Couple Launch Cross-Country Roadtrip To Promote EVs, Raise Funds for Charities
By John O'Dell July 16, 2009
By
Robert E. Calem, Contributor
In an effort to promote the viability of electric vehicles for personal transportation, and inspired by President Obama's call for Americans to develop "do-it-yourself" community service projects, two suburban Pennsylvanians are embarking on an ambitious cross-country drive from New York to San Francisco in a Tesla Roadster--with events planned at more than 20 stops along the way.
Dubbed the "Renew America Roadtrip" or RAR, it is the brainchild of Michael Craner, an electrical engineer and freelance inventor, and his medical-student girlfriend, Madushini Gunawardana, of Chester Springs, Pa.
They have been planning the trip for the past two-and-a-half months, and their intention is two-fold, they say: to promote "renewable, sustainable, [and] eco-friendly" initiatives, and to raise money for a variety of charities.
The pair started their adventure Wednesday with a small kick-off press conference hosted by the Westin New York at Times Square., one of the trip's sponsors. In December, the hotel became the first in New York City to be certified a "green hotel" by Green Seal.
Besides Craner and Gunawardana, there is also a network of more than 40 individuals who are supporting the "RAR," including fellow Pennsylvanian Wesley Noonan-Sessa of Pottstown, who will be following the couple along the route in an Altima Hybrid support vehicle loaned by Nissan., and Don Auker and Angie Groff, a Lebanon, Pa., couple who plan to follow the convoy across Pennsylvania in their own Tesla Roadster.
Stops are planned at the Ford Museum in Detroit on July 19, at a wind turbine in Stuart, Iowa on July 22, and in Las Vegas on July 27.
Craner and Gunawardana said they expect to arrive in San Francisco on July 31, when they plan to award the Tesla they drove to the highest bidder in a charity eBay auction to be held during their drive.
Craner said he purchased the Tesla himself with a loan, and the trip is entirely self-financed, although sponsors, he noted, are contributing goods and services - such as a room at the Westin New York and an aftermarket Rockford Fosgate sound system installed in the vehicle.
The eBay auction will be used to pay off the balance owed on the vehicle, and any remaining profits will go to charity, he said.
Among the charities on the duo's list are Good Samaritan Shelters, the Autism Society of America, the Parkinson Alliance., the American Lung Association and Sarvodaya USA.
The Electric Auto Association is also on their list.
In addition to proceeds from the auction, the pair plan to raise funds for the charities through a pledge page at the RAR Website.
For those interested in following the couple's progress,the RAR site also includes a map that tracks their cost-to-coast trip.
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Photo courtesy of Michael Craner
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Click here to comment on this entry.Bravo for them! It's a great test of a battery EV to go the distance through the diverse terrain and weather. Drag that they need an SUV follow them with their luggage, though. Stopping every 145 miles or so to charge is going to make for a long trip!
"In an effort to promote the viability of electric vehicles for personal transportation"
Then why do you need chase vehicles?
That sounds like a very long drive, not only stopping every 145 miles to charge, but taking 6+ hours per stop to charge up. I'm all for promoting all the new alt fuel technologies, but glad they are doing it (and have the time), as I couldnt take weeks off work for this. Also, how will they ensure they electricity they use will be renewable in the other dozen or so stops?
I know a couple who dove an old MG across Canada with no support.
Needing a network of 40 people and a chase car to get 2 people across the country in a $100,000 car just shows electric cars are not ready yet.
This journey sends completely the wrong message about electric cars.
1.No back-up vehicle should be used.
2. Tesla should arrange for the batteries to be exchanged for fresh ones at every stop. This way the stop need not/should not take more than a few minutes.
3. They should aim to cover at least 500 miles every day.
If batteries cannot at present be quickly exchanged then Tesla should re-design the battery pack to allow quick changes. Better still would be an industry agreed standard battery pack that could exchanged on ALL makes of battery cars. Garages would keep these battery packs charged ready for the next electric car that stops.
Only then will electric cars be a viable alternative to the cars with internal combustion engines.
The alternative would be to find a way to charge batteries much more quickly.
Peter Ross
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