SAVE THE DATE: ANSI Workshop on Standards and Codes for Electric Drive Vehicles April 5-6, 2011

NEW YORK, Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With billions of dollars in public and private-sector investment at stake, few technological innovations have captured as much attention in recent years as electric vehicles. With both the Obama administration and consumers pushing for electric vehicle technology, the standardization community needs to work together to establish technologies and infrastructure that are effective, safe, and ready to accommodate this major shift in our national transportation landscape.

To help to drive the safe and effective implementation of electric vehicles through standards and conformance, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is pleased to announce that the ANSI Workshop: Standards and Codes for Electric Drive Vehicles will take place April 5–6, 2011, in Bethesda, Maryland. This workshop is being convened on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Idaho National Laboratory.

The workshop will consider current and future U.S. domestic, regional, and international standards, codes, and conformity assessment activities needed to facilitate the introduction and widespread acceptance and deployment of grid-connected electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and support services. The workshop will provide a neutral environment where all interested stakeholders can engage in discussions that will identify current gaps in applicable codes and standards, and explore opportunities for collaboration and coordination. A report detailing the workshop findings will be produced following the event.

"In order to achieve our goal of the safe, large-scale implementation of electric drive vehicles in this country, we must rely upon a process that brings the full cross-stakeholder community together," said S. Joe Bhatia, ANSI president and CEO. "By coming together in a balanced and open process, technical experts learn from one another, benefit from each other's expertise, and develop more robust solutions."

The two-day event will be held at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Interested U.S. and international stakeholders may register online by clicking here. Registration is $195 and includes all conference materials plus continental breakfast, networking breaks, and lunch on both days, as well as an evening reception on day one. Complimentary registration is available for those wishing to follow the general sessions via webinar / conference call (listen mode). In both cases, advance registration is required. In the interest of attracting a broad selection of organizations, ANSI reserves the right to limit the number of attendees from any one organization.

A block of rooms for meeting attendees is available at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center on Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 5 for a discounted rate of $219, plus tax. To secure the discounted rate, reservations must be made by Tuesday, March 8, 2011. While the hotel will do its best to accommodate all guests, room availability and the discounted room rate are not guaranteed for any reservations made after this date. Attendees can make their reservations online by clicking here or by calling 1-800-228-9290 or 1-301-822-9200. When making reservations by phone, please be sure to ask for "ANSI Workshop" or "American National Standards Institute" to receive the discounted rate.

Further details, including an initial draft agenda, are posted on the event page. Please bookmark this page to check back for future updates as they become available.

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents the diverse interests of more than 125,000 companies and organizations and 3.5 million professionals worldwide.  

The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and is a U.S. representative to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

SOURCE American National Standards Institute