[ausev] Why are converted vehicles excluded from this list?

[Brian Lasseter]

I think this is an excellent step.  No highway capable vehicles are on
the list, but at least the door is open.  With the door open for
rebates, we now have an excellent focal point for lobbying.

The most positive aspect of this whole thing is that the bottom of the
list says "All vehicle models are subject to change at any time,
without notice" -- We just have to figure out who can change the
vehicle model list, and have them do it.  I have just finished months
of wrangling with the Austin Energy legal department about some solar
panels.  They are good people, they want to help.  They are just
understaffed, and sometimes uninformed.


Beyond a petition... Maybe staging an event would help... A local
electric car rally of sorts?
1.  Find out who is behind the rules, make the event happen near or at
their offices.  (Maybe over lunch?)
2.  Timing of the event would be critical... we want press and policy
makers there, but getting EVs to show on a week day would be iffy.  On
a Saturday we could get EVs, but getting policy makers might be
difficult.
3.  Bring out a large cross-section of Austin electric vehicles to
show policy makers.
4.  Invite the press... The combination of freeway capable electric
cars, and a new city initiative to provide rebates for some electric
cars is sure to get some local press to appear.


I'll obviously be happy to sign any petition, and I'd be happy to help
organize a rally... but we would need Austin EV club support, and we
would need to figure out who the important people we want to influence
are.


On 4/3/07, Aaron Choate <achoate at gmail.com> wrote:
> The details of a rebate program from Austin Energy have been released.  Why
> aren't conversions listed?  Who put this list together?  What kind of active
> do we need to be so that the home builder/conversion buyer is no longer
> excluded from these opportunities?  If a conversion is professionally done
> or recently done, why shouldn't it too be included?
>
> While I appreciate that the rebates are being offered and it is a step
> forward...  this cuts out a significant group of EV drivers.  Do we need to
> be writing to council?  Are they informed?  Does it matter?  Obviously the
> exposure that we have had to Austin Energy staff/ Renewable Energy Roundup
> folk is of little to no value.  Where do we need to be focusing our efforts?
>
> <http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/cleancities/evrguidelines.htm>


-- 
TTFN,
Brian "Lasso" Lasseter

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