Here is a presentation and discussion the state is sponsoring about
electric vehicles if you are interested.

Carl
The Electric Vehicle Store
www.pluginmn.com


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: *Sen.Scott Dibble* <Sen.Scott.Dibble@...
<mailto:Sen.Scott.Dibble@...>>
Date: Wed, Dec 3, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Subject: 12/10/08: Building an Electric Car Future: Technology,
Infrastructure and Policy
To: Michael Shmagin <Michael.Shmagin@...
<mailto:Michael.Shmagin@...>>, "Sen.Scott Dibble"
<Sen.Scott.Dibble@... <mailto:Sen.Scott.Dibble@...>>


Dear friend,

We are writing to invite your participation in a forum to discuss
strategies to advance wide scale adoption of electric car technology and
supporting infrastructure in Minnesota.

During the 2009 legislative session, we will be advancing legislation to
help Minnesota begin the transition to electrify our transportation
system. To that end, we are organizing a forum titled, " Building an
Electric Car Future: Technology, Infrastructure and Policy ." The forum
will be convened by Steve Kelley, Director of the Center for Science,
Technology and Public Policy. The forum will include a presentation by
the Center for Transportation Studies of their recently published report
titled "Transportation Policy and Technology Options to Reduce
Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Minnesota," a presentation on the current
state of electric vehicle technology also from U of M faculty, and a
discussion of electric vehicle infrastructure with representatives of
Better Place, a California firm exploring models to bring electric cars
to market. We will present a potential policy framework for the future
followed by an opportunity for discussion and questions. We hope you
will join with us and other leaders from state and local government, the
University of Minnesota, business, labor, and non-profit organizations
interested in building a transportation system that lessens our
dependence on foreign oil and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

We recently had the opportunity to visit Better Place, a Silicon Valley
based company that has devised innovative market solutions to the
barriers that prevent wider acceptance of electric vehicles. Better
Places business model overcomes consumers legitimate predicament with
the performance, costs and confidence problems electric cars have.
Delinking the battery from vehicle purchase cost, lower vehicle
operating costs, ready access to fully charged batteries and charging
sources, taking advantage of "smart grid" technology, use of renewable
sources of energy are among an array of inventive concepts. Along with
advances in biofuel technology, electrification of our transportation
sector accomplishes two important goals: reducing our dependence on
foreign oil and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Better Place is already positioned to assist Israel to transition
entirely to all electric vehicles by 2015. In California, the company
launched a $1 billion plan for private and public investments to support
electric car infrastructure in the Bay Area and along other
transportation corridors in the state. Other states are actively
planning for the future.

The forum is sponsored by the Center for Science, Technology and Public
Policy at the Humphrey Institute and the University of Minnesota Center
for Transportation Studies.

Wednesday, December 10 at 9:00 a.m.
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Room 180, 301 19th Ave.
S., Minneapolis
Please rsvp to cstpp@... <mailto:cstpp@...>

This is an exciting undertaking and we look forward to working with you
on strategies to bring innovative ideas for a better transportation and
environmental future to Minnesota.

Very truly yours,

Frank Hornstein, State Representative, District 60B
D. Scott Dibble, State Senator, District 60



D. Scott Dibble
State Senator-District 60
State Capitol, Room 111
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4191
www.senate.mn/senatordibble <http://www.senate.mn/senatordibble>
fax: 651-225-7575



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