Getting the personal story `
Bay Area chapter helps EV newcomers find the right fit
NBEAA online meeting
The North Bay Electric Auto Association (NBEAA) takes requests for electric vehicle (EV) information very seriously. In fact, chapter members make it a point to help potential EV owners define what car would be best for them from a financial as well as a practical and performance perspective.
“We help consumers understand the value of a particular EV purchase,” said Sonja Cary, NBEAA’s president. “We want them to feel satisfied over time with their choices.”
Cary explained that the potential buyers are first queried about the purpose of the vehicle.
“One woman told us she was looking at a used Chevrolet Spark EV. I discussed her daily needs with her and found out she would be using the car for just local errands,” Cary explained. ”I encouraged her to go with the Spark and it’s been perfect for her.”
For others EV seekers, Cary often finds herself recommending a used Chevrolet Volt, a model she owns herself because “It’s the best $10,000 to $15,000 deal out there,” she said.
“We help folks understand the health of the battery when they’re looking at buying a used car,” Cary continued. “Sometimes we recommend they take it to the dealer for a check.”
NBEAA is also concerned with educating newcomers on how to take advantage of federal and state rebates, and more of late, the Inflation Reduction Act.
“We’re not professional consultants,” Cary said. “We’re just trying to get people more comfortable with EVs and then we send them in the right direction.”
Only an owner knows for sure…
Sometimes queries come to the chapter—generally from NBEAA’s website or at EV display events—that are so specific that only an owner of the vehicle in question can answer.
“A lot of this has to do with trust around new technology,” Cary explained. “It’s scary when you’re buying something new and it can help to talk with someone who has had a similar experience.”
Matching owners with shoppers has gone so far as in-person meet-ups, especially when local dealerships do not have the particular vehicle in stock.
“If they have nothing to show, dealers tell customers to try the local car club,” Cary said, remembering back to an instance where a couple was considering the purchase of a Hyundai Ioniq 5. “The husband was very tall and they wanted to make sure he could fit comfortably into the driver’s seat. So we matched them up with one of our members with an Ioniq 5 who enabled a test drive.”
Far-flung and growing…
Before the pandemic, the NBEAA met in person at Thunderstruck Motors, an EV parts and conversion shop in Santa Rosa with a decades-long association with the chapter. During the pandemic, meetings were switched to online, and for the most part, have yet to return.
“We’re not a big chapter and we cover a large territory—from Novato to Ukiah—so our online meetings make it possible for members who live 50 miles away to easily join us,” Cary explained. “Plus, it’s enabled us to attract new members to join in from outside our area, sometimes way outside.”
Cary attributed at least some of this online success to the quality of the meetings: “We’ve posted some pretty popular Zoom meetings on our You Tube channel, helping us bring in a relatively broad set of participants. We also upgraded our website so folks are able to find us.”
“We discuss recent events with EVs, but we also cover climate change, green building, and electrification of transportation in general,” said Cecelia Sullivan, NBEAA vice-president, about the online meetings. “We have very engaging discussions where the folks who’ve done more reading on a given subject will answer questions.”
“I would say that our particular chapter does more than usual around political movements and technology and engineering,” Cary said. “West Sonoma County is super progressive. A lot of people care very deeply about climate change, and many are engineering-oriented and have a fascination with electric cars. That combination makes our chapter pretty unique.”
According to Gerry Glaser, NBEAA’s most recent past president, the chapter has been considering an in-person/online hybrid meeting format.
“It’s been a challenge because we want the remote guests to feel like they’re a part of things just as much as the participants in the room,” Glaser said. “We’ve tried microphones, we’ve tried multiple computers. We’re still trying to figure it out.”
Adding to the notable members…
“A big benefit of online meetings has been hearing from impressive speakers who then stay engaged with the chapter,” continued Glaser, citing a zero pollution tire manufacturer in London who spoke about low rolling resistance tires and the importance of reducing tire dust.
Certainly, this new participant from the UK fits into this group, many of whom have been pushing the bounds on EV technology for years with EV conversions. Glaser himself has an extensive background in the development of electric buses, and one member has been working on an electric engine to be enhanced with sails for use by the San Francisco Bay Ferry system.
Other chapter members include NBEAA Past President Alan Soule, who drove his Tesla around the planet as part of an 80edays Sustainable Transport Promotional World Tour, and Ray Alden, now 100 years old, who recently renewed his chapter membership.
“Ray has his daughter driving him around in his Tesla,” Glaser said.
Changing with the times
Approximately 27 percent of new car sales in the Bay Area were electric last year, Glaser pointing out that “It’s no longer a novel thing here. When we go out to shows and talk about EVs, we’re getting a lot fewer questions asked.”
Perhaps that’s one reason NBEAA members have been focusing on working with activist organizations around energy and greener vehicle technology.
“We now have a seat on the Sonoma County Transit Authority Community Advisory Committee,” Glaser said, explaining that the chapter just recently found out that the seat had been created for the NBEAA. “It’s interesting the committee would think they should have a chapter member on the board without us even requesting it.” he said.
“We’re looking forward to seeing first-hand what they’re doing, and to give them advice,” Sullivan concluded about participation on the committee. “The more involvement we can have in promoting EVs, the better.”