Corvallis's role in the Electric Vehicle Project

I am sure I am about the only one in town who doesn't know what is going on with the Electric Vehicle Project right? Well, ok maybe not. I subscribe to the G/T and read it faithfully daily, what there is of it and to read. I go the the Business Enterprise Center, Inc. out at the Corvallis Municipal Airport Industrial Park at least part of 3 days a week and usually more. I associate with the business community and move freely in and out of the circles at OSU, HP, ONAMI, CH2M Hill, LBCC, the Chamber Coalition, and a dozen or more community groups. I know the mayor and work closely with the city manager and city staff. I know the Benton County Commissioners and some staff. I work with the Council of Governments over in Albany and know quite a few of the regional economic development officials. Basically, I am a person who attempts to stay in the loop of what is happening in our community and yet it took an interested entrepreneur to provide me a link to the EV Project that shows Corvallis as a site that will be involved.....Hmmm. Somehow once again inspite of Facebook, Twitter, WIN, BEC, SWOT, Smart UPs, Business Boot Camp, The WAC, and all that is going on I have failed to get the word. Communication in silos still exists. I am sure the mayor knows what is going on in this regard as he drives an electric vehicle but my question is, "HOW DID I MISS THE BOAT?" and "WHAT DO I NEED TO DO IN THE FUTURE SO I DON'T MISS IT AGAIN?" Anyone else feeling left out? Maybe it will get more input over on the BIG website or the We Love Corvallis Website. I will repost this item again. Loyan are you filled in on this EV Project?

Tags: Business, EV, Innovation, Project

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Permalink Reply by Charlie Tomlinson on February 15, 2010 at 9:44pm

Hi Bill,

It's been in the GT and the Democrat Hearld as late as yesterday.

Charlie

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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on February 15, 2010 at 10:45pm

Guess I will just have to learn to read more carefully. The more I read though, the less I seem to understand and appreciate. Thanks for trying to keep us all moving in the right direction. At times I am sure it seems like herding cats!

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Permalink Reply by Loyan Roylance on February 16, 2010 at 9:56am

Perhaps relying on "traditional" media outlets is not enough. I think it is safe to say that some newspapers are struggling because folks are using other channels to stay connected.

I think its best to utilize traditional outlets as well as new ones that seem to have traction. Where are people discovering information and updates now? Are social networks relevant?

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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on February 16, 2010 at 12:45pm

Social networks will evolve or are evolving and will become what the groups using them require. While it is a new vehicle for communication it isn't the end all answer. I see it as just one more form or method to exchange information but my point was, in spite of all these ways and great tools, and in spite of considerable effort on my part, I remained in the dark about the electric vehicle project. Maybe I am suffering from information overload or attention deficit disorder! Or, maybe somehow the information wasn't provided in such a way that I could connect the dots to form a picture that I understood.

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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on February 25, 2010 at 8:34pm

Thanks Jeanine. This is the link that got me "informed" to this level. I would hope that I can convince some folks coming to the Town Hall meeting for the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition meeting at the CH2M Hill Alumni center on March 11th to join me in the effort to increase the allocation to Corvallis of the new Leaf's. I spoke with Jack Scoville the local Nissan dealer today and he is all for selling as many as possible and has a local goal of 100! Lets all see what we can do to support his local business.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry W. Saveriano on March 1, 2010 at 11:02am

Hey Bill,

I've been writing about EVs and Intelligent Transportation on my blog for some time. I plan to continue on these and related topics.

See these posts and more...
2.15.10Aptera EV Manufacturer Ousts Founders
012.23.09EV Come Home – Part 4, Portland Declares EV War Against San Francisco
212.16.09EV Come Home – Part 2, Meet The Leaf
212.14.09EV Come Home – Part 1, Intro
212.3.09Advanced Composites For Future Cars
09.21.09Oregon Freeze Dry and EnerG2 Announce New Battery Venture
19.11.09Eugene Based Arcimoto Debuts Electric Vehicle in Portland

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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on March 3, 2010 at 12:04pm

Thanks Jerry. I knew you were a blogger but had no idea of the extent. Lots of great stuff on here including what I am trying to get the word out on. Problem I had and have with it, it is too much. In the words of the Dragnet fellow Sgt Joe Friday, "Just the facts, just the facts." Way too much information and I just want enough to connect the dots to build the picture. I do appreciate your effort and have forwarded your site and posts to several people. Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Jerry W. Saveriano on April 1, 2010 at 8:52am

Thanks for your comment Bill.

You're right that my posts are more essay like than short "Just the facts", type blogs. I also put in a lot of photos, videos and links.

I'll work on doing more summary short bits (thumbnails) at the top of the post and those who are interested can scroll down for the longer more integrated story.

Regards,

Jerry

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Permalink Reply by Jerry W. Saveriano on April 1, 2010 at 8:40am

Is Now The Time For Electric Vehicles?

Plugging-in a New LEAF

We’ve been reporting about the progress in rolling out EVs over the last couple months. Click on EV in the tag cloud in the right-hand column and it will bring up 14 posts since December. That’s not counting the Intelligent Transportation Systems articles which include discussions of EVs and smart cars. Even the new series we’ve started on unmanned vehicles will include EVs and autonomous vehicle technology.