About Baltimore-Washington Electric Vehicle Initiative

The Baltimore-Washington Electric Vehicle Initiative (BEVI) is a non-profit public-private partnership founded in 2007 to advance the use of zero-emission electric vehicles.

Established in Baltimore, BEVI currently serves the mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. BEVI’s primary focus is to facilitate discussion, information exchange, education, technology transfer, economic development, public policy and planning related to electric vehicles (EVs) and EV supporting infrastructure in support of climate prosperity.

BEVI is advancing vehicle emission reduction in the transportation sector which is reported to be responsible for thirty percent (30%) of carbon emissions today. Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions and, when re-charged by renewable energy sources, zero emissions overall. Smart infrastructure development to safely refuel these new vehicles will help fortify the electric grid and promote energy independence while also reducing transportation pollution.

John Spears
BEVI Board Chairman, President of International Center for Sustainable Development

John Spears is the president of Sustainable Design Group and President/CEO of the nonprofit International Center for Sustainable Development in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He is an internationally recognized expert with 30 years experience in energy conservation, renewable energy systems, indoor air quality and sustainable design. Mr. Spears provides design and consulting services in the areas of residential and commercial building energy conservation, renewable energy systems, “Green Building” design, indoor air quality and sustainable community development. As a home designer, his homes have appeared in publications such as Better Homes and Gardens Building Ideas, Popular Science, Solar Age, New Shelter, and Environmental Design and Construction and has been featured on Home and Garden TV (HGTV), Dream Builders and Old Homes Restored. Since 1973 Mr. Spears has been consulting with clients such as The Department of Energy, EPA, Electric Power Research Institute, Gas Research Institute, National Association of Home Builders, utilities and product manufacturers. As the Senior Architect for the National Association of Home Builders Research Center, Mr. Spears headed the energy, indoor air quality and building systems research. As Senior Energy Planner for Montgomery County Maryland in the early 1980s, he developed and managed a comprehensive energy management plan to lead the county to energy self-sufficiency by 2020. Mr. Spears has served on the board of directors and founded local chapters of the American Solar Energy Society and the Energy and Environmental Building Association.  Mr. Spears is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) by the Association of Energy Engineers and was awarded the Environmental Professional of the Year 1995.  He is also a member of the US Green Building Council and a LEED Accredited Professional.

Jill Sorensen
BEVI Executive Director and Board Member

Jill A. Tarzian Sorensen is a senior innovation manager with over twenty-five years of experience in intellectual asset and technology management.  She is the founder of Bilyan, LLC, an intellectual property and business development consultancy.   Jill is appointed by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley to serve on the Board of the Maryland Clean Energy Center and the Maryland Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council.   Jill served as professional faculty at the Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business 2005-1010, teaching social entrepreneurship and business ethics 2008-2010.  Previous to Bilyan,Jill served as Executive Director of the Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer (JHTT) office and, before that served for six years as the Director of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Office of Technology Management.  Prior to her assuming the Directorship of UIC’s intellectual property office, Jill served as in-house intellectual property counsel to the University of Illinois for twelve years, advising research administration on intellectual property matters, sponsored research, conflict of interest, institutional review board and academic integrity matters.

Jill earned her J.D. from DePaul University, her B.A. from Northwestern University, pursued graduate studies in chemistry at the University of Illinois, and was a visiting scholar to the University of Oxford in 2004 and 2007.  She is a registered patent attorney, is registered to practice law in Illinois and in the federal 7th circuit district court.

Charles Garlow
BEVI Board Member, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Greater DC Area

Charlie Garlow is an environmental attorney working to enforce the Clean Air Act. He lives in Silver Spring, MD. As the President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Greater DC, www.evadc.org, Charlie has been a long-time advocate of electric vehicles and renewable energy. He has owned several EVs over the years, an e-truck, e-sedan, e-scooter, and currently owns and rides an e-bicycle and an e-motorcycle. He also rides a unicycle and is co-owner of a small bicycle shop that sells, services and rents bicycles, e-bicycles and e-scooters, called the Green Commuter, in Takoma Park, MD. He walks the walk, talks the talk, and drives the jive !