The overwhelming theme of the discussion panels at the Austin Alt Car expo last weekend was plug-in vehicles. From questions of infrastructure to the vehicles themselves to the grid load, the weekend served as a crash course in the state of the PHEV industry. Throughout this weekend UPDATE: Monday, actually, then, I'll be posting write-ups from the panels and audio recordings of what was said. If you've ever wanted to have PHEV lessons yourself, now's your chance.

We'll start with the technical panel on infrastructure. This event featured Steve Hauser, from Gridpoint, David Kaplan, who's worked with Microsoft and other tech companies as well as Gridpoint and V2Green (V2Green is partnering with Austin Energy on the smart grid test), and Richard Lowernthal of Coulomb Technologies. Follow us past the jump for the details.

The one press announcement at this weekend's Alt Car Expo in Austin, Texas had to do with the efforts of the local utility, Austin Energy. Austin Energy is hosting this Expo, and used it to mark the end of the Plug-in Partners campaign. Wait, using an alt car show to call an end to a movement that has worked incredibly hard to get the big automakers to focus on plug-in vehicles? Yup. Austin Energy general manager Roger Duncan announced that the Plug-in Partners program is officially finished now because, "We have absolutely achieved success." The rumor is that the EDTA might take over some of the PiP work moving forward, but for now it's mission accomplished.

Also speaking at the press conference was Lloyd Doggett, U.S. Congressman for the Austin area. Doggett said that the smart grid/plug-in efforts are "a campaign that really matters for our city and the planet." Doggett knows what he's talking about; he's worked in Congres for years on getting pro-PHEV legislation passed (we got a chance to speak directly with Doggett about this, and we'll post that interview shortly).

Lastly David Kaplan of V2Green showed of a piece of web-based PHEV software that AE uses to track - and predict - PHEV use. The company currently has two converted Priuses plugged into the network and a fleet of thousands of virtual cars that can help engineers and others understand how customers will affect the grid load and vice versa. It's a new era in grid planning - something we'll have much more on later. For now, you can see the software screens by clicking here (then just click on each picture to go to the next screen).

For those of you who had been hoping to get your hands on a new 2008 Zero X electric motorcycle, we have some bad news. They are all sold out. Now, the good news is that a new revised-for-'09 model will be making its first appearance at the Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica, California, on September 26-27. Of course, we'll be there, on the lookout for all the coolest greenery at the show. We'll need to wait until then to find out what changes have been made, but the press release after the break makes it sound like a thorough upgrade with changes to the frame, suspension, brakes and electric drivetrain. Specs indicate 23-horsepower and just 145-pounds to move around, plus rider. That should get things going pretty briskly. Want one? Don't worry, the new bike is scheduled to begin shipping next month, so the wait shouldn't be too terribly long.


[Source: Zero Motorcycles]

There's some sort of great lede here about teaching a man to fish and letting him eat for a lifetime, but I can't get the image of Darryl Hannah licking her biodiesel gas tank cap to figure it out. Instead, I'll just say that these students have been taught the power of biodiesel and they're looking to spread the word. Meeting the Biodiesel Green Ambassadors at the Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica last month was inspiring, and I feel bad it's taken me so long to put this video together, but the final result is now available. Just click the image above for 12 minutes of inspiration.

These students in the Green Ambassadors have learned about biodiesel with the help of teacher Sara Laimon and Josh Tickell, author of Biodiesel America: How to Achieve Energy Security, Free America from Middle-East Oil Dependence and Money Growing Fuel. Tickell is well known for his cross-country tours in the Veggie Van and, as you can hear in the interview at the end of the clip, will have a media-busy 2007. If the kids in video keep their on-camera savvy, I'm sure we'll hear from them much more in the future as well.

You've seen the specs, seen the preview and now, here're the goods. The Electrum Spyder was the big unveiling at the Alt Car Expo, and I was able to speak with Greg Lane, Senior Vice President of Universal Electric Vehicle Corp. and designer of the Spyder, about the car and the attitude of UEV in today's market (hint: he doesn't like EVs that are just boxes on wheels). Lane said UEV is shooting to produce between 100 and 200 vehicles in the first year (they will start to be available in Summer 2007) from their California base. Like Tesla Motors, UEV is talking about a lower-priced sedan version of the EV in a few years. For now, we'll have to enjoy the sleek sights of the Spyder.

Descriptions of what the Alt Car Expo was like are good and all, but I know that pictures can tell stories my writing cannot. Like the bus driver who tried to drive on teh sidewalk. That didn't go so well.

Without further ado, here are some of the sights from the Santa Monica airport's Barker Hanger (inside and out) this weekend. The show continues after the jump.

Michael Kadie of SSI Racing is taking the kit-car approach to building his electric vehicle. A Factory 5 Type 65 coupe, which resembles a Shelby Daytona, is the foundation. Instead of stuffing a hopped-up Ford small-block under the 1-piece nose section he has a TransWarp 11-inch electric motor mounted in transmission tunnel. Plans call for about 1,000 lithium ion cells from A123 Systems as a power source. Regular automotive batteries were used for the show and parade this weekend at the Alt Car Expo because the Li-ion charger wasn't available. Kadie has aspirations to race his car in the NEDRA competiton with goals of running in the 12s at more than 100 mph. With an airbag suspension, it's set up for street cruising while not racing.

In another project, Kadie wants to build a Baja Bug for off-road racing. Kadie suggests that a freshly charged battery back could be swapped in at each pit stop during a desert race. He's in negotiations with the sanctioning body now to open up the rules for the EV's entry.

More photos after the break.

The Santa Monica Alt Car Expo kicks off today, and if you're thinking about coming down to the show, prepare for a wide variety of cars, fuel technologies and individuals. Yesterday, as the show was being set up, I was able to walk around and take a few pictures. You can see them after the jump.

P.S. – Perhaps you heard about the alt car parade and early morning press kick off on Friday. I was supposed to be there. But my flight from Chicago to LAX was cancelled without explanation. Not delayed; cancelled. I did get an automated call at 4:50 a.m. telling that I would be moved to a later flight, but that also meant I arrived late and missed the whole thing. Thanks, United.

While I certainly will be working out in Santa Monica this weekend at the Alt Car Expo, I must admit that I'm also going to enjoy a getting out of the Midwest cold for a few days. I known Santa Monica is no Honolulu, but it'll do.

For now, this post is a bit sparse, but as we report from the Expo this weekend, I will link to all my stories from here (and this introductory text might change). Feel free to bookmark this post (use the "permalink" below for the exact URL) and check back throughout the weekend for updates. We'll have pictures, audio interviews and lots of cool news. Also, if there is a vehicle or a company you'd like more information about (you can see the list of companies attending here), then say so in the comments and I'll do my best to track down that info for you.

Here's are the Alt Car Expo stories so far (updated Thursday, 12/14):

• Alt Car Expo: Video of the Electrum Spyder and interview with the designer, Greg Lane
• Alt Car Expo: Dr. Andy Frank on kicking the oil habit with "no sacrifice in lifestyle"
• Alt Car Expo: Katie Rogers is Carless in L.A.
• Alt Car Expo: Ex-CIA head James Woolsey says Saudi Arabia can't beat PHEVs
• Alt Car Expo: Photo Gallery (includes a bus crashing into a tree)
• Alt Car Expo: Ed Begley and Terry Tamminen on Ending our Addiction to Oil Now
• Alt Car Expo: Brad Hirsch says the Qui Moto not likely to be Myers Motors next car
• Alt Car Expo: More info on Solar Bug, the converted ATV EV
• Alt Car Expo: Feed 400 horsepower with hydrogen, and maybe a cover model will ride along
• Alt Car Expo: Q&A with Plug-In America's Paul Scott
• Alt Car Expo: EV racing in a kit car
• Alt Car Expo: Edwin Black's Internal Combustion LIVE!
• Alt Car Expo: 1980 VW truck becomes a biodiesel Eco Rat Rod
• Alt Car Expo: Electrum Spyder prototype gets mid-show upgrade
• Alt Car Expo: eBox makes public debut
• Alt Car Expo: Electrum Spyder electric roadster unveiled. We've got pictures
• Alt Car Expo: Lee Iacocca gets a present
• Alt Car Expo: Southern California Edison continues PHEV push
• Alt Car Expo: LA biodiesel group "wants" to go out of business
• Alt Car Expo: Solar Bug NEV ready for production
• Alt Car Expo: Movie stuntcar maker builds an electric sprint car for the street? Cool!
• Alt Car Expo: video of the homemade, 100+mpg Moonbeam
• Alt Car Expo: Q&A with Roy Graham on Altairnano batteries, Phoenix electric SUV
• Alt Car Expo: $70,000 Spyder EV teaser video
• Alt Car Expo: Pre-show set-up photos
• Electrum Spyder to be demoed at Santa Monica Alt Car Expo this weekend
• AltCar Expo coming to Santa Monica