Making Our Case at the White House
Monday, August 29, 2011 at 01:29PMAneesh Chopra, Assistant to the President and Chief Technology Officer at the White House, is a no-BS guy who wants to get big things done.
Needless to say, we all got along just fine.
We were very fortunate to meet with Mr. Chopra and his team and planned accordingly. After introductions and establishing the groundwork we already understood - that even in the Executive Office of the President there are no magic pots of money and the triad of vision, execution and accountability reign supreme - the Edison2 team dove right into what's at stake.
Edison2 is building the most radically efficient car on the planet, with dramatic potential for adoption in the domestic and global consumer market alongside broad private and public fleet applications. Yet for the growing body of evidence proving the current and future value of our work, a redesigned vehicle architecture poses an immense challenge to the legacy automotive industrial complex.
Thus, our "ask" was simple. We need the technology office in the White House to leverage its mandate and reach to catalyze a broader and deeper understanding of the fundamental process of our work. The targets are both potential R&D partners within various agencies of the Administration, and long-view industry players who can and will grasp that our work represents a virtually inevitable future (and therein, Edison2's significant time advantage).
Once this validation occurs - or "lands" in the parlance of policy - we predict that the deep level of interest we've received from potential partners (OEMs, suppliers, manufacturers), public agencies, and potential scale investors will translate to action.
Since winning the X-Prize, Edison2 has steadfastly remained "car first." We have favored refining our technology and the market readiness of the Very Light Car over positioning the company for a nine-figure loan. But all along the way, we have quietly formed a worldwide nucleus of supporters. Edison2 is reaching a critical crossroads - and the time and attention graciously provided by Mr. Chopra and his team might have provided the beginning of the tipping point we've planned for all along.
There are 124 days left in 2011. Plenty of time for big things to happen this year to set the foundation for Edison2 for years to come.
Reader Comments (13)
That's awesome! I'm so excited for the future of this amazing team and vehicle.
Some thing that works today! Edison2 has build an amazing vehicle that could alter our economy through the reduction in money spent on gas. This vehicle can be built now! Forget politics build the car!
Yes, there are a tremendous number of us cheering for you! I can't be the only one who's sick and tired of these idiotic commercials bragging about 32mpg, as if that were actually something to brag about.
Given the fact that the US is the only first world country with no appreciable increase in avg fuel economy in the last 24 yrs, and auto companies whining about higher standards, I'm very doubtful you're going to find many freinds in the auto establishment.
I hope you have the guts to look for new ways to bring a car to market.
Have you considered asking the unemployed auto workers (not the auto industry) of detroit if they're interested in building the world's most advanced automobile. With Mayors looking for ways to put their citizens to work, you might find a receptive audience in towns with closed down factories.
Hugh Stoll for President 2012.
It makes good economic sense and great environmental and energy security policy to sell every electric car with a matched set of solar panels, or some other form of sustainable energy to recharge the batteries. This would speed the transition to clean sustainable energy. The VLCe with a sustainable energy supply might be the cleanest and most economical car in the world to drive. The reduced car and battery costs of a VLCe might pay for its solar panels or other lifetime sustainable energy supply.
"We need the technology office in the White House to leverage its mandate and reach to catalyze a broader and deeper understanding of the fundamental process of our work."
I am guessing that an engineer didn't write this sentence. I think you want the government office to make introductions, get experts at relevant labs to weigh in, which will hopefully encourage ... investment? manufacturing partnerships? something else? Just say what you mean. When in doubt, keep communications grounded with facts and numbers.
Well congratulations gentlemen! Any luck from your venture? Conducting thorough research is critical to obtain the maximum outcome, and this would include observing all potential options for further development, and maybe even a pilot study to validate your current findings to the public. However, I'm just curious. What exactly is Mr. Chopra going to do to help maximize your desired outcome? What are even the possibilities I wonder? Yes, I know he has a big office, and a really impressive title, and he probably does have a lot to offer. However, I don't have a clue as to what he could do, or what you were really aiming for from this. Please explain it to us further. I am very glad and proud you guys are still tenaciously pursuing this, and that you are still together and that you keep trying. That alone, inspires me.
Hi, so handsome all of your three guys.
The White House has substantial power, not mere influence. Our White House should be 110% behind the eVLC. Indeed, America has herself, a vast manufacturing proficiency that could build large numbers of eVLC's. Indeed, General Motors could be persuaded to build these cars for America, of only we had somebody in the White House with enough guts to do what is right for us all.
The White House can put out bids and place an order for 100,000 eVLC's for use by the Federal Government!
eVLC's looks like alien cars .
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