We’ve been working across the political spectrum for plug-ins at the local, state, federal, and even international level over the past year. It continues to be a volatile time for PHEV and BEV policy work, with new issues around charging infrastructure, incentives, access, and consumer protection happening weekly. As the only non-profit organization representing the millions of potential future consumers of plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles, we see the critical need for strong policy initiatives and updated regulations to leverage consumer use of electricity as a primary transportation fuel.
I’ll be presenting a summary of where we’ve been and where we are headed at EVS26. I’ll also be talking about how our grassroots “bottom up” strategy couples well with a “top down” approach to educating policy makers and initiating legislation. My dialogue session, entitled “Leveraging EV/PHEV Consumer Advocacy to Influence Public Policy” happens from 4:30pm to 6:00pm on Monday May 6, 2012 in the main exhibit hall. Please come by and see what we’re doing!
Jay commented in his section on EVS 26 and his presentation:
” As the only non-profit organization representing the millions of potential future consumers of plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles, we see the critical need for…etc.”
PIA should be careful NOT to say that PIA is the only non-profit doing good things for EV advocacy.
As supportive as I am of PIA, I also support EAA [and their chapters] and Sierra Club [and their chapters/committees] which are non-profits working on these same topics. UCS is also.
Building coalitions is important. We should not gratuitously insult our allies.
Indeed we love building coalitions! I should have probably said the only non-profit solely devoted to plug-in advocacy issues. I like to think we have laser focus on the issues, but we really do appreciate other organizations who are all helping with the heavy lifting, especially those you mentioned!