E2+NRDC Present: Toyota/CalCars/Tesla at Microphone and in Parking Lot
Aug 30, 2006 (From the CalCars-News archive)

In alphabetical order, this already sold-out Sept. 20 event will feature:
Martin Eberhard, CEO, Tesla Motors
Roland Hwang, Vehicles Policy Director, NRDC
Dean Kato, Managing Counsel, Toyota Motor Sales
Felix Kramer, Founder, California Cars Initiative
Dan Sperling, Director, Transportation Studies, University of
California, Davis
Paul Zorner, Sr. Director, Business Development, Diversa

This could be a significant event. It's the first time since a
Commonwealth Club event in May 2003
<http://www.workit.com/events/event_pop.cfm?event_id=7600> that
CalCars shares a panel with Toyota. It's a chance to hear the latest
views of the director of ITS, the "parent" group of Andy Frank's
Hybrid Center, which does research in many areas, but for solutions
has largely focused on hydrogen in recent years. It represents a
further step toward a positive consideration of electric propulsion
by the Natural Resources Defense Council, a leading national
environmental group that until now has concentrated on efficiency,
hybrids and biofuels as its energy/transportation agenda.

We'll hear the latest news about enzymes needed for cellulosic
ethanol. Plus it's a chance for many influential Silicon Valley
leaders to see and drive CalCars' PHEV Prius and Tesla'a Roadster.
What's said here may have implications for Air Resources Board's Zero
Emissions Technology Symposium in late September.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/symposium/symposium.htm>. And

We're delighted that Environmental Entrepreneurs has taken the lead
in putting together the event. (See more background on E2 in our June
posting at <http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/458.html>.) Among the
benefits of joining E2 is that members hear first about events like
this and are able to attend, along with their guests and prospective members.

We hope to provide a report afterwards, perhaps an audio or video
stream, and a transcript, thanks to our loyal team of volunteer transcribers.

Here's part of the announcement.
Environmental Entrepreneurs and the Natural Resources Defense Council
invite you to participate in an EcoSalon
How Alternative Technologies are Changing Transportation
<participant list, subject to change>
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Special Vehicles Preview begins at 5:30 pm
featuring the Tesla Roadster, Th!nk, and Cal Cars' plug-in hybrid
at the offices of Cooley Godward LLP in Palo Alto, CA E2 thanks
Cooley Godward for generously underwriting this event.
Speaker/panelist list is preliminary and subject to change.
Neither invitations nor RSVPs for attendance are transferable for this event.

Cleantech is now an economic reality. In 2005 alone, cleantech
startups received over $1.3 billion in funding. Transportation is
among the most acute problems facing the U.S. due to rising gas
prices, nationalization of oil fields, and increasing demand for oil
from developing nations such as India and China. Join us for a
discussion on how the cleantech sector is working to develop
alternative fuels and vehicle technologies that will revolutionize
both what we drive and how we power our vehicles. We will also look
at the role California Proposition 87 can play in moving our
transportation sector into a cleaner, greener future.

About the organizers:

Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) is a national community of business
people who believe in protecting the environment while building
economic prosperity. Working with NRDC (Natural Resources Defense
Council), E2 serves as a champion on the economic side of good
environmental policy by taking a reasoned, economically sound
approach to environmental issues. E2 works at both the state and
national levels through its bipartisan efforts. Please visit our
website at: www.e2.org.

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is the nation's most
effective environmental action organization. NRDC uses law, science
and the support of more than 1.2 million members and online activists
to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe
and healthy environment for all living things. Founded in 1970, NRDC
now has more than 1.2 million members and online activists. For more
information visit: www.nrdc.org.