Advanced Vehicle Innovations group (AVI)

Brooks Solar, Inc. is a member of the Advanced Vehicle Innovations (AVI) group (www.plugincenter.com) based in Wenatchee, WA, and the associated AVI Tech Group since 2005. The purpose of AVI is to foster development and use of PHEV and EV vehicles, and demonstrate their use in north central WA. This is done by hosting conferences, such as the AVI Summit, Power Up!, Electrifying Transportation, in Wenatchee, and demonstrating the technology by converting vehicles to PHEV and EV propulsion.

The AVI has supported the Hybrid Electric School Bus (HESB) consortium project to develop and build 19 plug-in hybrid electric biodiesel school buses nationwide. The only PHEV bus currently in WA state is used by the Chelan School District. The PHEV bus performance will be compared with a similar diesel bus to demonstrate the advantages of PHEV technology. Brooks Solar has contributed time and funds to help with this effort.

The AVI Tech Group has converted a Toyota Prius to plug-in hybrid drive. Called the White "Bird", the vehicle was in use from 2006 to 2008, using a conversion made by Rich Rudman of Seattle based Manzanita Micro (www.manzanitamicro.com). The vehicle was replaced with a 2008 Toyota Prius converted to PHEV by Green Car Company of Bellevue, using a kit from Hymotion, in the fall of 2008.

The AVI Tech Group also converted a 1948 Allis-Chalmers G cultivator tractor to electric drive in 2007. Brooks Solar led this project. The tractor is owned and used by Sunshine Farms in Chelan, a consumer supported agriculture (CSA) organic farm.

In January 2010, the AVI Tech Group became the Wenatchee Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA), a chapter of the national Electric Automobile Association (EAA).