ann arbor event asks how michigan is positioned to capitalize on plug-in hybrids

This Thursday afternoon (October 23), on the campus of the University of Michigan, several leaders in the areas of automotive research, public policy, venture capital and business will be coming together to discuss the prospects for plug-in electric vehicles and what they might mean for the future of Michigan. The program, called TechKnow Forum 2008: ReCharging Michigan, is scheduled to run from 3:00 to 7:00 PM at the University’s Power Center, and will include such notable guests as John Deniston, Partner at venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, David Cole, Chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, Nancy Gioia, Director of Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs at Ford Motor Company, David Kiley, Senior Correspondent at Business Week, several noted U-M faculty members, and many others at the forefront of the movements to bring plug-in hybrids to market, and build an electricity infrastructure (smart grid) robust enough to make it possible. (A full list of participants can be found here.)

Energy independence has become a central theme in this year’s presidential campaign. As an increasing number of Americans, for various reasons, come to the conclusion that we must wean ourselves from foreign oil, our national dialogue has rapidly evolved. When, several months ago, Al Gore first announced his aggressive 10 year challenge to get America off of fossil fuels, it was seen in many sectors as being highly unlikely, if not impossible. Now, however, with Barack Obama having accepted the challenge and with McCain making renewables a central component of his campaign, it seems as though, whoever wins, there will be a tremendous push to change the oil-based status quo in 2009. The question is, will we be able to produce enough energy for the needs of America, and, if so, can we move it around the grid reliably and efficiently.

To say that changes to sectors like transportation and agriculture will be significant is an incredible understatement. Without ready access to cheap oil, entire systems are going to need to be radically changed from top to bottom, and the ripples will be felt throughout society for decades to come. Some things are certain. The recent trend toward mass transportation will almost certainly grow, and, with it, the demand for more efficient personal vehicles that run on electricity. Among other things, the latter will likely require a new fueling/charging infrastructure to be constructed throughout the United States. This will be a massive undertaking, as will the necessary upgrading of the American electrical grid. Michigan, given its automotive history and active research in such areas as renewable energy and electricity transmission, should be a key player. It seems to be the intent of this event to start laying the groundwork between public and private entities so that we can begin working in a coordinated fashion to envision a post-oil future, set design standards, plan infrastructure, come to agreement on the role of government, and ultimately draft a transition plan.

Given the tight time constraints, audience questions will likely not be taken at the event. People with questions, for that reason, are being encouraged to submit them online now. (It’s likely that the entire event will be webcast, but no plans to do so have been announced as of the time of this posting.)

Tickets are available online… Five dollars from each ticket sold will go toward funding scholarships for students wishing to work at Michigan-based green technology companies through the U-M student entrepreneurship organization MPowered.

[note: Keynote presenter John Denniston, a co-founder of the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Greentech Investment Initiative, was recently profiled along with Al Gore and other KPCB Greentech Initiative partners, in a New York Times Magazine cover story, which can be found here.]