EV me out to the ballgame
Ohio EVA chapter scores with Reds Minor League Baseball
By Rap Hankins, Member, Drive Electric Dayton
Day Air Ballpark on day of Drive Electric Dayton event
My family and I have had our first electric vehicle (EV), a VW ID.4, for 9 months now. In the beginning, I believed all I had to do was to plan a ride-and-drive demonstration, do whatever I could to promote it, and invite everyone I knew.
Sadly, when I organized our first Trotwood, Ohio event in September of 2021, I discovered my premise was flawed. The EV-curious showed up, but not in the numbers I had dreamed. Surprisingly, however, the vendors and the folks who did attend were impressed with what we’d done.
My love for EVs had inspired me to create a decent event, but the event did not inspire enough “suitors” for these vehicles to take us much closer to saving the world. So, development of a new strategy was in order. The result? We’re taking EVs to the people rather than inviting the people to the EVs.
Young folks first
Our next event was Drive Electric Dayton’s (DED) Drive Electric Earth Day presentation at Trotwood-Madison High School, where we had a “captive” audience of students! Yes, that worked much better.
We followed that up with an even better idea, hosting a display in May at the Aullwood Farm Babies Fest. This event features newborn baby animals, and baby animals are cute, so the audience was substantial and in a good mood. When folks strolled past our EV’s, many showed interest, one out of 10 pledging to make their next car an EV.
On a roll here?
I realized I had a formula that worked. Not only were the events worthwhile, they were attracting more attention. I knew I had to keep this going with some fresh ideas. That was when “EV Me Out to the Ballgame” was hatched.
I met with the Dayton Dragons, a Minor League Baseball High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. I proposed that we sell tickets to EV enthusiasts and split the cost 50-50 (with our proceeds going to DED).
I had wanted to place our EVs on the concourse (in front of the stadium) to showcase our cars. When the Dragons proposed we use a parking lot across the street. I was a bit disappointed. It was not in the natural foot traffic flow into the stadium. But, I thought, “We can make it work.”
Enjoying the ballpark EV event
Dragon fire
We bought 40 parking spaces at $5.00 per spot and proceeded to plan our event. We advertised with all the local EV groups, used Facebook, and touched all the individuals we knew who might be interested in attending a game and seeing EVs. The stadium holds approximately 10,000 people.
Several days before the event, the Dragons allowed me to park my EV on the concourse where I could be the “barker” to our EVs across the street in the parking lot. We employed a local DJ to attract attention and hired Sweet Pea’s Gourmet to hand out ice pops to motivate passersby to cross the street.
We had 35 EVs of all makes, models and shapes, including a Ford F-150 Lightning truck. EV enthusiasts joined us from Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Kentucky. We sold 80 tickets to the Dragons game and will receive approximately $500.00 from the team. It was a good time had by all and proved my thesis: go where the people are.
The author speaking at the Day Air Ballpark ride and drive
Keeping on course
Our next two ride-and-drives will be at Trotwood’s National Nite Out (August 2), and the African-American Cultural Fest (August 20 & 21), the largest venue of its type in the Midwest. We will also continue to do intimate and small events in neighborhoods with targeted groups, however, our focus remains: going to the people with the message that “The EV EVolution is here.”
Gathering at the ballpark event