Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy, Business of Plugging In
David Cole is the chairman of the Center For Automotive Research. As such, he is deeply connected to the industry and played a big role in organizing the Business of Plugging In expo in Detroit last week. We've talked with Cole in the past, and caught up with him at the expo to hear what the Michigan-centric conference can tell us about the future of plug-in vehicles in the mitten state.There are six big companies with "significant" R&D facilities in Michigan - the three big domestic manufacturers plus Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai - and Honda has a major facility in Ohio. On top of this, there are about 300 tech centers for suppliers in the area, so it makes sense to try and bring these players together at a conference. Adding a plug to the vehicle means involving a larger cast of characters than has been common in the past, and new relationships must be developed. This is not easy to do.
"People tended to trivialize the complexity of the industry because it's so easy to drive cars," Cole said. Not true, he said, not true at all. Read more of his thoughts after the jump.
Continue reading PEV 2009: David Cole explains why adding plugs to cars is anything but simple
PEV 2009: David Cole explains why adding plugs to cars is anything but simple originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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