND CONFIRM THE PURCHASE
OF YOUR Z-20 or R-20 ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE. CONFIRMING YOUR PURCHASE MEANS PROCEEDING
TO PURCHASE OR INITIATING YOUR PURCHASE WITH A DEPOSIT. PRICE UPDATE On September 1, 2007 new prices will be updated on our website www.evtamerica.com. If you had the foresight and the interest to register
and be a member of the "Z-20/R-20 Waiting List Club" you must have
done so to benefit from the Introductory Price Package offered and to be
the first to own an EVTAMERICA electric motorcycle. At this moment your whole purpose of registering can
be activated by you if you initiate your purchase with a DEPOSIT. Our projected schedule is in place and shipping will start by
the end of the month. Actual delivery to those that have confirmed their
purchase with a deposit will take place starting in September. We will be
contacting each and every buyer before we execute home deliveries. If we
can not contact you because of an unforeseen absence, we will hold
your motorcycle until we can contact you and you can confirm that
we can proceed to deliver. The time for you to take action is now. The Future is Now! http://www.evtamerica.com/sco_z20.asp?ID=1 |
Getting your Sustainable Ride Blue Tech Diesels Expected Fourth Quarter by Order Only A club member who works at Simonson Motors - Mercedes Benz just called with the good news. Blue Tech Diesels are expected to start selling in the fourth quarter of this year. This is a limited supply situation and they will not be stocked at first. They will be brought in to fill orders. Contact Brian at 310-586-5254 and use magic word of Sustainable transport Club to get the inside scoop. |
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Legislative Action Alert Plug in America is working hard to get Federal Legislation
passed to support clean electricity and electric vehicles. Here is a recent
letter about such legislation. You may want to get on their mailing list
directly so you can get these notices in a timelier manner. Use the active
links in the letter to contact them. Dear Plug in America Supporters We need your help - it is time for action! Plug-in cars are much
cleaner than petroleum cars even on today's electric grid. However, Plug In America wants to see the cleanest, most renewable
grid possible so plug-in cars can be totally zero-emission vehicles. Support
cleaner power for cleaner cars by signing the MoveOn petition, adding a comment supporting electric
cars and plug-in hybrids, and telling them Plug In America sent you. Bring on solar and wind |
Legislative Actions
Getting School Buses Healthier with BioDiesel - SB70 This bill needs support and attention to get Scholl buses healthier. There are lots of programs to get buses converted over to using Natural Gas (CNG and LNG). While this gets very clean exhaust it is not a renewable fuel. The conversions are also very expensive and are taking time. Biodiesel would cost a fraction and can be implemented very rapidly. Click here for a discussion about why this would be good. Here is information about the bill. Please contact your state representatives to encourage their support. SB 70 is about using biodiesel in school buses (the following is right from the bill -- including any and all typos):
This bill would authorize school districts to use a
biodiesel fuel
Article 5. Schoolbus Fuel |
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Please sign up to receive this newsletter by going to www.sustainableclub.org or call 310-450-7419 or by emailing to main@sustainableclub.org We also have a group discussion area at http://groups.google.com/group/sustainableclub?lnk=srg Anyone wishing to be removed from this mailing list just hit reply and put the word remove at the top of your response. Speakers Press produces this newsletter for the Sustainable Transport Club. You are encouraged to contribute articles that support developing sustainable transportation. Authors contribute electronic first serial rights only and retain all other rights. Copyright Speakers Press April 2007. All rights reserved. You are authorized to electronically forward all or part provided this copyright notice is included. Except as noted above. |