WAKARUSA -- First, Wil Cashen, chief executive officer of Electric Motors Corp., slammed the green champagne bottle against the pillar. Then he pounded it on the sidewalk several times before the glass shattered and the contents exploded across the pavement.
Although the christening of EMC's Elkhart County home was not flawless, it represented a tangible milestone in the development of a new industry and new jobs in the area. Those who are having trouble believing Cashen will be successful in his plan to manufacture electric-hybrid and electric vehicles here, can look at this building and see "they are here, they are working," said Tom Roeder, town manager of Wakarusa.
The building is the former DeMartini RV dealership that closed shortly after Monaco Coach Corp. announced it was leaving Wakarusa. EMC has purchased the property at the corner of S.R. 19 and Nelson Parkway and will use it for company offices as well as a showroom for its vehicles.
Before EMC moved in, the structure provided the space for the Nappanee Green Summit. The Thursday event, which included the christening ceremony, brought together civic and business leaders to explore how the "green revolution" can spur community development. Cashen, along with Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, Jo Ann Gora, president of Ball State University and Gordon Moore, vice president of McCormick Motors in Nappanee, were among the guest speakers.
Speaking to the crush of media, Cashen emphasized he wants to create partnerships with different companies who will supply technology and parts to his manufacturing operation. To date, EMC is working with Gulf Stream Coach in Nappanee and Livernois Vehicle Development in Michigan. Also, Cashen said he is negotiating with General Motors to see, as he put it, what products and divisions are in their trash that he might use.
"Integration of technology is an easier step and it's closer to what this community does on a daily basis," Cashen said, explaining EMC will not be developing components and products that are already available. "We integrate technology that has been heretofore supplied to us, meaning the Elkhart community incorporate, from the Detroit area through the automotive industry."
Manufacturing operations will start with retrofitting light-duty trucks with EMC's electric-hybrid drive train system. Cashen said the trucks will look noticeably different when they hit the road and will retail for $42,000 to $80,000.
The grand plans continue to raise questions and even doubts but Cashen's confidence does not waiver, particularly as he is pressed for details. His company's future is not dependent on the $300 million in assistance it has applied for from the U.S. Department of Energy, he said. The federal funds would just enable EMC move forward faster with its plans.
Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson attributed the uncertainty to the unconventionality of the project.
"For us, it's just so different than anything we could have imagined," he said.
In his hand, Thompson gingerly carried the jagged broken neck of the champagne that Cashen had smashed earlier. He wanted to preserve the artifact that, he said, symbolized the community's future.
However, Cashen noted, the future lies with the knowledge local companies currently have. EMC vehicles will be customized to buyers' specifications which is something Elkhart County companies do now. As an example, he explained, customers will be able to order their vehicles with such components as solar panels and a "unique entertainment system."
"It's a hot rod for the masses," Cashen said.
Gulf Stream is drawing on experience from the van conversion industry to work with "unique technology" and add the creature comforts the vehicles," said Mark Smith, vice president of the intellect technologies group at the recreational vehicle maker.
The goal, Cashen said, is to create a vehicle that gives buyers what they want with the fuel efficiency they need.
Americans don't want small cars," he said. "They don't want to edit they're lifestyle for any reason and they shouldn't have to."