As gas prices top $4.00 per gallon, many motorists dream of declaring independence from the pump, and some look to electric cars to make that dream come true. While electric cars are becoming more common on the roads, few have had the chance to see one up close, talk to the owner or ride in one.
    All of that changed with the Third Annual Michigan Electric Vehicle Show & Rally.
    Approximately 2,000 people attended the event on Saturday, June 11 on the campus of Schoolcraft College in Livonia. Event co-sponsors were Schoolcraft College and the Michigan Electric Auto Association (MEAA) in partnership with Clean Energy Coalition and DTE Energy. There were 49 vehicles participating in the show, as well as 22 commercial exhibitors. In addition, there was participation from the Bowling Green State University engineering program; the William D. Ford Academy brought two hydrogen fuel cell electric prototype vehicles, and Lansing Community College brought its 1998 Chevy S-10 pickup truck hot-rod electric conversion.
    Event organizers see the show as an important and fun way to raise awareness of the general public about electric vehicles (EVs), regarding three important factors:
     • EVs are here. The major automotive companies are developing new electric and hybrid models that are on the market, and a growing number of people are converting gas-powered vehicles to electric power and building electric cars using EV kits.
    • EVs are practical. Studies show that 80% of daily commuters travel less than 40 miles roundtrip per day, a distance that is well within the charging range of electric vehicles. Some EVs have ranges more twice that while travelling at highway speeds.
    • EV owners enjoy talking about their cars. The best way to learn about electric cars is to see the cars in person, talk to the people who drive them, and go for a ride.
     The event was free and open to the public. The electric and hybrid vehicles on display were of all shapes and sizes, from scooters to transport vans to pickup trucks, and of course passenger cars. Visitors had the opportunity to see the cars up-close, talk to the owners, and go for a short ride in an EV with the owner driving. The vehicles included those produced with EV kits, those that are gas cars converted to electric, and production models from major manufacturers.
    In addition, there were booths displaying new products and services for the EV market; a presentation on how to convert gas-powered cars to electric power; and information about Schoolcraft College programs that are related to the EV industry. Food and beverages were also available for purchase.
 MEAA President Larry Tuttle hopes that the event will help close the gap between what people are hearing and what they actually know about EVs.
     “Everyone is hearing about electric vehicles but very few people have ever actually seen one,” Tuttle said. “This is a chance for people to experience an EV firsthand and to talk with someone who owns one. Being able to ride in one of these cars is great, but talking to the owner is just as important. The big question people have is, ‘how will an EV fit into my lifestyle?’ The best way to answer that question is to talk to someone who is already living with an electric car.”
 Schoolcraft’s Vice President of Instruction Rich Weinkauf sees the event as a way to highlight how closely connected the college’s programs are with emerging industries that will be crucial to Michigan’s economy.
     “Schoolcraft College has excellent programs in materials science, electronic technology, advanced manufacturing, computer-aided design, advanced energy storage technology and computer information systems that are in demand by the companies building and supporting electric vehicles and other green technologies.”                                                    
     Schoolcraft College is also home to four Level II charging stations which are offered without cost to electric car owners to charge their vehicles.
     “The event and the charging stations highlight Schoolcraft’s commitment to providing education on these technologies, the electrification of the transportation system and supporting the electric vehicle culture.”
 More information on the event and the MEAA is available at http://www.michiganevshow.org/
Schoolcraft College is a public two-year college, offering classes at the Livonia campus, Haggerty Road between Six and Seven Mile Roads, at the Radcliff Center in Garden City and online at www.schoolcraft.edu.
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