LIZA DELIVERS!

She did it!

AP Reporter: “Fourteen-year-old Liza Stoner looked none the weaker today following a monthlong bike ride from Minneapolis to Washington, energized by her cause: to promote more environmentally-friendly electric vehicles.”

In her Ride For Renewal, Liza Stoner took a petition signed by 1200+ EV advocates to the nation’s capitol. Her audacity and perseverance justifiably won the attention of Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn), a champion of New Energy.

Senator Klobuchar: "We've seen time and time again that when it comes to new technology, a lot of times younger people lead the way…And this is the ultimate: when you have a 14-year-old coming to tell some of the older people in Washington that it's time for a change."

NewEnergyNews readers will be familiar with Liza and her cause. (See LIZA’S RIDE FOR RENEWAL: A WEEK AWAY!)

At the ceremonial presentation of Liza’s petition – give us electric cars! – to the Senator on the steps of the Capitol Building overlooking the Washington Monument, Liza spoke to the AP reporter: "I want to raise awareness for electric vehicles and try to get something started…I want to let people know that the technology exists, and we could have electric cars — we just have to do something about it."

Liza's petition calls on Congress to recognize electric vehicles’ importance with tax credits for their manufacture, sale and for organizations that purchase them in fleets.

Of Republican presidential candidate John McCain's call for a $5,000 tax credit for retail purchasers, Liza said "[It] would help, but I think we need to go further too. It's definitely a step in the right direction. I think the car companies need to start making the electric cars."

Like so many young people, Liza is taken with Democratic candidate Barack Obama. And, as Senator Klobuchar pointed out, "Obama has many ideas as well for making cars more fuel efficient."

Liza recounted for the AP reporter the story of how her EV passion began when she saw the movie Who Killed The Electric Car? Liza: "I was mad about that because it was such a promising technology…I was with two friends and telling them all about the movie, and I just kind of randomly said, 'I'm going to ride my bike to Washington, D.C., and demand electric vehicles.' And they were like, 'OK, cool, we're going to come with you.' "

Liza’s critics – and believe it or not she has some – have demeaned her effort because, while mother Amy biked with her, father Jeff and little brother Christopher, 8, followed in a support car. Though the family tried to rent a hybrid support car, they were forced to settle for a gas-guzzling SUV.

Lots of people think about doing something or say they are going to do something. Others pontificate, declaring they know what would have been more perfect. What Liza has done with her summer vacation – she DID something to make the world a better place – speaks volumes about her and her cause.

Here’s one for Liza from Theodore Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

click to enlarge

Minn. Girl delivers petition after biking to D.C.; She rode 32 days to deliver signatures promoting electric vehicles
Frederic J. Frommer, July 21, 2008 (AP via Minneapolis Star Tribune)
and
Girl delivers electric vehicle petition after biking to D.C.
July 21, 2008 (AP via USA Today)

WHO
Liza Stoner, 14; Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn); Presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-Ariz)

WHAT
On her Ride For Renewal, Liza Stoner has spent her summer vacation bicycling 1500+ miles from her home town to the nation’s capital to deliver a message to lawmakers: Get behind the Electric Car!

Liza Stoner presents her petition to Senator Klobuchar. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
Liza left June 16 and arrived in D.C. July 18.
The formal presentation of the petition to Senator Klobuchar took place July 21.

WHERE
1,585 miles from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Washington, D.C. - by bike!
Liza presented give us electric cars! to Senator Klobuchar on the steps of the Capitol Building.

WHY
- Liza was inspired by the movie Who Killed The Electric Car?
- Liza was excited to pick up inside chatter in Michigan from engineers who worked on the EV1.
- Liza’s website features the Zap X, the Tesla Roadster and the Zenn electric cars.
- The website also has a link to Plug In America
- More PHEV doings at Plug-In Partners
Senator McCain has called for a $5,000 tax rebate to go to purchasers of zero-emissions vehicles (ZEVs).
Senator Klobuchar pointed out there are several pieces of pending legislation to support electric vehicle development.

Liza and little brother Christopher and one of the rules of the road. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Liza: “I am hoping to be a very active environmentalist. Since the spring of 2007 I have wanted to ride my bike to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness about the need for electric vehicles and to deliver a petition asking for tax credits and incentives for companies who produce or purchase electric cars.”
- From Liza's petition: “We the people are asking you [Congress] to pass legislation that would grant tax credits and incentives to companies who design, produce, manufacture or sell electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States. Additionally, we are asking for tax credits for organizations that purchase fully electric vehicles for their fleets, such as delivery and mail services, municipal and state police, private security firms, and school and municipal bus systems.”
- Liza, on the bicycle journey: “It’s been really fun…I’ve had time to think how much better it would be if all the cars were electric.”
- From Liza’s website: “…the technology to produce fully electric vehicles (EVs) exists…EVs are superior to gas-powered cars…Electricity is cheaper than gas and can come from renewable sources such as solar and wind power…Electric cars are more reliable and require less maintenance…By using domestically generated electricity rather than foreign oil, we may achieve energy independence and…security…Electric cars can use the existing electric grid and do not require that new infrastructure…”