Are you ready for plug-in vehicles to take over from conventional petrol and diesel cars? Well if you live in Portland, Oregon; Indianapolis, Indiana; or Raleigh, North Carolina; then chances are you’re better prepared than most.
That is because the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) has launched Project Get Ready that is intended to help these communities prepare for plug-in vehicles such as hybrid electric cars, converted hybrids, battery electric vehicles and internal combustion vehicles.
RMI has launched a project website and provided a list of actions to the communities to help then get ready for the transition. It is suggesting a stretch target of two per cent of registered vehicles by 2015.
According to Laura Schewel, the project manager, each community taking part in the scheme is unique with different commuting patterns, parking concerns and cultures. So instead of battling this diversity, Project Get Ready welcomes it by allowing communities to prepare in their own way.
On the Project Get Ready website there is a menu of strategic actions that city and regional leaders can enact to help them become plug-in pioneers. There is also a database of national and international plug-in readiness activities.
RMI hopes to convene in at least 20 cities and provide a benchmark to help these cities prove they are ready for mass adoption of plug-in vehicles.
