E Patrol's "E-car" Enters Automotive Hall Of Fame
Ford Motor Company's Andy Acho (upper left) and E Patrol founder Laura Lombardi (upper right) present "E-car," an interactive environmental exhibit for kids. The one-of-a-kind mini-car is now on display at the Automotive Hall of Fame, Dearborn, Michigan. E-car was created for Ford by PlaNet Productions, Olathe, Kansas.
"E-car, the E Patrol Talking Car," a unique interactive environmental exhibit for kids, has been placed in the new Automotive Hall of Fame, Dearborn, Michigan, where it will be displayed through October 11.
The colorful mini-car was created for Ford Motor Company by PlaNet Productions, Inc., creators of television's "E Patrol."
Featured during the Ford/E Patrol Recycle Rally, a series of Earth Day events, E-car is styled to resemble a toy, but at nine feet in length it is big enough to comfortably seat two school-age children.
"E-car was the star of the show at the Recycle Rally," explains Laura Lombardi, E Patrol founder. "In every city, from Dallas to Detroit, kids loved him, and, consequently, they listened to what he had to say about the importance of recycling and choosing recycled-content products."
E-car's fiberglass body is painted five different colors and has working headlights and taillights and Rally light bar. The frame is made from recycled steel.
E-car has a complete suspension system that makes it respond like a real production vehicle when children climb in, moving with their actions. The steering wheel turns the American Racing wheels on which are mounted full-size, high-performance Goodyear Eagle racing tires.
Inside E-car is a dashboard video monitor where, on a DVD system, young "drivers" can see the E Patrol Members Only! television vignette series. These kid-hosted, kid-friendly TV messages address environmental subjects of interest to 6-to-12-year-olds, including ways kids can help recycle more materials.
E-car shares more recycling information through digital audio recordings located throughout the car. Children can play (and hear) several messages at the same time.
Custom-built on a frame crafted from 240 feet of steel tubing, E-car has 30 lighting fixtures, 10 amplifiers and 10 CD players. The voice of E-car was provided by Willie Aames, known for his roles on the family TV series "Eight Is Enough" and "Charles In Charge."
The Automotive Hall of Fame opened in Dearborn less than a year ago. It is not a car museum -- no more than six automobiles are exhibited at any one time -- but is described as "a celebration of human accomplishment," offering three changing exhibits annually. Located at 21400 Oakwood Boulevard, the 25,000 square foot facility is adjacent to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village, but is a totally separate organization founded in New York City in 1939 as an independent, not-for-profit group representing the worldwide motor vehicle industry.
PlaNet Productions, Inc., Olathe, Kansas, is an environmental marketing company that syndicates television messages, produces marketing programs and events, creates educational materials and licenses consumer products, all under the E Patrol ® brand, the national brand For Kids Who Care About The Earth. E Patrol teaches children simple, achievable things they can do within their homes, neighborhoods and schools to improve the environment for everyone.
Get more information on the Automotive Hall of Fame from their website.
http://www.theautochannel.com/mania/industry/ahf/ahf.html
Visit Ford Motor Company on the World Wide Web.
©1998 PlaNet Productions, Inc