In 2003, the IEEE Technical Activities Board initiated an effort through the New Technology Directions Committee (NTDC) to foster more rapid and comprehensive actions in addressing new technologies/new directions in existing technologies, particularly in areas not already being addressed by individual IEEE societies or councils. NTDC conducted forums and solicited input from IEEE societies, councils, and key volunteers to identify new technology thrust areas offering particular promise and being of high interest to IEEE volunteers. One thrust area which rapidly gathered significant interest was Future Power and Alternate Energy Technologies (FPAET). Interest grew in the FPAET thrust group to address the challenge of advancing electric transportation technologies, and the idea of addressing the "all-electric ship" topic quickly caught the interest of a number of IEEE volunteers and societies. In fall 2004, it quickly became evident that there was enough interest and activity in the..