Tag: #Hertz

More than a Flying Car, Electrifies the International New York Auto Show

April 15, 2012 / / 0 Comments

Jacob Javits Center- New York, NY

Today is the last day to see the flying car and all that electrifies at the International New York Auto Show 2012.  Almost every maker of the automobile has an electric vehicle in the works, and some of these new vehicles are more than electrifying!

The CEO of Japan-based Nissan, and he holds the same positions at Paris-based Renault, Carlos Ghosn, electrified the auto industry with a powerful opening key note that demonstrated  leadership, sharing his global vision for the electric vehicles (EVs) (which demonstrates alignment with our World Team project). “Nissan’s all electric Leaf  is on top,” shared Mark Perry, the Director for Product Planning and Advanced Technological Strategy,  “This year the Leaf will be available to many more people particularly due to higher production with  the manufacturing plant in Tennessee coming on line to support the high demand”.

One of the many exciting electric and cross over vehicles besides the Altima and Pathfinder, is the new  all electric Infiniti LE which made it’s world debut at this show with Mr. Ghosn unveiling it.  This vehicle diverges from the Leaf in two technical areas — aerodynamics and weight savings.  It also will come with a built in wireless charging system.

Karma

"Karma" with Suzanne Maxx photo by Albert Boulanger

The cross over electric vehicles, with “Range Extenders,” like Fisker’s Karma, and the Chevy’s Volt  make allowance for long distance  if necessary without dealing with “range anxiety”.  But owners of the Volt are commonly appreciating the luxury of “fuel anxiety,” explained  Rob Peterson, Manager of  Chevrolet Volt and Electric Vehicle Technologies at General Motors.  They are so excited about free charging from renewable energy sources, and the price of electricity vs. gas that they now have anxiety about having to give about $5.oo per gallon to oil companies”.  He went on to explain that a group of owners are now competing  to see who can go the longest period of time cumulatively without having to re-fuel with fossil fuel at all.  These vehicle owners have the freedom of a “plan B”, if they do need additional range, they have the choice. When given the choice people are choosing to change the driving habits, so the Volt is one of the new vehicles that is in a range, (both price and distance) for most people.

BYD's E6 in Hertz's global EV program photo by Albert Boulanger

The EV Pavilion

Jack Hidary, who leads Hertz’s global EV iniatives is OEM brand agnostic. Hertz is  striving to have access to all the EVs for the public to rent, a great way for people to  transition off fossil fuel vehicles and test EVs out.  Hertz’s EVs range from the Tesla to the Leaf with crossovers like the Volt and the soon to be Karma along with a slew of German EVs emerging.  New vehicles  are planned to be available in the USA soon, like BYD’s E6.  Hertz remains the leader in electric vehicle rentals, and the rental company is testing the wireless inductive charging system with a pilot program at corporate headquarters.  The future of EVs  is presently functioning in the City of Shenzhen, China  where 100 fast chargers are already deployed and a charging infrastructure  that supports the use of electric vehicles is in place.  In Shenzhen,  the new purchase of a BYD vehicle also comes with two level 2 chargers. For more about the BYD-Daimler alliance and the situation with Hertz in Shenzhen check out this NYTimes article.   

The EV Dolorean photo by Albert Boulanger

Renting the vehicles is a viable option especially while the USA ramps up the charging infrastructure and we extend the range of the batteries for the EVs, explore inductive changing, or do a battery swap model like Better Place’s in Isreal and soon to be in Australia.  Presently  the batteries of the Tesla and Leaf is limited in range, which is fine for local driving, but those cross country trips may require a rental from Hertz and you never know you might even find the EV version of the Dolorean.

The Flying Car; Terrafugia Transition

Hopefully Hertz will even stock the new car that flies.  Maybe the flying cars will have a cross over ( not just from vehicle to plane), but also have an electric future.




[slideshow] photos by Albert Boulanger and Suzanne Maxx

30th Chili Cook -Off in Malibu, CA

Variants of Hot “Chili” and Climate Change

September 22, 2011 / / 0 Comments

30th Chili Cook -Off in Malibu, CA

World Team Now (WTN) was part of our community in the 30th Annual Malibu Chili Cook Off, carnival and fair on Labor Day Week End.

Genna, Suzanne, Laura kick off Volunteers@ the Chili Cook Off

At WTN’s booth people got a free massage & renewed more than your own body’s energy, they learned about alternative renewable energy options for our world. Participating in our local community where WTN began, we shared with the public information on environmental initiates, held raffles, gave away t-shirts (thanks to Ozzie Silna) & samples of eco friendly cleaning supplies with a team of 8 volunteers.

World Team Now's Global EV enthusiasts

Ironic that although we had a booth, our all electric vehicle (EV), charging to the new City of Malibu’s Chargers drew much more curiosity from attendees walking by on the way to the fairgrounds. There were crowds of people from all over the world gathered around our car eager to hear how EVs worked and about charging.  They were surprised to learn they could rent an EV from Hertz, and also shocked the charging was free to the public.  We are grateful this event provided yet another great opportunity to educate the public on the importance of alternative energy and vehicle electrification.

Global Climate Change is being brought front and center not just by all the extreme weather events occurring around the world but people are now taking action to create events, to better educate the public;

Team Leads “Charge” with New EV Stations and Vehicles in Malibu

August 4, 2011 / / 0 Comments

Photo by Stefano Paris

World Team Now’s local efforts to promote electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure,  was celebrated in Malibu, California on that same day President Obama announced that fuel standard would be raised to 54.5mpg for the USA. Large scale adoption of vehicle electrification and the new fuel standards are both active steps to inspire environmental and economic sustainability.

World Team Now (WTN) our non-profit organization that is part of our emergent multi-media project, World Team, connected the City of Malibu with electric vehicle charger manufacturer, Clipper Creek  to upgrade the chargers to “work” with state grant funds from the California Energy Commission. “Our goals is to raise awareness and educate the public,”says Founder Suzanne Maxx.

The City of Malibu is the first beachside city in the USA to take advantage of the new charger upgrade grant program.  To augment the local City of Malibu’s ribbon cutting ceremony for the new electric vehicle charging stations, WTN brought in the leading global rental company, Hertz.

Hertz’s Tesla Roadster and Nissan Leaf both came from Hertz on Demand and Hertz Entertainment Services

Jim Boysen of Hertz Entertainment Services took to the podium to share about Hertz’s vision:

“To make electric vehicles accessible to consumers and to assist private industry, municipalities and government in the creation of an infrastructure that supports a transition to the wide use of electric vehicles,” (a mission supported by World Team Now).

Jim spoke about Pepperdine University being one of the nationwide college campuses offering Hertz on Demand. Hertz has plans for the source of their electricity used to be generated by solar energy, and is rolling out solar roof projects.

Rt-lft, Jim Boysen (Hertz) City Council Member Lou LaMonte, Mayor Pro-Tem Laura Rosenthal, Mayor John Sibert, Actor Larry Hagman, Councilmen Jefferson Wagner, and center, World Team Now's Founder Suzanne Maxx

World Team Now’s Honorary President Actor Larry Hagman was one of the VIPs, there to support World Team’s activities.  Larry produces the nation’s largest amount of residential solar energy.  Since WTN’s benefit dinner sponsor Solar World, who has donated solar panels to WTN joined forces with Larry for the campaign “Shine Baby Shine” which promotes solar energy globally.

The City Council event attracted network coverage, local media, EV enthusiasts, WTN supporters, and local residents with EVs.  There were about a dozen EV’s on site ranging from the new Tesla to the old Toyota RAV4 driven by Malibu local “William” and his two little special needs dogs.

Hertz' Tesla- Leafs and Toyota's RAV4 Photo by Stefano Paris

A real mini horse & carriage pulled up along the side the EVs charging– it put “energy” and the transformation of transportation in perspective– we have come along way.  The ribbon cutting ceremony took place in front of the Civic Center and Library across the street from the City’s new Legacy Park.  Mayor John Sibert presided over the City Council’s ribbon cutting along with Laura Rosenthal and advocates of World Team Now’s efforts for the City Charger project Lou LaMonte and Jefferson Wagner who went out on a limb to make the grant happen with WTN for the city.

Rt. Jim Boysen, John Sibert, Lou LaMonte, Laura Rosenthal,Jefferson Wagner, Suzanne Maxx and Larry Hagman (photo by Stefano Paris)

Former USA Ambassador of Malta Professor Douglas Kmeic rode an electric bike to the chargers’ installation where World Team documented the EV chargers– conducting interviews and filming the process of the installation on July 27th.  Doug helped to frame the local action into the big picture perspective of the USA’s dependency on foreign oil, and the international politics that affect our country’s economic and environmental safety and security.

Kava Seward was there from State Senator Fran Pavley’s office who presented The City of Malibu an award for sustainability.

WTN's installation shoot actor/activist Max Gail, singer Laura Fercano, and WTN cameraman "Zac "!

Other VIP attendees and supporters included Steve Soberoff, actor/activist Max Gail, activist John Quigley, local/global musician John Zambetti, his wife Joan, and singer Laura Fercano. World Team Now had a great crew to film both days of action.  We offer a special thanks to all who made the filming and installation possible—you know who you are—we appreciate our local constituency in Malibu who helped and invite all who are interested to join us.

WTN's Suzanne Maxx and Hertz's all electric Nissan Leaf

World Team Now’s Founder and President Suzanne Maxx traded in Hertz’s Nissan Altima, for the Hertz’s all new Nissan Leaf, which boasts zero emissions. “Life in an EV is a new reality– it changes ones perception about time, distance and energy!  Suzanne in her new leaf was the first one to lead the “charge” at the new electric vehicle charging stations in the City of Malibu.   “There is a sense of integrity and freedom to be as responsible as possible for the resources used to harmonize on this World Team journey with life, said Suzanne. “It takes a team, to transform transportation”.

Local and global non-profit World Team Now (WTN) utilized teamwork for the public to have access to free electric vehicle charging stations in the City of Malibu.

Hertz's Nissan Leaf takes Charge @New EV Charging Station in Malibu

Malibu’s electric vehicle charging initiative is an example of teamwork. The City of Malibu old electric vehicle charging stations were repaired and replaced (see “Time for the Charge”). World Team Now knew there were funds available from the state through a program from the California Energy Commission to cover the cost for cities for their electric vehicle chargers to upgrade to the newly adopted universal plug standard SAE J1772, and repair the old charger that is needed for EV’s like the RAV4 that have been in existence before the plug standard was adopted.

World Team Now built a constituency and approached the Malibu City Council who decided to accept the state grant. Manufacturer Clipper Creek won the grant to supply their leading electric vehicle chargers. EVConnect orchestrated the installation.

This local government action and the national fuel standards increase are steps to address the United Nation’s Security Council declarative statement issued last week that climate change is a threat to all nations’ security and welfare. Governments were asked to take action.  World Team Now leads the EV “charge” forward for public awareness and to grow the charging infrastructure.

Time for the “Charge,” The City of Malibu’s Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

July 26, 2011 / / 2 Comments

The world is starting to wake up to transformation.  Renewable energy is up front and center.   The U.N. Security Council lead by Germany issued a declaration to world governments declaring Climate Change a real threat to our collective national security and calling leaders to be accountable to protect their citizens.  The severity of Fukushima, and other global catastrophes are accumulating.   We are all challenged to focus on positive action while being wide awake to the consequences of the choices humanity has set up to live within for the most important game we play, life.  How do we each live an, exemplary, existence during these times?

World Team Now succeeded to team up The City of Malibu, with Clipper Creek, for three new and upgraded electric vehicle (EV) chargers! This local effort hopes to be an example for the world as our city’s government is taking action for change, and one of the first to be recipients of the grant from the California Energy Commission. WTN’s journey with the Malibu Chargers is the beginning for the World Team pilot project.  To read the World Team Now’s press release click here. The charger installation will happen this week, along with a ribbon cutting ceremony of July 29th at 11:00 at the Civic Center in Malibu, so please join us.  To read the City of Malibu’s press release click here.

WTN plans to have some of the latest electric vehicles in Malibu courtesy of Hertz, which is bringing some of their EVs: the Tesla, Leaf and Smart for 2.  Some local celebrities will be there to drive and share their own vehicles.  World Team Now’s founder Suzanne Maxx will be driving the all-electric Nissan Leaf from the leading environmentally aware rental company, Hertz.   The goal is to raise public awareness with this installation and local event to inspire more electric vehicles to be purchased or just simply driven and support the accessibility of EV charging.  WTN encourages the EV chargers to get their energy from renewable energy resources, such as solar energy that ties to the grid for commoditization renewable energy sources.

World Team Now’s charging initiative is happening at time when the EV wave is breaking.  Check out these current EV events: Plug-In 2011 July 18-21, 2011, Raleigh, North Carolina that just happened and the IEEE Power & Energy Society 2011 General Meeting July 24-28, Detroit, Michigan whose theme this year is “The Electrification of Transportation & the Grid of the Future” and is happening now! Want more on EVs? Click on the following words: for our article, paper, newsletter, or blog.  Want to know about some new EVs? Click here.  To being electric, and charged with consciousness and action!

World Team Now is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit EIN 20-2218684.
"A small group of thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.." --Margaret Mead 有志者，事竟成。

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