PluginCenter.com is the official website for Advanced Vehicle Innovations (AVI). The AVI Consortium was conceived by the Port of Chelan County in 2005 to establish North Central Washington as a catalyst and center for development, demonstrations, and deployment of flex-fuel plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. These are vehicles propelled by a combination of electricity-from-the-grid and bio-fuels (i.e., bio-diesel, ethanol). 

Note: These are hybrid autos (like the Prius and Ford Escape) that have additional batteries that can be recharged by plugging them into an electric outlet. The extra batteries allow the hybrid car to travel a longer distance solely on battery power, while still allowing it to operate as a normal hybrid car whenever necessary. The internal combustion engines of these vehicles can be built to accommodate bio-fuels (i.e., bio-diesel or ethanol) as well as petroleum fuels (diesel or gas).

Contents

• Highlights of AVI Accomplishments – Year 1
• AVI Goal
• AVI Objectives
• AVI Action Plan - highlights
• Phases of Action Plan – summary
• Why North Central Washington?
• National significance and support
• Role for Washington State?

Highlights of AVI Accomplishments - Year 1

• The AVI Consortium has formulated a Mission Statement, Goals, and Action Plan.  Regular monthly meetings of the AVI Steering Committee continue to refine and implement the Action Plan. 
• The AVI Tech Group meets monthly and recently participated in the conversion of a Toyota Prius into a plug-in vehicle.  
• Fundraising efforts on behalf of the Lake Chelan School District’s effort to purchase a bio-diesel fueled plug-in hybrid electric school bus. 
• A tabletop exhibit has been designed and assembled for display at conferences, events, and service club presentations.
• A series of electronic slide show presentations about the AVI and the technology has been prepared for educational purposes.
• Approximately 12 presentations about plug-ins and the AVI have been delivered to organizations throughout Washington, ranging from the WA Transportation Commission to the Northwest Public Power Association.
• Convened the first AVI Summit in 2005 in Wenatchee, featuring national leaders in technology and advocacy for plug-in hybrid technology. Today the summit is called the Power UP! Electrifying Transportation Summit.
• Led a delegation of Community College leaders on a tour of the Center for Hybrid Excellence at the University of California at Davis and a meeting with Prof. Andy Frank, “Father of the Modern Plug-in Hybrid Electric” car.
• Secured resolutions from the Chelan County Port District, City of Wenatchee, Wenatchee Valley Transportation Council, and Chelan County supporting the AVI mission and registration as founders of the launch of the Plug-in Partners national campaign .
• Publication of a newsletter.

Goal

To establish North Central Washington as a center for flex-fuel plug-in hybrid electric vehicles providing:

• Vehicle demonstrations and exhibits
• Test-beds and partnerships for prototype vehicles, components, and grid-ties
• Component design, research, and manufacturing facilities
• Opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors
• Market research, development, and deployment
• Education and training
• A virtual information center and clearinghouse for advanced vehicle development in Washington
• Consolidator for vehicle purchases / conversions
• Opportunities for participation in development of a statewide plan for investment in flex-fuel plug-in hybrid technologies

Objectives

The longer-term objectives of the initiative are to:

1. Lower long-term operating costs for public and private transportation within the region
2. Reduce the leakage of transportation-fuel dollars from the region
3. Insulate the local economy from unstable fuels prices by increasing our level of  energy independence
4. Serve as a model for other rural and micropolitan areas in Washington State and the nation  

The short-term objectives of the initiative are to:

1. Provide opportunities for training/certification of youth and automotive technicians in a variety of advanced vehicle motive systems (i.e., hybrids,
2. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles, electric vehicles) and fuels (i.e., batteries/electricity; bio-diesel; ethanol; hydrogen)
3. Generate new opportunities for business expansion, startups, and recruitment
4. Create new jobs
5. Generate high-profile events, conferences, and educational programs that will provide business activity for the visitor and convention business, lodgings, and dining facilities
6. Test the market appeal and economics of utilizing advanced (clean, renewable fueled) vehicles as transport for visitors/tourists/conference attendees
7. Deploy, test, and evaluate the performance and economics of advanced vehicles and fuels in regional fleets – public and private

Action Plan (highlights)

• Provide access, updates, and evaluations to research and developments in alternative fuel and plug-in technologies
• Convert standard hybrid vehicles and/or electric vehicles to PHEVs for demonstration and training purposes
• Purchase manufactured PHEVs for use in local fleets
• Test and evaluate PHEVs and other advanced vehicles
• Coordinate agency involvement with alternative vehicles throughout region
• Generate business opportunities associated with alternative vehicles:
  • component design and manufacturing, battery technology, battery management systems, conversion kit manufacturing, biofuel research and development, biofuel processing, etc.
• Develop curriculum and train technicians to work on PHEVs
• Create mobile exhibit for alternative vehicle technologies
• Sponsor conferences and educational programs focusing on alternative vehicles
• Showcase converted PHEVs at regional and statewide renewable energy events
• Feature alternative vehicles in high-profile local festivals and events
• Network with national organizations centered around alternative vehicles
• Create and maintain virtual information center

Phases of Action Plan Implementation

Phase I

• Convert an assortment of standard vehicles into PHEVs for demonstration and training purposes.
• Purchase professionally manufactured PHEVs for integration into local fleets and for demo purposes
• Incorporate the above vehicles into a mobile exhibit

Phase II

Leverage Chelan County’s reputation and attraction as a visitor destination and conference center to provide a fully experiential showcase for advanced vehicles; and integrating demonstration experiences with the existing tourism industry (e.g., airport-to-hotel transport; taxi services; river rafting shuttles; winery and agricultural tours) 

Phase III

Nurture entrepreneurial development within identified niches for:

• component manufacturing
• specialty vehicle conversions
• stationary power plants
• alternative fuels production
• marine/boat applications
• vehicle-to-grid and grid-to-vehicle interface
• agricultural equipment 

National significance and support for  flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicle technology

Bio-fueled plug-in hybrids offer the promise of reducing – even eliminating – our dependence on fossil fuels for most of our vehicles.   Studies suggest that widespread adoption of flex-fuel plug-ins could restore U.S. energy security; stabilize fuel costs; dramatically reduce toxic emissions; offer efficiencies to utilities and the grid; and generate myriad opportunities for new business development and job creation. 

These benefits are the reasons why plug-in hybrid technology, especially when coupled with bio-fuels, are enjoying a phenomenal groundswell of attention, support, and investment from diverse sectors such as venture and angel investors, research institutes, national labs, utilities, local governments, fleet operators, security hawks, environmental groups, engineering societies, and state and national policy leaders – including the President, Senators, Congressmen, and Governors.  Major newspapers, radio programs, websites and magazines have publicized PHEVs.  A recent Internet search with the key words “plug-in hybrid vehicle” yielded 1,400,000 results; key words “flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicle” yielded 56,900 results.

A role for Washington State?  

Washington is uniquely suited to play a leading role in this rapidly evolving vehicular propulsion technology:

• The State’s robust hydroelectric generating capacity, emerging solar and wind projects, and statewide investments in biodiesel and ethanol production can provide the fuels for powering our vehicles. 
• Washington companies with expertise in power management, advanced materials, electronics, software, and bio-fuels could be play key roles in developing prototype vehicles, conversion kits, fuels, grid-tie systems, components and accessories for bio-fueled plug-in vehicles.  
• Several Community Colleges in the State (most notably, Wenatchee Valley College) are exploring the development of curriculums and programs to train technicians in the technologies associated with these vehicles.
• Universities and research labs in Washington are already engaged in some research and development activities related to plug-in and bio-fuel technologies
• The angel and venture capital markets in the State are healthy, informed, and robust.  The synergy of plug-in and bio-fuel technology convergence portend an upside potential that is becoming increasingly attractive to investors. 

The AVI Consortium members and associates are committed to building strategic partnerships with private and public organizations throughout the State to coordinate policy development, organize flex-fuel plug-in vehicle buyer’s consortiums, identify research needs, and design and execute demonstration projects.  In addition to several evolving strategic partnerships across the State, the AVI is participating in efforts with the  Electrify Transportation Working Group to address the challenges and opportunities for a coordinated statewide approach for involvement in flex-fuel plug-in hybrid vehicle technologies.