Electric Rules

“In New Zealand, an idea has been floated to convert up to 60 per cent of the country’s automobile fleet to electric vehicles, which would be e charged with wind power,” writes daily trade publication Environmental Leader. “If about 2.5 million of New Zealand’s 4 million vehicles were electric, they could run off 3,000 MW of wind generation, which is roughly three times the amount of wind power capacity already in place or under construction in New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Herald. Mitsubishi and Meridian are partnering to bring an electric vehicle to New Zealand. New Zealander Ed Kjaer has been director of the Electric Transportation Division at Southern California Edison (SCE) since 1999. Kjaer’s company now operates America’s largest private fleet of pure battery electric vehicles. In mid-March, Kjaer showed President Barack Obama around his workplace where President Obama announced a grant of US$2.4 billion to stimulate the electric vehicle industry in the US. Prior to joining SCE, Kjaer participated in marketing and advertising for Mazda Motor of America and on the launch of Acura Automobiles for American Honda Motor Company.