.. -->[if supportFields]> ..[endif]-->National Energy-Efficient Vehicle Administration

A proposal

                                                          by Ernest V. Glover, Sr.

INTRODUCTION

This document is a proposal to establish a National Energy-Efficient Vehicle Administration (NEEVA) as a federal government organization.  One goal of NEEVA would be to provide a framework for rapid development of Energy-Efficient Vehicles (EEVs) to eliminate the nation's dependence on gasoline as the standard means to power our transportation vehicles.  A second goal of NEEVA would be to eliminate toxic emissions from vehicles that poison our environment.  Government sponsorship of some aspects related to those purposes makes sense for reasons addressed in the "NEED" section of this document&183;  NEEVA would be a temporary agency that is discontinued once the goals of the agency have been met.

I believe an effort similar to that which led to the formation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is required.  Such an effort is on par with the justifications used to establish NASA, if not more so.  Space-based activities contribute to the defense of this country and is instrumental in our communications capabilities.  It also has provided much technology that is used on planet Earth that would not have come about otherwise.  A lot of the benefits were unseen ahead of time; they were discovered along the way.  A similar payoff is possible with the effort to develop Energy-Efficient Vehicles.  Thirty years ago, we had technology available that was used in the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing Mission that put a man on the Moon.  We currently have an International Space Station and other man-made satellites that are powered without burning gasoline.  They are expected to remain in space for long periods of time without refueling.  How can we think we do not have the ability to build Energy-Efficient Vehicles (EEVs)?  Using existing off-the-shelf technology as much as practical lowers the risks and costs associated with producing EEVs.

MISSION

The mission of the National Energy-Efficient Vehicle Administration would be to conduct concept design activities and prototyping of Energy-Efficient Vehicles for public transportation.

NEED

Private industry vehicle manufacturers are making good progress in building vehicles that use less gasoline and that emit lower toxic chemicals in the air we must breathe.  However, they also have the technical ability to do even better.  But their efforts are constrained by financial considerations: they have to answer to stockholders whose primary interest is making money.  That statement is not to criticize or downplay the efforts of private industry; it is simply a statement of fact.  That's what most businesses were created to do.  Vehicle manufacturers also have long-term contracts with their suppliers stretching for years into the future.  Not fulfilling those contract obligations would lead to an avalanche of lawsuits throughout the industry.  Production would slow, or even halt, in some areas.  Some companies would streamline Others would go out of business.  Many people would lose their job or work less hours or work for lower pay.  That whole scenario would have a negative ripple-effect on the world economy.  This is not just an American problem; it is a worldwide one.

 An approach is needed that would protect private industry yet allow for rapid development of Energy-Efficient Vehicles (EEVs).

PROPOSED APPROACH

My proposal takes a three-pronged approach:

1.     Government-sponsored design and prototyping facilities.

2.  Administration and guidance support from government agencies including the departments of Energy and Transportation, as well as NASA.

3.   Open Development Teams (ODTs) consisting mainly of volunteers.  That type of effort is becoming more useful in getting things done quickly, efficiently, and across geographical and cultural boundaries.  It also fosters an environment of ideation, innovation and invention. The birth and growth of the Linux Operating System in the computer world is a prime example of non-funded cooperation.  I have no doubts that there are people who would be glad to volunteer their services for such a project; I, for one, would be honored to do so.  I am sure there are others who would feel the same way.

Federal, state and local government sponsorship of the development of EEVs would not compete with, or interfere with, the efforts of private industry; it would serve as a stimulus.  There is sufficient technology already developed by private industry that can be used.  Fuel cells using hydrogen as the energy source exist today from General Motors and Honda.  That is just one example of "Green" Energy-Efficient Vehicle technology available right now.  Another technology is e85/ethanol which is produced from corn or other natural products.  What is needed is an agency that would serve as the place where all the different technologies would be brought together, evaluated, and used to prototype a production-version EEV. That would be the primary function of the National Energy-Efficient Vehicle Administration.