Alternative Energy Transportation Festival

Actually, it was two years ago. My concern for this year is that
Altwheels seems to be shedding the already small techie emphasis it
had, and going to more of a "festival" theme with jumbotrons, clowns,
parades, and big weird decorations on City Hall Plaza. Other than
being another warm body to carry stuff, I'm not sure where I'm going
to fit in this year.
.
_H*

 

You get the booth, and I'll help man it. Anyone else from N.E. want to join in?

 

Once you're on the plaza, I'm sure you could advocate any or all
online groups you wanted. In fact by handing out web pointer flyers,
I more or less do just that since the "linkfarm" lists a bunch of
the higher profile places.
.
Given that I haven't heard squat about what Altwheels itself might
want me to do this year, put me down as a strongish maybe, with or
without my car but definitely able to do EV and EBH installs.
Come up with some sunlight-visible way to display video and we can
run my "prius porn" loop in the booth. Mrbigh lashed up a flatscreen
under his tent at Hybridfest to run his slideshow, and it was
surprisingly bright. Ran off the car via an inverter all day.
.
_H*

 

You left one out:
.
Doug Hartley is working to push transportation more in the direction
of electric overall, by designing plug-in energy storage to assist
hybrids or complete electric conversions of gas vehicles with
optional onboard "series hybrid" range extenders. He makes his own
electronic components if they don't already exist, and knows where
to obtain suitable batteries, contactors, and other parts.
.
...
.
That said, I want to make a small appeal to the local community. An
opportunity to borrow a decent size and very *bright* flatscreen
monitor, to run a slideshow on at the show, has fallen through, and
if anyone from the Boston area could loan us one for that weekend
[and possibly even the weekend before, when I go to the PA energy
fest] that would be awesome. 17 inch or bigger would probably
suffice -- it's just that the laptop itself just can't crank the
lumens to be visible with ambient daylight around [even if you try
to shroud it]. So I'd love to borrow one or maybe even just be
pointed at where to get good cheap deals on basic 1024x768-capable
units to buy.
.
Also see this thread about volunteering to help on the overall show!
.
_H*

 

You left one out:
.
Doug Hartley is working to push transportation more in the direction
of electric overall, by designing plug-in energy storage to assist
hybrids or complete electric conversions of gas vehicles with
optional onboard "series hybrid" range extenders. He makes his own
electronic components if they don't already exist, and knows where
to obtain suitable batteries, contactors, and other parts.
.
...
.
That said, I want to make a small appeal to the local community. An
opportunity to borrow a decent size and very *bright* flatscreen
monitor, to run a slideshow on at the show, has fallen through, and
if anyone from the Boston area could loan us one for that weekend
[and possibly even the weekend before, when I go to the PA energy
fest] that would be awesome. 17 inch or bigger would probably
suffice -- it's just that the laptop itself just can't crank the
lumens to be visible with ambient daylight around [even if you try
to shroud it]. So I'd love to borrow one or maybe even just be
pointed at where to get good cheap deals on basic 1024x768-capable
units to buy.
.
Also see this thread about volunteering to help on the overall show!
.
_H*

 

I met some of these people at their booth on Sunday (different event in Boston) and I told them I would post here to help raise awareness and I see this thread is already here.

They are very nice and the AltWheels.org event this weekend sounds like it will be a blast!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rand Reed @ Sep 25 2007, 10:05 AM) [snapback]517374[/snapback]</div>

I took the trip into Boston to the Alternative Energy Transportation Festival, Friday afternoon.
The weather was perfect, it was a wonderful day to be outside.
I got to meet and talk to other Prius owners that post here on here (PriusChat). In their tent they had 4 Prius:

. Zhang Heng, “United Federation of Planets†Willie Yee car (complete with Star Track sounds effects),
. A 2001 Prius sedan, with 330,000 miles and still running strong.
. Douglas Hartley from Montreal, with his modified Prius to run off 6 batteries and can be plugged in to get charged.
. Modified Honda, hybrid with a 5th wheel added that runs off battery power.
. Prius part table, complete with electric drive motor (MG2) and circuit boards.
. Hobbit’s Prius with lots of nice options along with “Prius tech stuff†handouts with websites addresses.

There was also Prius getting 100 mpg Plus, that also plugs in.
Lots of other tents, displays and companies, they even had a wind turbine set up in the middle of Government center.
Volkswagen had 4 Diesel cars that will be on the market spring of 2008. They also had a 1977 Diesel Rabbit on display. They have made significant improvements diesel technology, and clean diesel fuel (TDI).
I’m sure I’m forgetting lots more. Anyone from our list drop by on Saturday, Sept. 29?
I enjoyed my visit and thank you to all of you who help make it happen.
Melody

 

Yes, AltWheels was great. I was there on Saturday all day for my work - the Boston Public Health Commission. I got to brag a bit about the CleanAir CABS program (encouraging taxi companies to purchase and use hybrid cars instead of Crown Vics) that our office helped launch. We had one on the road last year and 23 on the road now and growing.


It was great to stop by the tent and watch Hobbit putting a block heater into the United Federation of Planets Prius and see all the other great tech mods on display by owners who love their cars. I was a little disappointed that this part of the event seems to be smaller this year than in the past with more manufacturers taking up the remaining space, but I guess that's who pays the bills for the event and it is good to encourage business and municipal fleets to switch over en mass.

I'm horribly sunburned after spending 8 hours on City Hall Plaza, but it was a fun time catching up with folks I only see during AltWheels anymore. If you haven't met him yet, Gilles Labelle of Westboro Toyota's Hybrid Center (and Energy Freedom Fighters) is a kick in person.

Good times.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(snakeman @ Oct 2 2007, 04:35 PM) [snapback]520493[/snapback]</div>

Was Gilles Labelle at the AltWheels fest on Saturday?
I have an offer from him to meet with him for a mini class on driving my new Pruis to get higher MPG.
I find this amazing because I didn't even buy my car from him. Just talk to him on the phone. He told me he is known as "Co2 Terminator" and he gave me his website: http://www.hybridcenterma.org/m which is how I found this list. His involvement with MIT zero energy project, they are building a house on MIT campus, that stores engery.
Niecy, It was great to meet you at the fest, did you also get sunburn from volunteering at the fest? Want to join me for Gilles mini class?
Melody

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mel in Mass @ Oct 3 2007, 12:46 PM) [snapback]520655[/snapback]</div>

Hi Melody,

Yes, Gilles was there and he's a great guy. I've "almost bought" a Prius from him twice now - he's had to refund deposits twice - and he's very cool about it. The guy is just so into the technology and the science/politics of the whole thing that it's all good. He was all dressed up in costume at AltWheels and seemed to be carrying on 6 conversations at once about energy conservation, global warming, the Prius, and all his different projects and news clippings. I really don't know where he gets the energy. Must the be regenerative braking.....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mel in Mass @ Oct 3 2007, 12:46 PM) [snapback]520655[/snapback]</div>

Hi Melody,

Sure, I'm game for a class and yes I did get kinda burnt (my nose is peeling :lol: ). Let me know when the class is going to be held as soon as you know the date.