There's some sort of great lede here about teaching a man to fish and letting him eat for a lifetime, but I can't get the image of Darryl Hannah licking her biodiesel gas tank cap to figure it out. Instead, I'll just say that these students have been taught the power of biodiesel and they're looking to spread the word. Meeting the Biodiesel Green Ambassadors at the Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica last month was inspiring, and I feel bad it's taken me so long to put this video together, but the final result is now available. Just click the image above for 12 minutes of inspiration.

These students in the Green Ambassadors have learned about biodiesel with the help of teacher Sara Laimon and Josh Tickell, author of Biodiesel America: How to Achieve Energy Security, Free America from Middle-East Oil Dependence and Money Growing Fuel. Tickell is well known for his cross-country tours in the Veggie Van and, as you can hear in the interview at the end of the clip, will have a media-busy 2007. If the kids in video keep their on-camera savvy, I'm sure we'll hear from them much more in the future as well.

You've seen the specs, seen the preview and now, here're the goods. The Electrum Spyder was the big unveiling at the Alt Car Expo, and I was able to speak with Greg Lane, Senior Vice President of Universal Electric Vehicle Corp. and designer of the Spyder, about the car and the attitude of UEV in today's market (hint: he doesn't like EVs that are just boxes on wheels). Lane said UEV is shooting to produce between 100 and 200 vehicles in the first year (they will start to be available in Summer 2007) from their California base. Like Tesla Motors, UEV is talking about a lower-priced sedan version of the EV in a few years. For now, we'll have to enjoy the sleek sights of the Spyder.

Descriptions of what the Alt Car Expo was like are good and all, but I know that pictures can tell stories my writing cannot. Like the bus driver who tried to drive on teh sidewalk. That didn't go so well.

Without further ado, here are some of the sights from the Santa Monica airport's Barker Hanger (inside and out) this weekend. The show continues after the jump.

Michael Kadie of SSI Racing is taking the kit-car approach to building his electric vehicle. A Factory 5 Type 65 coupe, which resembles a Shelby Daytona, is the foundation. Instead of stuffing a hopped-up Ford small-block under the 1-piece nose section he has a TransWarp 11-inch electric motor mounted in transmission tunnel. Plans call for about 1,000 lithium ion cells from A123 Systems as a power source. Regular automotive batteries were used for the show and parade this weekend at the Alt Car Expo because the Li-ion charger wasn't available. Kadie has aspirations to race his car in the NEDRA competiton with goals of running in the 12s at more than 100 mph. With an airbag suspension, it's set up for street cruising while not racing.

In another project, Kadie wants to build a Baja Bug for off-road racing. Kadie suggests that a freshly charged battery back could be swapped in at each pit stop during a desert race. He's in negotiations with the sanctioning body now to open up the rules for the EV's entry.

More photos after the break.

The Santa Monica Alt Car Expo kicks off today, and if you're thinking about coming down to the show, prepare for a wide variety of cars, fuel technologies and individuals. Yesterday, as the show was being set up, I was able to walk around and take a few pictures. You can see them after the jump.

P.S. – Perhaps you heard about the alt car parade and early morning press kick off on Friday. I was supposed to be there. But my flight from Chicago to LAX was cancelled without explanation. Not delayed; cancelled. I did get an automated call at 4:50 a.m. telling that I would be moved to a later flight, but that also meant I arrived late and missed the whole thing. Thanks, United.

While I certainly will be working out in Santa Monica this weekend at the Alt Car Expo, I must admit that I'm also going to enjoy a getting out of the Midwest cold for a few days. I known Santa Monica is no Honolulu, but it'll do.

For now, this post is a bit sparse, but as we report from the Expo this weekend, I will link to all my stories from here (and this introductory text might change). Feel free to bookmark this post (use the "permalink" below for the exact URL) and check back throughout the weekend for updates. We'll have pictures, audio interviews and lots of cool news. Also, if there is a vehicle or a company you'd like more information about (you can see the list of companies attending here), then say so in the comments and I'll do my best to track down that info for you.

Here's are the Alt Car Expo stories so far (updated Thursday, 12/14):

• Alt Car Expo: Video of the Electrum Spyder and interview with the designer, Greg Lane
• Alt Car Expo: Dr. Andy Frank on kicking the oil habit with "no sacrifice in lifestyle"
• Alt Car Expo: Katie Rogers is Carless in L.A.
• Alt Car Expo: Ex-CIA head James Woolsey says Saudi Arabia can't beat PHEVs
• Alt Car Expo: Photo Gallery (includes a bus crashing into a tree)
• Alt Car Expo: Ed Begley and Terry Tamminen on Ending our Addiction to Oil Now
• Alt Car Expo: Brad Hirsch says the Qui Moto not likely to be Myers Motors next car
• Alt Car Expo: More info on Solar Bug, the converted ATV EV
• Alt Car Expo: Feed 400 horsepower with hydrogen, and maybe a cover model will ride along
• Alt Car Expo: Q&A with Plug-In America's Paul Scott
• Alt Car Expo: EV racing in a kit car
• Alt Car Expo: Edwin Black's Internal Combustion LIVE!
• Alt Car Expo: 1980 VW truck becomes a biodiesel Eco Rat Rod
• Alt Car Expo: Electrum Spyder prototype gets mid-show upgrade
• Alt Car Expo: eBox makes public debut
• Alt Car Expo: Electrum Spyder electric roadster unveiled. We've got pictures
• Alt Car Expo: Lee Iacocca gets a present
• Alt Car Expo: Southern California Edison continues PHEV push
• Alt Car Expo: LA biodiesel group "wants" to go out of business
• Alt Car Expo: Solar Bug NEV ready for production
• Alt Car Expo: Movie stuntcar maker builds an electric sprint car for the street? Cool!
• Alt Car Expo: video of the homemade, 100+mpg Moonbeam
• Alt Car Expo: Q&A with Roy Graham on Altairnano batteries, Phoenix electric SUV
• Alt Car Expo: $70,000 Spyder EV teaser video
• Alt Car Expo: Pre-show set-up photos
• Electrum Spyder to be demoed at Santa Monica Alt Car Expo this weekend
• AltCar Expo coming to Santa Monica

The builder of the Moonbeam microcar would like to attend the upcoming Santa Monica AltCarExpo but he is concerned about driving a string of ten 300-mile days at about 40 or 50 mph. Jory Squibb already made a big hit at the Boston Altwheels Festival with his home-built 3-wheeler. The car is based on a Honda Elite 150 scooter and gets 105mpg in city traffic. Squibb says he built the Moonbeam with just over $2,300 in parts and 1,000 manhours. The Moonbeam can seat two and features a tri-position canopy.

I discovered the Moonbeam through an essay from Squibb on The Auto Channel. He's very passionate about the microcar concept and draws much of his inspiration from the Messerschmitt strategy after WWII as well as the 1977 Arola. Squibb's Web site has photos of the buildup and candids from the car's appearances. His latest update on the site expresses concern about driving cross-country as he doesn't want to show off the vehicle's "weakness." He'd rather get a train ride donated and drive from Flagstaff to the to the coast. He's asking for ideas.

[Source: The Auto Channel]