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Capital Times Article 3 |
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A fuel savers' dream: Hybridfest plugged in with county fair
Hybridfest
charged up for second year
The Capital Times : E1
Thursday, June
28, 2007
By Jeff Richgels
The Capital Times
Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles will be the focus of the
second annual Hybridfest, which again is being held in
conjunction with the Dane County Fair.
In Madison, where it's hard to go
three blocks without seeing a Toyota Prius, Hybridfest is an
even bigger event in its second year.
Thanks to their extra batteries, plug-ins can travel up
to about 40 miles per day solely on electric power, enabling
those who don't drive much to all but forget filling up
their gas tank. (Non plug-in hybrids charge while the car is
decelerating and at a stop.)
Plug-ins do draw power from power plants, but that
results in less greenhouse gas emissions than from direct
burning of gasoline. And since the charging typically is
done at night when power demand is well below day-time
peaks, a big jump in plug-in use wouldn't mean a need for
new power plants.
Eric Powers, founder of the Madison Hybrid Group and an
organizer of Hybridfest, sees plug-in hybrids as a bridge to
the future of all electric or hydrogen vehicles.
"I think it really is the next progression" in vehicle
technology, Powers said. "In my opinion, people will think,
Gosh, I'm driving so much on the electric, why am I also
lugging around this gasoline engine?' "
Companies sell conversion kits to turn regular hybrids
into plug-ins, and Toyota and General Motors are embracing
the technology. However, conversions are costly, and
automakers need to improve the technology before it can come
close to being mainstream.
Hybridfest, which will be two days (July 21-22) this year
after just one day last year, is expected to feature the
largest gathering of plug-in hybrids ever, Powers said.
He said he has received tentative confirmation that
Wisconsin Public Power Inc. will convert one of its Priuses
into a plug-in at Hybridfest on July 22.
Located last year outside the fairgrounds in the south
parking lot by the Rusk Street entrance, Hybridfest this
year is moving into the Alliant Energy Center Exhibition
Hall on the fairgrounds.
That means it no longer will be free -- admission is $6
for adults -- but there are added benefits.
"It makes a lot of sense," Powers said. "Where we were
located last year, although it was nice, we still were kind
of off the beaten path. There may have been people going to
the fair who walked right by it not realizing what was going
on. And the reality is, sponsors want to bring in big items
and they want power. We couldn't get power out there last
year."
In addition to more hybrids, Hybridfest also will feature
biodiesel vehicles, electric bikes and neighborhood electric
vehicles, as well as free hybrid test drives, Powers said.
All seminars are open to the public and there will be
larger displays. Details are available at www.hybridfest.com.
And Toyota will be sending its "Highway to the Future,"
which Powers calls a "semi that's really a traveling museum"
of hybrid technology, alternative fuels and the environment.
For details, go to
www.highwaytothefuture.com.
With the move to the fairgrounds and increased interest
in hybrids as gasoline costs remain high, Powers expects
Hybridfest attendance to dwarf last year's.
"I think hybrid interest has only grown," he said, "and
we still year after year answer the same questions: Do you
have to plug-in regular hybrids? Are they underpowered? Can
I go 55 in them? How often do you have to replace the
battery? And that's really the point of the show: Come and
learn more about it so that we can get rid of those myths."
People who pay $30 to become Hybridfest members -- there
is a link on the Hybridfest Web site -- can attend a
half-day of activities just for members.
And there will be a "Hot Rods and Hybrids" event open to
the public on July 20 from 5-9 p.m. at Quaker Steak and Lube
in Middleton.
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