Mr. Wilson goes to Washington

I plan to attend the public hearing, "Quiet Cars Notice of Public Meeting and Request for Comments" ([Docket No. NHTSA–2008–0108]), on Monday, June 23. Government works best when citizens participate and let our voices be known and I'd like to meet our honorable competition. But since I'll be in the DC area, I am inviting hybrid enthusiasts in the Northern Virginia and Maryland area to a couple of 'git togethers.'

We'll be driving up from Huntsville experimenting with flat-towing our Prius and I'll bring some Prius stuff I've been working on to share at the meetings:

1. NHW11 battery refurbishment - example modules and an RC charger. We'll actually go through the steps.
2. General data recording and reporting using a Graham scanner and software. How to approach data plotting.
3. Flat-towing Prius results.
4. Prius inverter installation and operation.
5. Hybrid advocacy for HR 5734 "Bell the Hybrid" materials and suggestions.
6. Local club activities, if anyone shows up or there is any interest.
7. Anything folks want to bring up.

Wear comfortable clothes and we'll have a grand time. If you have stuff to share, bring it along. Think of it as a chance to 'talk hybrid shop' and have some fun:

• Saturday, June 21, 10:00 PM - late, Sweet Water Microbrewers, 3066 Gatehouse Plaza, Merryfield VA (just off Rt 50 and outside the beltway.) I've reserved space for 20. If the traditional afternoon showers clear out the patio (bring a towel and skeeter repellant,) we'll probably have that space. Good food, moderate prices, and great beverages. (RSVP via PM)
• Sunday, June 22, 8:00 PM - The Dancing Crab, 4615 Wisconsin Ave. I've also asked for space for 20. All you can eat crabs, ~$40, and adding all you can drink beverages (bring a driver,) ~$60. (RSVP via PM)
• Monday, June 23, Quiet Car hearing, Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001.
• Tuesday, June 24, visit the offices of Rep. Bud Cramer, Sen. Shelby and Sen. Sessions with HR 5734 advocacy materials. I'll also drop by Rep, Artur Davis, one of the most articulate, well spoken members of the Alabama delegation.

I tend to hang out at PriusChat, GreenHybrid and the YahooGroup "Prius Technical Stuff" so feel free to share this with other hybrid owners and enthusiasts in the area and forums. I would especially like to know Pat Goss and his team get an invitation as well as any clue-full hybrid dealers. Let's make this a hybrid blow-out.

Bob Wilson

 

Hi Roy,

No problem, I've lived in that area before and know the drill. As for your battery problems, let's take that to the technical forum.

Bob Wilson

 

My letter to the NHTSA per Docket NHTSA-2008-0108:

June 10, 2008


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Docket No. NHTSA-2008-0108
Debbie Ascone
202-366-4383
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
Washington DC, 20590


Dear Debbie,

As CEO of a small, Alabama corporation, 625k Inc., I have insights to share from an industry perspective and potential solutions for the Quiet Cars hearing. Incorporated in 2007, 625k Inc. supports research and services to extend the operational life of hybrid electric cars to 625,000 miles (1 million kilometers.) We do this by after market engineering and technical services to find cost-effective refurbishment, maintenance, repair and enhancements of hybrid vehicle systems:

• Lubrication practices - identify non-engine lubrication practices to reduce wear and drag. For example, early testing and replacement of transaxle oil in Prius hybrids.
• Maintenance practices - identify and apply advanced maintenance schedules to avoid vehicle problems such as an annual throttle body cleaning instead of waiting for an engine that fails to start, a systemic problem.
• Refurbishment of parts - rather than replacing an expensive accelerator or other positioning assemblies, clean the contacts and reseal.
• Battery refurbishment - development of user-safe, battery module, refurbishment that reduces the cost to less than $400 and can be done by hybrid owners.
• Fuel saving control systems - automating vehicle control operation to further reduce fuel burn and improve efficiency while letting the operator keep their attention on traffic.
• Expanded functionality - adding 120 VAC inverter systems to provide emergency power during outages.

I understand the speakers to the hearing are by invitation but I plan to attend the Monday, June 23 hearing. On Saturday and Sunday, I hope to meet with Northern Virginia and Maryland hybrid owners to share my advocacy information, the facts and data, about this issue as well as owner, hybrid technology. On Tuesday morning, June 24, I will visit the DC offices of Alabama Senators, Shelby and Sessions, and retiring Congressman Bud Cramer as well as Rep. Autur Davis of Alabama and leave my advocacy packages with them.

One of the stated goals of this hearing is "to bring together government policymakers, stakeholders from the blind community, industry representatives and public interest groups to discuss the safety of blind pedestrians encountering quiet cars including hybrids, ..." For several months I was a member of the Quiet Cars mailing list to make sure I understood the nature of the problem. But when I tried to discuss with the membership some of the facts and data, I found the administrators removed my ability to speak and lately, the list has become quiet. If this hearing opens up their ears so we can have a dialog that would be a good thing. But so far, it appears the blind who administer that e-mail list are deaf to any other points of view and therefore we must go to public forums for debate instead of seeking a consensus.

I applaud the pedestrian and cyclists safety goals of these rules but find the solution proposed in HR 5734 to be too narrow in scope with questionable facts and data and marginal implementation. My written statements and backup materials will follow but the principle problems are:

• Concentration on just noise makers on hybrid cars makes them just as deadly as today's vehicles that kill 5,000 pedestrians and cyclists per year. It would be a terrible tragedy if the last thing someone heard was a mandated noise maker.
• Consumer resistance for an expensive modification to older hybrids that provides no benefit to the buyer. The terms "unfunded mandate" apply since states would be required to implement what appears to be a marginal solution to an anecdotal problem.
• Absence of a wave of hybrid-pedestrian accidents but we can read out news reports of actual pedestrian deaths that far exceed the problems of the blind by two orders of magnitude, over 100 times. Yet the proposed noise makers ignore significant, electronic advances that could save thousands of lives, not just the blind in a narrowly defined environment.
• Potential to start the "smart highway," by opening up the solution set to electronic technology, a wireless with a built-in GPS or positioning information could not only give the blind accurate approach and velocity information but also warn the hybrid drivers of this special hazard. But more importantly, this is the way to bootstrap the "smart highway" and make a significant savings not only in pedestrian and cyclist accidents but vehicle accidents.
• HR 5734 rewrite to open the solution set. We agree with the goals but the mandated solution, noise makers, is wrong in so many ways and I will be working vigorously to fix or kill the "Bell the Hybrid" Act. It can and should be fixed but as written today, it so fails on 'common sense' that people break out laughing when they hear it described.

If invited to speak as either a member of industry or potential solutions, I will provide my materials on Monday June 16. But I will need to know by Friday, June 13, if an invitation will be coming. As just a 'member of the public,' Tuesday, June 24 will be soon enough for my materials and I'll leave a hardcopy package in the hearing "In" box.




Robert J. Wilson
CEO 625k Inc. of Alabama
...
Huntsville, AL 35802
256-... (cell)
-----

I'm also sending a copy of this note to C-SPAN in the off chance that they may want 'another point of view.'

Bob Wilson

 

Thanks Doug,

I did get a reply:

On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 6:53 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
Mr. Wilson,
We have already invited our speakers for the meeting, but we welcome your participation during the open floor discussions. Since this issue is relatively new, we are trying to allow individuals and organizations an opportunity to speak about the issues. We are limiting our formal presentations so that we have plenty of time for open discussion.
Thank you for your interest in the subject and we will see you on the 23rd.
Debbie



Hi Debbie,

Thank you for the reply even though it does not meet my expectations. From what I can tell, everyone was invited except actual hybrid vehicle owners, the ones expected to pay for the proposed noise makers. Sad to say, that seems to be the unfair practice that characterizes the "Quiet Car" initiative.

I plan to attend the hearings and will leave my package with you' all at the hearing. I'll also visit the Alabama Congressional offices and hopefully you won't mind if I share your note with them since it clearly demonstrates the legislative problem.

Bob Wilson
​

I had suspected this was a 'done deal' and based upon the conversation I had with Debbie last week, figured that train had already left the station. That is why petitioning our government is more important than ever.

At this late date, the strongest argument we have is the missing 'stake holders,' the hybrid electric owners. But we have one advantage, it is an election year and we can address the problems with this bill with facts and data.

Bob Wilson

​

 

Hey folks,

I've only heard from one person and that was more along the lines of a place to crash while in DC. I need to know by Wednesday to update the reservations. On Thursday it is packing and getting everything ready and Friday begins the long haul to DC:

Thanks,
Bob Wilson

 

Hi Folks,

It looks like my wife won't be able to join me on this trip so I'll drive up Sunday, sleep-over, attend the hearings, and drive back Monday evening. I can't sentence her to two weeks confinement to an RV without knowing she has proper medical support ... just one of those things.

I will be at the hearing Monday morning, bright eyed and try to MP3 record the session. I'll also ask a few questions and then visit the Alabama delegation offices.

Sometimes, you have to adjust the plan. My wife will be fine but taking her on a two week vacation concurrent with this DC visit just isn't in the cards. <dang it!>

Bob Wilson

ps. I would be interested in a comfortable couch instead of paying as much for a motel room as the total gas bill for the trip. Send a PM and 'bread and butter gifts' are one of our better Southern traditions.