Felix Kramer
Encyclopedia
Felix Kramer is a communications expert and serial entrepreneur, well-known for his most recent work as founder of the California Cars Initiative (CalCars.org). CalCars is a non-profit he organized in 2002 to build awareness and encourage mass production of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs.
in January 1971. He worked as a writer/editor for organizational and union publications, a member of Congress, a state agency, and for environmental organizations including New York Sun Day in 1978 and the Energy Task Force. With the arrival of WYSIWIG computers and software and laser printing, he started Kramer Communications, New York City's first start-to-finish desktop publishing
(DTP) companies, in 1984, which he sold in 1997.
He was a founding or active member of World Wide Web Artists Consortium, New York New Media Association, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, Electronic Frontier Foundation, National Association of Desktop Publishers, National Writers Union/UAW.
Kramer became involved in fax broadcasting with Folio: First Day (Cowles Business Media) and then with business development, usability and online marketing and promotion for a series of early online startups including SlipKnot
(shareware browser from Micromind), Metrobeat (became Citysearch), PBS-TV's P.O.V.
, and early microtransaction startups.
In 1997, as he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, Kramer founded eConstructors.com, an online marketplace for the web design and development industry, featuring "WhoBuiltIt," the first online reverse directory for websites. He built the company with a small international staff, raised angel funding
and remained as CEO until it was bought in early 2001.
, Kramer moved his focus from high-tech back to his earlier environmental concerns. He approached Amory Lovins
of the Rocky Mountain Institute
(RMI), and entered into discussions with RMI-spinoff HyperCar to advance its concept of a fully optimized, 99 mile/gallon, fuel-cell-powered SUV. He proposed a pre-purchase "demand-pull" model for financing the company.
With co-sponsorship from Hypercar, he organized what became the founding meeting of the California Car Company Initiative on July 29, 2002 in Palo Alto, CA, which evolved into the non-profit California Cars Initiatve, and shifted its focus from hydrogen fuel-cells to the nearer-term plug-in hybrid. The focus was on a solution using existing technology and household 120-volt household power rather than a new infrastructure. CalCars announced its dual approach of technical demonstration of feasibility and advocacy to reach "influencers" and decision-makers. Having recruited engineer Ron Gremban as Technology Lead and begun an open source Prius Plus conversion program, CalCars completed the first Prius conversion in 2004. In 2006, with a conversion by one of the independent conversion companies, Kramer became the "world's first non-technical consumer owner" of a PHEV. He flew that vehicle to Washington DC in May 2006 for the first public viewing of a PHEV on Capitol Hill.
Since then, the name Felix Kramer has become strongly associated with plug-in hybrids and PHEVs. Author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman
acknowledges him as someone "who has made plug-in electric cars not only his passion but an imminent reality." And during these same years, "plug-in hybrid" has nearly become a household word (phrase).
In 2008 Presidential candidate Barack Obama set goals of putting 1 million plug-in cars on the road by 2015 and making half of new purchases for the federal fleet to be plug-ins by 2012.
Now, many if not most of the major automakers plan to offer some type of plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle in the 2010-2012 time frame.
Following this "success," however, Kramer and others at CalCars began in 2008 to address the problem that the rate of market penetration (as a percentage of new vehicles into the national and international fleet) would be remarkably slow, even with optimistic assumptions. To accelerate the "electrification of transportation" and all of its consequent benefits, Kramer and CalCars started their second major initiative: spurring the growth of a new industry that converts existing internal combustion engine vehicles into plug-ins.
.
Kramer has spoken extensively at energy and policy events in the U.S. and internationally, a list of which can be found at CalCars.org. Many of his promotional materials, including the most recent "standard presentation" are also accessible on the CalCars website.
, president and founder of Pro-Media Communications, and they have a college-aged son.
Education and early career
Kramer grew up in the New York metropolitan area and spent considerable amounts of time in Europe, becoming fluent in French. He received his bachelor's degree in American Studies from Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in January 1971. He worked as a writer/editor for organizational and union publications, a member of Congress, a state agency, and for environmental organizations including New York Sun Day in 1978 and the Energy Task Force. With the arrival of WYSIWIG computers and software and laser printing, he started Kramer Communications, New York City's first start-to-finish desktop publishing
Desktop publishing
Desktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer.The term has been used for publishing at all levels, from small-circulation documents such as local newsletters to books, magazines and newspapers...
(DTP) companies, in 1984, which he sold in 1997.
He was a founding or active member of World Wide Web Artists Consortium, New York New Media Association, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility, Electronic Frontier Foundation, National Association of Desktop Publishers, National Writers Union/UAW.
Personal computer and early internet-era activity
Using knowledge gained in the DTP business and his early editorial experience, Kramer co-authored (with Maggie Lovaas) the first book on electronic publishing as a business in 1990 & 1991. The book, Desktop Publishing Success: How to Start and Run a Desktop Publishing Business, sold 25,000 copies in seven reprintings and was widely reviewed, including acclaim as "the Bible of the DTP Biz" by Publish Magazine's editor-in-chief.Kramer became involved in fax broadcasting with Folio: First Day (Cowles Business Media) and then with business development, usability and online marketing and promotion for a series of early online startups including SlipKnot
Slipknot
Slipknot may refer to:* Slipknot , a metal band from Des Moines, Iowa, USA** Slipknot , the debut album by Slipknot*** "Slipknot", first song on their first demo Mate. Feed. Kill...
(shareware browser from Micromind), Metrobeat (became Citysearch), PBS-TV's P.O.V.
P.O.V.
POV is a Public Broadcasting Service Public television series which features independent nonfiction films. POV is a cinema term for "point of view"....
, and early microtransaction startups.
In 1997, as he relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, Kramer founded eConstructors.com, an online marketplace for the web design and development industry, featuring "WhoBuiltIt," the first online reverse directory for websites. He built the company with a small international staff, raised angel funding
Angel investor
An angel investor or angel is an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity...
and remained as CEO until it was bought in early 2001.
2001-present
In 2001, interrupted by surgery for an acoustic neuromaAcoustic neuroma
A vestibular schwannoma, often called an acoustic neuroma, is a benign primary intracranial tumor of the myelin-forming cells of the vestibulocochlear nerve . The term "vestibular schwannoma" involves the vestibular portion of the 8th cranial nerve and arises from Schwann cells, which are...
, Kramer moved his focus from high-tech back to his earlier environmental concerns. He approached Amory Lovins
Amory Lovins
Amory Bloch Lovins is an American environmental scientist and writer, Chairman and Chief Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute. He has worked in the field of energy policy and related areas for four decades...
of the Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute is an organization in the United States dedicated to research, publication, consulting, and lecturing in the general field of sustainability, with a special focus on profitable innovations for energy and resource efficiency. RMI was established in 1982 and has grown into a...
(RMI), and entered into discussions with RMI-spinoff HyperCar to advance its concept of a fully optimized, 99 mile/gallon, fuel-cell-powered SUV. He proposed a pre-purchase "demand-pull" model for financing the company.
With co-sponsorship from Hypercar, he organized what became the founding meeting of the California Car Company Initiative on July 29, 2002 in Palo Alto, CA, which evolved into the non-profit California Cars Initiatve, and shifted its focus from hydrogen fuel-cells to the nearer-term plug-in hybrid. The focus was on a solution using existing technology and household 120-volt household power rather than a new infrastructure. CalCars announced its dual approach of technical demonstration of feasibility and advocacy to reach "influencers" and decision-makers. Having recruited engineer Ron Gremban as Technology Lead and begun an open source Prius Plus conversion program, CalCars completed the first Prius conversion in 2004. In 2006, with a conversion by one of the independent conversion companies, Kramer became the "world's first non-technical consumer owner" of a PHEV. He flew that vehicle to Washington DC in May 2006 for the first public viewing of a PHEV on Capitol Hill.
Since then, the name Felix Kramer has become strongly associated with plug-in hybrids and PHEVs. Author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman
Thomas Friedman
Thomas Lauren Friedman is an American journalist, columnist and author. He writes a twice-weekly column for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs including global trade, the Middle East, and environmental issues and has won the Pulitzer Prize three times.-Personal...
acknowledges him as someone "who has made plug-in electric cars not only his passion but an imminent reality." And during these same years, "plug-in hybrid" has nearly become a household word (phrase).
In 2008 Presidential candidate Barack Obama set goals of putting 1 million plug-in cars on the road by 2015 and making half of new purchases for the federal fleet to be plug-ins by 2012.
Now, many if not most of the major automakers plan to offer some type of plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle in the 2010-2012 time frame.
Following this "success," however, Kramer and others at CalCars began in 2008 to address the problem that the rate of market penetration (as a percentage of new vehicles into the national and international fleet) would be remarkably slow, even with optimistic assumptions. To accelerate the "electrification of transportation" and all of its consequent benefits, Kramer and CalCars started their second major initiative: spurring the growth of a new industry that converts existing internal combustion engine vehicles into plug-ins.
Publications and public presentations
Kramer kept a blog called 'Plugs, Power and People' from 2006–2007, but most of his online publication comes from his Yahoo! news-group news-letter, copies of which are archived on CalCars' website. He has also written op-ed pieces for the Huffington Post, gas2.org, EVWorld, as well as traditional publications such as Green Car JournalGreen Car Journal
Green Car Journal is a quarterly publication created in 1992 that focuses on green vehicles and environmentally friendly energy and technologies...
.
Kramer has spoken extensively at energy and policy events in the U.S. and internationally, a list of which can be found at CalCars.org. Many of his promotional materials, including the most recent "standard presentation" are also accessible on the CalCars website.
Personal life
Kramer is married to Rochelle LefkowitzRochelle Lefkowitz
Rochelle Lefkowitz is president and founder of Pro-Media Communications, a bicoastal public interest public relations firm.-Overview:Lefkowitz co-edited the 1986 book "For Crying Out Loud: Women and Poverty in the United States" with Ann Withorn...
, president and founder of Pro-Media Communications, and they have a college-aged son.
External links
- CalCars.org, site of the California Cars Initiative
- http://www.nlightning.com/resume.html, Felix Kramer's 2006 online résumé
- Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that Will Recharge America, by Sherry Boschert, featuring a chapter on Kramer