State Remains Charged About Electric Vehicles
Economic development officials continue to stress the importance of
electric vehicle technology to the state. The Energy Systems Network held a
Project Plug-IN event today at Duke Energy in Plainfield. Employees were allowed
to test drive the THINK City electric vehicle, which will be manufactured in
Elkhart County. Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob says the state's
coordinated approach is helping it become a leader in electric vehicle
development and production. In a Studio(i) interview, Roob tells Inside INdiana
Business Host Gerry Dick Indianapolis is the "perfect city" for an electric
vehicle.
(PLAINFIELD, Ind., September 8, 2010) Duke Energy employees
today got an advance look at the THINK City plug-in electric vehicle at the
company’s Plainfield corporate headquarters, helping launch an
Indianapolis-based pilot project that aims to make the ‘electric commute’ a
practical reality for U.S. drivers.
Project Plug-IN, organized by the Energy Systems Network,
aims to put 100+ plug-in electric vehicles with government and corporate fleets
as well as selected individual commuters across the Indianapolis region,
enlisting a wide range of partners to anticipate and solve the practical and
technical challenges that come with the use of these high-tech
cars.
Earlier this year, THINK announced plans to begin production
of the THINK City car in Elkhart, Indiana in 2011. The electric THINK City,
which has highway-capable top speed and a range of 100 miles, will be powered by
lithium-ion batteries produced by EnerDel in Central Indiana. Today, the THINK
City was previewed at a special “ride and drive” event for employees of Duke
Energy, another Project Plug-IN partner. The employees of Duke and other
partners may have the opportunity to purchase THINK City vehicles or drive them
as part of their corporate fleets.
“Duke Energy strongly supports the development of plug-in
electric vehicles to cut emissions and fuel costs while enhancing energy
independence,” said Michael Reed, President of Duke Energy Indiana. “We’re
focused on developing ‘smart grid’ technologies to support these vehicles, so
observing the driving and recharging habits of Hoosiers through Project Plug-IN
will be invaluable for us.”
Indiana Secretary of Commerce Mitch Roob was also on hand to
emphasize the economic impact of electric vehicles for the
state.
"Thanks to the vision of Governor Mitch Daniels, Indiana has
a coordinated approach to its quest of leadership in electric vehicle
development and production. By bringing together business, community and supply
chain leaders, Indiana continues to capture the kind of momentum that will drive
economic growth and job creation to our state," said Roob.
In addition to making a limited number of vehicles available
for fleets and individuals, Project Plug-IN will spearhead the placement of
residential and public charging stations across the
region.
“Our goal with Project Plug-IN is nothing short of a
seamless transition for consumers from gas-powered to electric cars,” said Paul
Mitchell, President & CEO of the Energy Systems Network. “Making this happen
in Indiana first has required collaboration among a wide array of public,
private and regulatory organizations, including partners like Duke Energy and
THINK – the response so far has been tremendous.”
As Project Plug-IN continues to gain momentum, more
potential partners are weighing their involvement. Enterprise Rent-A-Car and
National Car Rental also look forward to the possibility of working with Project
Plug-IN.
“We are always excited about opportunities to further our
ongoing commitment to embrace alternative technologies and bring viable
solutions to the market place,” said Will Withington, Vice President and General
Manager of Enterprise Holdings, which operates the Enterprise Rent-A-Car and
National Car Rental brands in Indiana . “We are thrilled that the opportunity
has presented itself in Indianapolis through Project Plug-IN, and we look
forward to the possibility of future partnership
opportunities.”
For THINK, Project Plug-IN provides an ideal test market in
close proximity to its manufacturing operations in Elkhart and major suppliers
like EnerDel.
“Project Plug-IN is a truly unique and innovative program
that brings together a wide cross-section of industry stakeholders, including
electric utilities, electric car and battery manufacturers and government
agencies,” said Richard Canny, THINK CEO. “We’re pleased to be a part of this
project, and we’re confident that seeing the THINK City in action is the best
way to spark consumer demand.”
In addition to THINK, Duke Energy and EnerDel, Project
Plug-IN partners include Indianapolis Power & Light, Nissan, Smart USA
(which recently launched sales of its fully-electric model in Indianapolis), the
City of Indianapolis, the State of Indiana, Cummins, Bright Automotive, Delphi
Corporation, IBM, Simon Property Group, Purdue University, and the Rocky
Mountain Institute.
About Energy Systems Network: The Energy Systems Network
(ESN) an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. It is a
non-profit industry-driven economic organization focused on the development of
the energy technology “cleantech” sector. ESN provides project development and
coordination for joint ventures and cooperative partnerships between network
members to bring new energy technologies to market. ESN partners include a wide
range of Fortune 500 firms, emerging technology companies, and research and
educational institutions with expertise in advanced technology vehicles,
distributed power generation, advanced biofuels, renewable energy, and energy
efficiency.
Source: Energy Systems Network