NAFTC Gains International Exposure at EVS23

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) gained international exposure at the 23rd Electric Vehicle Symposium, known as the premier event for the electric drive industry, recently held in Anaheim, California. Al Ebron, NAFTC Executive Director, and Judy Moore, Assistant Director – Communications, represented the NAFTC at the International Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition (EVS), which attracted business, policy, industry, and academic leaders from around the world who are interested in exploring and understanding the technical, policy, and market challenges of electric transportation technologies.

Vectrix Corporation unveiled its all electric three-wheeler at EVS23. NAFTC Photo

As one of the over one hundred exhibitors, the NAFTC exhibited several of its course and workshop materials to the nearly one thousand attendees, including its newly-revised A Basic Understanding of Battery-Electric and Hybrid-Electric Vehicles, its premier course Clean Air and Energy Independence: An Overview of Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technology Vehicles, and its newly-released curriculum First Responder Safety Training: Hybrid Electric Vehicles, which was the subject of a poster presentation made by Al Ebron at the conference.

The Honda Clarity FCX (Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle) was one of the main attractions at EVS23. This zero-emission sedan of the future will be available to Southern Californians who have access to hydrogen stations starting during the summer of 2008. NAFTC Photo

The West Virginia University Challenge X team participated in the ride & drive event during EVS23. Challenge X is an automotive student design competition established to increase fuel economy as well as reduce emissions and is sponsored by the U.S. DOE and General Motors. NAFTC Photo

The conference offered a ride-and-drive opportunity of dozens of electric vehicles and was the site for many announcements of new products entering the industry. This included the unveiling by Vectrix Corporation (www.vectrix.com) of its all electric three-wheeler, which reaches a top speed of 62 mph and goes 40-60 miles on a single charge, and ExxonMobil Chemical and ExxonMobil's Japanese affiliate, Tonen Chemical, who have developed new film technologies for lithium-ion batteries with the potential to improve the energy efficiency and affordability of next generation hybrid and electric vehicles.

For more information on Challenge X, please visit www.challengex.org.