1.27.2006 ET

(CSRwire) Greenfield, MA ---The Tour de Sol, America's number-one green car show and competition, offers new high-mileage, and zero carbon emission challenges to hybrid and advanced vehicle owners, students, and manufacturers.



The 18th annual Tour de Sol will be held at New York's Saratoga Spa State Park and Spring Auto Show May 10-14, 2006. It will showcase vehicles that can save consumers money at the gas pump while reducing our country's dependence on foreign oil, reducing carbon emissions, and improving the air we breathe.

"The Tour de Sol celebrates the high mileage vehicles that are on the market today, continues to push the envelope toward zero carbon emission vehicles - that is, practical and affordable vehicles that ultimately do not contribute to global climate change," said Nancy Hazard, Executive Director of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), organizer of the event.

"The Tour de Sol offers public displays and competitions with more than $10,000 in prize money. Hybrid and alternative fuel vehicle owners are invited to participate in the Monte Carlo-style rally and high-mileage challenge. Students, inventors, and manufacturers are invited to build and showcase one-of-a-kind or production vehicles that aim to reduce oil use and carbon emissions to zero and to compete in either the Tour de Sol Championship with full-size cars, or in the Around-Town Vehicle Competition for electric bikes and neighborhood electric vehicles. Younger students can get involved in competitions for model cars powered by solar or hydrogen fuel cells.

"While consumer demand for high mileage vehicles has grown dramatically in the past few years - with increasing interest in hybrids, - the best way to build cars that get over 100 mpg is still uncertain," said James Dunn, CEO of the Center for Technology Commercialization, sponsor and Chairman of the Monte Carlo-style rally. "We expect to see some new exciting technologies demonstrated in the 2006 High Mileage Vehicle Challenge."

Thousands of people are expected to come to the Saratoga Spa State Park and the Saratoga Automobile Museums' Spring Auto Show to see over sixty vehicles participating in the Tour de Sol.

"This is the future - this is not just making some symbolic statement, this is talking about our country and its future," said New York Governor George Pataki at the Tour de Sol last year. He went on to say that, "It is absolutely wrong that in the 21st century 95% of U.S. transportation is powered by petroleum. We have to break that dependence on foreign oil, on unrenewable fossil fuels, and hydrocarbon sources of energy. We can do it. We can do it through innovation, through the commitment of government leadership, and, most of all, we can do it through creativity."

Demand for environmentally-friendly energy and mobility solutions is growing among consumers and getting more coverage in the press. Advanced vehicles offer cleaner air and reduced costs at the gas pumps, but there are also growing demands for climate-friendly vehicles and alternatives to traditional auto travel. While hybrids enjoy the spotlight today, it is uncertain what products will emerge to meet these new demands.

"I think we need to find new ways of getting around our communities - ways that do not use the car," said David Hammond, electric bike advocate and organizer of the Around-Town Vehicle Competition.

"The challenge to build vehicles that don't emit any climate change emissions is the ultimate challenge," said Dr. Robert Wills, founder of the Tour de Sol. "For the zero carbon emission prize we will analyze every aspect of all the fuels used by the vehicle, and measure the climate change emissions during production, distribution, and use."

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, organizer of the Tour de Sol, is the Northeast's leading organization of professionals working in sustainable energy, whole systems thinking and green technologies. NESEA facilitates the widespread adoption and use of sustainable energy by providing support to industry professionals and by educating and motivating consumers to learn about, ask for and adopt sustainable energy and green building practices. NESEA accomplishes this through conferences, K-12 educational resources, its Sustainable Yellow Pages, and public events.

For information on how to register or attend the Tour de Sol, please go to www.nesea.org, or www.TourdeSol.org or call 413-774-6051.

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