EVAA Expands Program for Electric Transportation Industry Conference

    WASHINGTON--July 31, 2001--The Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas (EVAA) today announced additions to its upcoming event, the "Electric Transportation Industry Conference: Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Technologies," scheduled for Dec. 11-14, 2001, in Sacramento, Calif.
    Just added to the lineup of an already stellar program is a full-day, classroom-style workshop on the basics of fuel cell vehicle technology and policy. This tutorial, organized by the University of California-Davis and sponsored by EVAA, will be held on Dec. 11, and will cover technology fundamentals, fuel issues, environmental impacts and transport market opportunities.
    The new feature is designed to supplement the coverage of fuel-cell-related topics already slated for the conference, including a one-day special event at the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14.
    "We've decided to frame the conference with fuel-cell-related programs, while assuring that the two full days of the conference proceedings contain a wealth of sessions, high-level industry speakers and events focused on the other two critical technologies -- battery electric and hybrid electric -- that complete the family of electric transportation options," stated EVAA's executive director, Kateri Callahan, in announcing the latest addition to the conference roster.
    In addition to expanding the program, EVAA announced a move to a larger exhibition hall within the Sacramento Convention Center to accommodate the significant demand for floor space, which has exceeded all goals for the conference. "With the exhibitors already registered, EVAA can claim the largest electric transportation technology display in the country this year, if not in the world," proclaimed Callahan.
    Companies confirmed for the ETI Conference Exhibition include: American Honda Motor Co., Ford Motor Co./TH!NK, Toyota Motor Corp., DaimlerChrysler Corp., Nissan North America Inc., GM Advanced Technology, Texaco Technologies, EPRI, EV Global Motors, Taylor-Dunn, AC Propulsion Inc., Ballard Power Systems, California Air Resources Board, California Fuel Cell Partnership, U.S. Department of Energy, Ecostar, ENOVA Systems, Georgia Power, Global Electric Motorcars, Louroe Electronics, Maxwell Technologies, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Saminco Inc., Technologies M4 Inc., VEAM, Curtis Instruments, XCELLSIS, Graziano Trasmissioni Systems and Inmetco.
    Promising to be the premier North American event for debating, learning about and showcasing the "full family" of electric transportation, the agenda has been designed to appeal to and attract both experienced and new industry players.
    Confirmed, featured speakers include leading voices from the battery, hybrid and fuel cell segments of the industry such as Hiroyuki Watanabe, senior managing director of Toyota Motor Corp.; Ferdinand Panik, head of the Fuel Cell Project for DaimlerChrysler; John Wallace, executive director of Ford TH!NK Technologies; Alan Lloyd, chairman of the California Air Resources Board; Ben Knight, vice president of American Honda; Bob Stempel, chairman of Energy Conversion Devices; Frank Ingriselli, president of Texaco Technologies Inc.; Firoz Rasul, president of Ballard Automotive; and Ron Cogen, chief executive officer of the Green Car Group.
    Hosted by EVAA, the event is conducted in partnership with the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, California Fuel Cell Partnership, Edison Electric Institute, EPRI, the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Fuel Cell Council.
    EVAA is the industry association working to advance electric vehicles and supporting infrastructure through policy, information and market development initiatives in the United States, and to serve as the Americas' representative to the World Electric Vehicle Association.
    EVAA members include auto companies and other vehicle manufacturers, electric utilities, EV component suppliers, research institutions and government agencies. The association serves as the industry's source of information about electric vehicles.