Houston chapter leads toward clean energy in Texas

The outreach efforts of the Houston Electric Auto Association (HEAA), founded 34 years ago in the heart of American oil country, have not always been met with a positive response.

“We had a lot of folks coming up to us at events who weren’t real happy with the space we were taking up in the parking lots,” recalled Kevin Douglass, the HEAA Communications Director who formerly  served 10 years as chapter president. “I remember one guy who was irate just because he had to drive around us as he left a box store.” 

Fortunately, things are different now. “For the past two years, there’s been a whole lot more awareness and interest in electric vehicles (EVs),” Douglass continued. “People are thinking ‘I’m going to get one of these cars at some point and I want to learn more about them.’”

Times are changing nationally with regard to EVs and Houston is no exception, Douglass explained: “A lot of the older folks in the oil and gas industry are retiring, and members of the younger generations are replacing them. They just have a different perspective on the future.”

“We have a lot of Tesla drivers in Houston because the oil execs see them as a status symbol with cool technology. They also like them because they’re fast and powerful.”

Everyone’s asking: How do we transition?

“Clean air and clean water are on everyone’s minds right now,” Douglass said, explaining that city officials have been hard at work adapting alternative energy sources. This includes efforts to electrify the Houston port, a huge hub for petrochemical exports, as well as the city’s 12,000-plus vehicle transportation fleet. 

Perhaps most importantly, a significant level of Houston’s energy portfolio now comes from renewables.  

“Texas understands how to set up energy markets, Douglass said. “We now produce more wind energy than any other state by a large margin.”

A chapter that motivates action

HEAA is a charter member of  the Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance (TxEtra), founded as a lobbying group for the promotion of electric vehicle transportation in the state. The chapter supports TxEtra’s efforts at both the legislative and regulatory level. 

“We encourage our members to contact their representatives in Austin,” said HEAA President Dave Hanson, explaining that recent activity has centered around several bills intended to greatly increase EV registration fees. “The capital is about three hours away by car and a number of our members do the trip relatively frequently.”

Legislative updates are given at HEAA meetings, typically held once a month with approximately 20 chapter members and others in attendance.  

“What’s so great about our meetings is the action they can inspire,” Hanson said, referencing a recent gathering that featured a representative from Aptera who spoke about the company’s plans to build a 3-wheeled, solar-powered vehicle.

“Kevin Douglass is an ambassador for Aptera,” Hanson continued. “As soon as the meeting was over, folks were asking him for the referral code so they could put down a deposit on future delivery.”

Other speakers have included an HEAA member who builds electric motorcycles, another who has converted gas lawn mowers into electric, and a third who is proud to move around his property while sitting in  his converted electric La-Z-Boy. 

Hanson also spoke of HEAA member Jason Rapp, a pro bono coder for A Better Route Planner.

“This is a website where you input your EV  model and your destination and then it plans your route for you,” Hanson said, explaining that he has used the site several times himself with great success. “It gives you the locations of the chargers and how much time it will take to charge.”

“The gentleman who started the project lives in Sweden,” Hanson continued.” Jason contacted him and has been very involved since then. The site has definitely been improving with his help.”

Just don’t bring your Tesla

HEAA meets at TX/RX Labs, a Houston makerspace. “We are very fortunate to have this incredible room donated to us once a month.” Douglass said.

The meeting space features many tools (read: ‘toys’), including 3-D printers and electronic work benches, Hanson explained. “There’s also a lot of possibility for cross-fertilization with other folks using the other rooms. We’re able to invite them to join our meetings.”

Of course, the chapter gathers outside the classroom, too, most often for outreach events held at the usual list of venues. This includes the Houston Auto Show, where the chapter has been asked to display their EVs in a section dedicated to alternative energy.

“The first year we were invited, we planned to show a  few conversions, including a VW bus and a VW Bug,” Douglass explained. “And we also planned to feature a Tesla because the show already had a LEAF. a Volt, and a BMWi3  on display in the main area.”

Unfortunately, when the assigned HEAA member arrived at the auto show with his Model S, security guards in golf carts quickly converged, blocking the entrance. No Teslas allowed.

“This shows you the power of the dealers association in Texas,” explained Douglass. “They don’t like the Teslas because the cars come straight from Tesla, they don’t go through a dealership. So, the dealers feel threatened.”

“Of course, the perspective is a little different now,” Douglass concluded. “With Tesla building its next Giga factory in Austin, and all the money and jobs coming into the state, the winds of change, they are a comin’.”