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ELECTRICITY IN THE AIR… AND POWERING CARS, TOO! By Marilyn Anderson & Dennis L. Lanning
Approximately 400 environmentalist investors and celebrities of stage and screen were on hand for the launch party, including Bruce Davidson, Adrienne Janic, Linda Gray, Vincent Gallo, Boti Bliss, Lee Reherman, Patrika Darbo, and the beautiful Darryl Hannah, who was photographing all the happenings. The real “star” of the night, though, was the new Phoenix Sport Utility Truck, all dressed up and ready to go with a special customized red and black paint job. The SUT is the only five-passenger, electric, freeway-speed vehicle in America. It’s a state-of-the-art truck that is ab-so-lutely cool! Able to carry five people and all their gear in quiet comfort, the Phoenix utilizes new lithium battery technology that powers the vehicle for about 130 miles at freeway speeds before recharging, and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 10 seconds. A special charger enables it to fully recharge in a few hours. That rate of acceleration is at the top end for vehicles of this type. True to its roots, the people getting Phoenix off the ground have successfully designed an eclectic utility vehicle that runs and appears conventional in every way, but is transcendent in its environmental effects. Finally! Ed Begley, Jr., enthusiastically endorsed the Phoenix. The environmentally devout Ed owned several previous electric cars and hybrids, and has put his name on the top of the list to buy one of the first 500 Phoenix Motorcars scheduled for delivery in 2008. The Petersen Automotive Museum is a mecca for car enthusiasts. Rare is the museum that stays true to its mandate but is consistently able to put on a variety of shows that fascinate. In addition to the Phoenix event, there was an outstanding exhibit of 74-year-old Ford coupes, entitled “32 Days of 1932 Fords.” Their selection of vehicles is not just meant to tantalize, but also to instruct us in the history of the automobile. Some of the cars are long forgotten, but their impact on car design, engineering, and utility remains. A fantastic exhibit of electric and environmentally sensitive vehicles makes us wonder, “Why did we standardize on fossil fuel?” Soooooo, ride on down in whatever you drive now—and hitch a ride on a tour of this fascinating and compelling venue of our automotive history. And make sure you tune in to Living with Ed on HGTV. * * * Marilyn Anderson |
