The 18-year-old founder of the Arkansas EAA chapter was hooked on EVs at first sight

Spencer Rhoden’s interest in electric vehicles (EVs) began abruptly in his high school engineering class in Benton, Arkansas when he was in ninth grade. 

“We were ahead on our assignments and it was kind of a chill day, and the teacher, who was apparently a Tesla fan, went to the TV and turned on a live report of the Model 3 unveiling,” Rhoden said. “I was immediately hooked.”

Then 14 years old and living in a state where barely 500 EVs were registered, Rhoden had no previous knowledge of Tesla or of EVs for that matter. 

“I’d always been interested in computer science and the technical world—my dad was a computer programmer—and I was into robotics,” he explained. “I was very impressed by the specs of the car and by the way (Tesla CEO) Elon Musk was talking about them.”

“It led me down a rabbit hole of researching on my own,” he continued. “I was on a mission to learn anything I could about Teslas, and then I realized there were other electric cars, too!”

Keeping up with EV news: part hobby, part obsession

Spencer began talking up Tesla to his parents. “I brought it up nearly every night,” Spencer explained. “I focused on the Model 3 because it was affordable. I remember the time I pulled it up on my laptop and showed them they could buy one right there from the dinner table.”

Spencer was actually preaching to the choir, his parents were environmentalists committed to recycling, reducing consumption, eating organically, and driving Prius hybrids. Nevertheless, convincing them to purchase a Tesla “was a four year ordeal,” he said.  

“My parents don’t buy new cars until their old cars break down and can’t go anymore,” he said. “It took awhile before an opportunity came up.”

Loyal to the Toyota brand, the Rhodens looked at a Prius Prime, but the Toyota salesman barely understood the car and had nothing on hand to test drive; not because he had no Primes, but because none of them were charged. 

What the dealer did know about were the similarities between the Prime and the Tesla. “He pointed out a bunch of Prime features that were similar to Tesla features,” Spencer said. “So my folks came home and said, ‘Why don’t we just buy a Tesla?’”

But there is no Tesla dealership in Arkansas and the Rhodens refused to purchase the vehicle online from the dinner table.

An impromptu trip to Texas 

“We always planned our travel months in advance, and here we were, deciding to leave the next day,” Spencer said. “I thought my parents had gone crazy.” 

“I was in awe when we walked into the Tesla showroom in Dallas,” he continued.  “I’d never been in a Tesla and I was ecstatic to ride in one.” 

While his mother tried out the autopilot and auto parking, Spencer sat in the rear with his father, comparing Tesla to Apple and its development of the iPhone. “When I told my dad about the updates, and the constant improving of functionality, well that really resonated with him,” Spencer explained.

“My mom was giddy after she drove the car,” he continued. “I was shocked when she asked the salesman if I could drive it, too. What an amazing experience.  Totally exceeded my expectations.”

Minutes later, when his mother decided to buy the car, “I just kept thinking I was dreaming. I ‘d been talking about it for four years, but I didn’t really think it was in the realm of possibility.” 

Back in Benton with their Model 3, the Rhodens attracted attention.“We’ve always had our fair share of weird looks in Arkansas,” Spencer said. “People used to approach us in parking lots to convince us to get rid of our Prius. Now they’re coming up to check-out the Tesla, and it’s positive this time.”

Turning his EV passion outward

Currently a freshman at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas, Rhoden is organizing a brand new chapter of the Electric Auto Association from a dorm room that also serves as headquarters for a business he launched seven months ago.  

“REV Brand is an EV-themed line of clothes and accessories,” he said. “A portion of the proceeds go into building charging stations, as well as funding EV research, education and outreach efforts. We’ve partnered with Adopt a Charger, and together we received a grant from Entergy Arkansas.  Part of that money is funding the launch of the EAA chapter.”

Rhoden explained that the primary initiatives of the Arkansas chapter will eventually be educational in nature, most likely centered around two events, one during Drive Electric Earth Day in April and one around Drive Electric Week in September.  

For now, the chapter’s main focus will be growing membership, presently standing at three founding members.“I’m optimistic about our chances for success,” Rhoden concluded. “There are so many new EVs the market, and so many more people are checking them out. I don’t think we’ll have any problem.”

And who knows?  Maybe even Spencer’s parents will join.