Posted on 07/17/2008 6:05:53 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Anyone fed up with the soaring price of gasoline should head to the Alliant Energy Center this weekend for the third annual Hybridfest, held in conjunction with the Dane County Fair.
Co-founder Eric Powers promises a large selection of clean and sustainable cars that include hybrids, biodiesel, electric, propane and other experimental vehicles, as well as speakers who will share fuel-saving driving tips. Attendees will learn how to save between 35 cents to $1 per gallon in fuel costs -- or more -- by adopting fuel-efficient driving habits.
The show, which drew more than 12,000 people last year, also includes exhibits by manufacturers, dealers and environmental groups, in addition to vehicle test drives. A Toyota Prius hybrid will be converted to a plug-in hybrid that can do the average daily commute on batteries alone.
Hybridfest also offers a fuel economy competition, the MPG Challenge, in which the goal for drivers (called "hypermilers") is not to go the fastest or the farthest, but to get the best miles to the gallon over an open-road course. Admission is free with the purchase of every Dane County Fair ticket, and parking is free.
There also will be a variety of special activities for Hybridfest members, who pay $60 per year. For details, go to www.hybridfest.com.
Powers spoke with 77 Square about the growth of the green driving fest.
Does making it to a third year indicate Hybridfest has made it?
I sure hope so. One thing that has changed is that I left my really great paying job with benefits and a pension and 401(k) and insurance and I now do this full-time. So all the things that we've been saying no to we now can start saying yes to. We've been asked to bring it to other cities and do variations on the MPG Challenge -- doing a regional or cross country, and we're in the process of (creating) some big events on that. It's crazy fun. It doesn't make a lot of money right now, but it's great. I loved my old job, but this is even better.
So there will be more than one Hybridfest?
Exactly. We'll continue to do the show in Madison -- that's the home. And we'll do a show on the West Coast. The East Coast is tricky -- there's a lot of events to compete with and I don't feel gutsy enough to do that yet. We'll do something in the green vehicle arena, but we'll be able to expand to get a little bit more of the green living pieces in there as well.
What made you decide you could turn this into a full-time thing?
Why not try it? It seems like it's the right time for it. Again, many times we would be asked to do things over the last couple of years and we had to say no. And who would be crazy enough to leave their job to do this? And then I thought, "Why not? Let's see how it goes."
I guess this speaks to the magnitude of the belief you have in all of this stuff?
Yeah. I really do. For me, it's about bringing the alternative fuel and hybrid car community together. And then it's really the education piece -- dispelling all the myths and rumors out there. It doesn't matter to me if someone doesn't choose to drive an alternative fuel vehicle or hybrid vehicle, because it isn't for everyone.
But I want it to be based on fact. I don't want it to be based on, "Geez, I heard you have to replace the batteries every two years and it costs $8,000," or whatever the latest myth is. There's a lot of bad propaganda out there.
What is your goal for where you'll be at in, say, five years?
I think at that point we'll still be talking about whatever is the newest technology on the alternative fuel side -- the things that are moving us away from our dependency on gasoline. Whether that's going to be plug-in hybrids, electric cars, where hydrogen is, I don't know. And if we can have at least three big shows it would be great. And beyond that, having the MPG challenge being its own series of events, with a cross country race.
How would you do a cross country MPG challenge, since it's about gas mileage and not speed?
We already have some rules laid out on that. It's really a combination scoring with some drop dead times saying you have to get from here to New York in this many hours and then the MPG. I just don't want it to be a 13 miles-per-hour race across the country.
I would think you would be one of the few people in America who is happy that gas prices are above $4 per gallon?
From a personal standpoint, it's painful when I look at the numbers on my credit card bill. But obviously as a show promoter it's a good thing. And as an evangelist, it's a great thing, because it gets people to listen and maybe stop by Hybridfest to find out more.
How close are hybrids to becoming mainstream?
I think we're getting closer, but I think we're still a bit off. I'm not sure how much more painful gas prices will have to get to get there. But I would hate to think our shows will become (routine). I mean, you wouldn't have Frontwheeldrivefest or something. But Hybridfest is about a lot more than hybrids. This year we have diesel vehicles, biodiesel, plug-in hybrids, proprane, compressed natural gas, electric cars, electric bikes, as well as green living things like solar and green investing.
The name is a good brand and it's trademarked, but in some ways it's a hindrance, because people may be interested in some of these other things and I want them to realize that there's more there. So as we move to some of these other events, we have some other branding names in mind to try to make it more clear.
The focus this year is all about dealing with high gas prices?
Yeah, we have quite a bit about that. Again, it recognizes that Hybridfest isn't just about hybrids. We're going to have these speakers talking about other ways anyone can save a bunch. For example, we have people coming who modify their cars to get better gas mileage. We have the guy who finished third in the MPG Challenge last year who will talk about tips and tricks for maximizing fuel economy. I even put up on our (Web) site the top 10 tips for getting better gas mileage no matter what you drive.
There's been a lot of talk about the Chevrolet Volt hybrid electric vehicle, which is supposed to be available in 2010 or '11. How does it work, and do you think that's an important vehicle for the future in this area and for America?
The vehicle really is an electric car that has a little engine in the back that helps you extend the range of your electric car. Most of the time for just driving around town you're just using the batteries and you don't need the engine. But for longer trips the engine keeps the batteries charged as you're going.
I think it definitely is (important) for America. Toyota is a big sponsor (of Hybridfest) and we certainly appreciate what they're doing. But I also believe that I don't want to see the American car manufacturer go away either, especially if we have a manufacturer making electric vehicles for the masses. That's going to be a pretty big deal.
With gas prices so high has buying a hybrid finally become a positive thing financially?
I'm the biggest advocate (of hybrids) but I also say from a pure financial standpoint I still don't think that it's going to quote-unquote save you money. It depends on how much extra it costs as opposed to what you save in gas, and you have to look at what else you could have bought (besides a hybrid).
I'm not saying it's not a great thing. I bought a used Honda Insight for $10,500 and I probably could have bought a used Corolla or Civic for $6,000. A $4,000 difference is a lot of gas. Also have to figure in things like tax credits. We have a guy giving a presentation "Total Cost of Ownership: Why You Want to Purchase a Hybrid Today" at Hybridfest and I'll be interested to hear that, because I don't always agree with that.
Going rate on a Toyota Prius in CA is now $11k over sticker, and rising.
I do not think that hybrid cars are thought of as big money makers by manufacturers. Toyota has had years to ramp up capacity, but most dealers still only get 2 or 3 per month, just like 5 years ago.
At the moment, however, dealers are making out on the gas/enviro hysteria driving demand past the point of reason; clearing near 50K a month in profit on three cars and not holding any inventory. Must be nice. ;->
And we aren’t going to have a home energy shortage, right?
$11K over sticker?
Even at $5 a gallon that's over 95 fill ups in my Armada.
And people think the lottery is a tax on people who are poor at math.
If & when it becomes cost effective to purchase a hybrid, I will buy one, but not before.
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