Renew America Roadtrip™ he First Coast-to-Coast drive for Green Charity

May 22, 2009

The Renew America Roadtrip^TM (RAR) project today announced they have completed purchase of a Tesla Roadster - "America's first production, highway‐capable, all‐electric sportscar" ‐ to use in their drive cross‐country in support of charity, the economy, and the environment. The trip is scheduled for this summer, July 15‐31 from NYC to San Francisco.

The Renew America Roadtrip^TM is an initiative to make the first green charity drive across America in a production, all‐electric vehicle. By donating their time to make this drive, and funding investment in the vehicle out of their own pockets, the co‐founders of RAR hope to encourage others to make similar contributions and commitments in their local communities.

Working cooperatively with green charities and sponsors across the country, the RAR team hopes to raise significant funds for critical infrastructure, renewability/sustainability projects, and green charities in need.

Funded to this point by the co‐founders and Ross Renewable and Green Solutions (RRG), of Huntingdon Valley, PA, RAR is actively seeking additional sponsors and volunteers across America for regional and national support. Sponsors may contribute at one of three tier levels: green, greener, and greenest, in one of two categories - national or regional. Good vehicle logo spots on RAR's metallic‐white Tesla Roadster are still available for key national sponsors.

"Among other things, the Roadtrip will help people understand that zero‐ and low‐emission vehicle options are available and practical today. Transportation accounts for about 30% of our pollutiongenerating energy use. National hotel chains such as Starwood, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriot, and Wyndham, as well as quick stop locations such as Subway, Walmart, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Fedex, and

McDonalds, and even gas/diesel‐serving mini‐marts such as 7‐11 or even Exxon, Sunoco, and others, can do their part to quicken the adoption of low‐emission vehicles by supporting free or metered recharging facilities. There is an outstanding market opportunity for one or more of the leaders in green to take a lead in this provision. With almost all of the major domestic and foreign automakers having announced plans for significant sales of BEV and/or plug‐in hybrid vehicles within the next year, companies that take a lead in supporting these vehicles stand to gain significant benefits in carbon reduction credits and bottom line occupancy and sales. Many companies are already 'charging ahead' in this area but haven't gotten the word out or made it a national policy. The Roadtrip will serve to highlight some of these leaders," says Michael Craner, co‐founder of RAR.

"Battery electric vehicles are no gimmick. They offer roughly 120MPG, are available today, and their use results immediately in a HUGE reduction in green‐house gas emissions relative to dinosaur‐fueled vehicles, even considering the worst case of charging these vehicles from coal‐fired power plants," notes a supporter of the Roadtrip.

Following completion of the Roadtrip, RAR plans to sell the Roadster in a public auction with net profits donated to eco‐friendly charities.

The co‐founders of RAR will be in Los Angeles area May 28 ‐ June 3, promoting the upcoming Roadtrip and are available for meetings during this time.

For more info, to volunteer, or to discuss sponsorship or participation, contact Michael Craner, cofounder, Renew America Roadtrip, 610‐212‐1253, or email Michael@renewamericaroadtrip.com

Earth Mart to Host Green Festival in Support of Renew America Roadtrip™ and Good Samaritan Shelter

Earth Mart to Host Green Festival in Support of Renew America Roadtrip™ and Good Samaritan Shelter

Treehuggers, Motorheads, and Philanthropists – save the date!  Thursday, July 16, Earth Mart will be hosting a ‘Driving America Green!’ festival from 5PM to 9PM at their 235 Bridge Street location in Phoenixville, PA.  There will be live music, eclectic artwork, delicious food, and a special guest appearance by the road crew of the Renew America Roadtrip™ (RAR) project!  The RAR team will be stopping by the festival on their way cross-country from NYC to San Francisco as part of their drive to raise funds and awareness for renewable, sustainable, and eco-friendly initiatives.  While there, they will be raffling off tickets for charity every 15 minutes for chances to ride in their beautiful Tesla Motors Roadster, ‘America’s first production all-electric sportscar.’ Other electric-vehicle owners can be expected to show up and demonstrate their vehicles as well.  “By donating their time to make this drive, the RAR team hopes to encourage others to make similar contributions and commitments in their local communities and we are 100% behind their message that each of us can do our part for the environment and to help make this country self-sufficient from an energy standpoint, by thinking green across the board,” says Lisa Longo, proprietor of Earth Mart.  Working cooperatively with green charities and sponsors across the country, the RAR team hopes to raise significant funds for critical infrastructure, renewability, sustainability projects, and charities in need.  “When we visited with the Good Samaritan Shelter here in Phoenixville, we were extremely impressed with how much they had done with so little funding.  However, their facilities are desperately in need of repair and we are confident that people will recognize the value of the GSS to the community and give in any way they can,” says Michael Craner, co-founder of RAR.  Nate Hoffer, executive director of the Good Samaritan Shelter, comments “We are excited to be a part of the Roadtrip and intend to use the funds from this drive to implement sustainable and renewable upgrades to our facilities that can reduce our long-term costs and reduce our carbon footprint.  In addition to proceeds from the raffles, we are participating as a ‘drive-a-thon’ partner with RAR which will allow people to further support us by pledging funds on a mile-by-mile basis through the RAR website (www.renewamericaroadtrip.com)”  "Battery electric vehicles are no gimmick.  They offer an equivalent of 120MPG, are available today, and their use results immediately in a HUGE reduction in green-house gas emissions relative to dinosaur-fueled vehicles, even considering the worst case of charging these vehicles from coal-fired power plants.  EV's are so efficient that with enough people driving them, our dependence on foreign oil for driving could soon be a footnote in the history books," says Ross Goldstein, VP of Ross Renewable and Green Solutions (RRG) of Huntingdon, PA one of RAR’s regional sponsors.  Following completion of the Roadtrip, RAR plans to sell the Roadster in a public auction with net profits donated to eco-friendly charities.  For more info, to volunteer, or to discuss sponsorship or participation, contact Michael Craner, co-founder.

About the Renew America Roadtrip™ - The Renew America Roadtrip™ is “America’s first green charity drive coast-to-coast in a production all-electric sportscar.” It is a media event designed to help raise awareness of renewable, sustainable, and eco-friendly (RSE) initiatives and raise money for green charities.  More info:  www.renewamericaroadtrip.com

About Earth Mart - Earth Mart is a leading vendor of sustainable, recycled, repurposed, organic, American-made, and fair-trade produced products.  They are dedicated to providing efficient, clean, and non-toxic products that have been selected for their environmental integrity.  Earth Mart believes that consumers want to make wise choices and buying decisions that will help sustain the environment rather than degrade it and that individual purchase power can make a difference for a better and cleaner world.  More info: https://www.earthmartonline.com/

About the Good Samaritan Shelter - The Good Samaritan Shelter is a Christian ministry that provides emergency and transitional housing and other critical services to homeless men in the Greater Phoenixville Area.  It is a private non-profit, non-denominational organization founded in 1999 that serves as the primary men's shelter northern Chester County. “Silver and gold I have not, but what I have I give to you” - Acts 3: 6.  More info: www.goodsamshelter.org

About the Tesla Motors Roadster – The Roadster is a pure battery-electric vehicle with ‘no limitations.’  With a range of 240 miles per charge, a 130 MPH top speed, and a 0-60 spec of 3.9 seconds, the Roadster rivals or trumps some of the world’s best known sportscars from Lamborghini, BMW, and Ferrari.  Truly a technological marvel, this car is in production today, and along with the recently announced Model S, a pure battery-electric family sedan, represents the future of green driving for Americans. More info:  www.teslamotors.com

About Ross Renewable and Green Solutions (RRG) – RRG is a leading installer of renewable energy solutions including solar thermal / photovoltaic hot water, heating, ventilation, pumping, and waste heat recovery systems for commercial, industrial, and residential sectors throughout the Northeast.  More info: http://www.rossmechanicalgroup.com/greenenergy/index.htm

Michael test drives the Tesla Roadster

Michael tests drives the Tesla roadster in preparation for the Renew America Roadtrip scheduled for July 15-31, 2009

Madushini describes her first impressions of the Tesla Roadster

Maddy describes her first impressions of the Tesla Roadster on a trip to Virginia to get a feel for the car before using it in America's first cross country trip in a production electric vehicle to raise awareness of the practicality of EVs, raise consciousness regarding the environment, and raise money for charity. Scheduled for mid-summer '09, for more info email info@renewamericaroadtrip.com

Fred, core team member of the Renew America Roadtrip project tries on the Tesla Roadster for size

Fred gets his chance to evaluate the Roadster at the test drive in Herndon Virginia in April '09. It certainly does wonders for his image, and is it me or does he look at least 10 years younger surrounded by all that shiny red metal and chic electronics?