By Lynn Hinkle, Health & Safety Director, UAW 879. St. Paul, Minnesota. The Autoworker.
Throughout the Fall and Winter (2006-2007) the Minnesota Plug-In Hybrid Electric TaskForce met every other Friday at the UAW Local 879 Hall to fulfill a legislative mandate. The PHEV Task force was successful in securing state appropriations in two basic categories: PHEV Technology demonstrations and multi-faceted Green Manufacturing.
Market study that targets Twin Cities Assembly Plant:
PHEV Technology Demonstrations will offer $750,000 per year to develop and demonstrate Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) within functional markets that can best influence the commercialization of the technology.
This project will:
Develop vehicle measurement standards and oversee the measurement and analysis of emissions and performance data for PHEV Task Force sanctioned projects.
Assess PHEV technology, build expertise and awareness and develop PHEV infrastructure within State government to prepare State fleet managers for incorporation of PHEVs.
Design and develop systems components to extend the operation, expand functionality and provide greater reliability to a Minnesota manufactured neighborhood electric vehicle so it can serve new markets.
- Provide competitive, cost-share grants for PHEV demonstration projects; or demonstration projects of other advanced, energy efficient vehicle technologies, which rely on broadly available infrastructure, especially Minnesota produced E85 or bio-diesel, and have potential for business development.