National Drive Electric Week extends EV access

Successful 2021 events widen scope and participation

EVHybridNoire members at the Atlanta National Drive Electric Week event

Participation in the 2021 National Drive Electric Week, hosted by the Electric Auto Association (EAA) along with the Sierra Club, Plugin America, and EVHybridNoire, reflected the growing nationwide interest in electric vehicles (EVs), as well as the emphasis placed on expanding diversity in the EV marketplace.

“With gas prices going up and the cost of electric cars coming down, there are real economic benefits to driving electric,” said April Bolduc, EAA President. “Every neighborhood deserves clean air and the transition to EVs is the quickest way to get there.”

National Drive Electric Week event hosts from across North America feel the same way.

Trotwood, Ohio: Sparking EV interest

“I’m a very big believer in promoting economic and racial equity,” said Rap Hankins, the organizer of the National Drive Electric Week event in Trotwood, Ohio, a majority African-American middle-class community near Dayton. “When I bought my VW ID.4, there were only two other EV owners in town. When we looked around our 30 square mile city, we found only one Level 2 charger, and that was basically hidden.”

Hankins and his fellow Trotwood EV owners joined Drive Electric Dayton, as well as EVHybridNoire, and with the support of these organizations, met with the Montgomery County Commissioners. The result was a promise of two new Level 2 chargers to be installed in Trotwood over the next 24 months.

When it came to their event, Hankins and friends added a classic car show component to attract more guests.

“We used social media, passed out 1,000 handbills all over the area, and traveled to Columbus to the largest classic VW event in Ohio to invite the folks there to join us,” said Hankins. “We even used Trotwood’s call messaging system, where everyone in the city received two phone calls about our event.

“If you care about your children and you care about the planet, you have to support EVs for poor and working-class communities,” Hankins stressed. “This is not just about cars. It’s about quality of life. EVs must be made available to all, regardless of economic standing.”

Participant at the National Drive Electric Week event in Trotwood, Ohio

The Trotwood event was just one of many where EVHybridNoire played a part. According to Shelley Francis, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of EVNoire Mobility Intelligence Consulting Group (EVNoire) and EVHybridNoire, “Our members participated in events in California, Florida, Maryland, and everywhere between.”

“EVHybridNoire was excited to be the 4th National Organizational Partner of National Drive Electric Week, a global opportunity to engage all communities around accelerating the adoption of multimodal EVs,” said Francis, who also serves as a Director of the EAA.

National Drive Electric Week at the San Diego LBGT Community Center

LBGTQ, too 

The EV Association of San Diego, in partnership with the California Electric Transportation Coalition (CalETC), the Electric Transportation Community Development Corporation, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Cleantech San Diego, and San Diego Pride, hosted an NDEW event to raise funds for the San Diego LGBT Center. Thanks to SDG&E and CalETC, more than $2,000 was raised.

A wide-ranging selection of EVs was displayed, among them the Polestar 2, VW ID.4, Mustang Mach-E, a Tesla Model S with 420,000 miles on the odometer, and a Tesla Model 3 pulling a 16’ travel trailer.

EAA Vice President Elaine Borseth spoke at the National Drive Electric Week event at the San Diego LGBT Community Center.

Another San Diego National Drive Electric Week event was held on the city’s Broadway Pier, and featured the debut of the Nissan Ariya crossover. It was one of just two Nissan Ariyas in North America available for public viewing.

“Everybody was definitely impressed with the Ariya,” said Elaine Borseth, EAA Vice President and EVA of San Diego President. “With up to 300 miles of range combined with great size and styling, this is a welcome addition to Nissan’s EV lineup.” 

This year’s National Platinum Level sponsors included Nissan and Wells Fargo, Silver Level sponsors Clipper Creek and Normal Now, and Bronze Level sponsors Edison International, Enel x, Community Partners, California Clean Air Day, Climate Action Reserve, and Electric For All.

The Nissan Ariya debuting at the San Diego National Drive Electric Week event on the Broadway Pier

Press on the scene 

Many National Drive Electric Week events across the country attracted local media interest. 

“We were very fortunate to have John Elliott from CBS 2 New York to broadcast live from our venue from 6 to 10 AM,” said Ira Gross of the Central Jersey Auto Association about its event. “The timing was perfect because the public arrived at 10 AM for the festivities. A large contingent of Elliott’s fans showed up.”

The  Upper Saddle River, New Jersey event, which ultimately attracted between 350 and 400 participants, was organized by a team of ‘City Captains’ comprised of high school students, recent college graduates, as well as members of Sustainable Bergen EV Hub and other local environmental committees. 

John Elliott of CBS 2 New York broadcasts from the Upper Saddle River, New Jersey National Drive Electric Week event

“We had tremendous cooperation from dealers and manufacturers in the area,” said Gross, explaining that a range of models were on display. “The Mini Cooper SE was one of the big hits of the day, and BMW was kind enough to bring along the pre-production iX and i4 as well as a beautiful i8.”  

Nearly 30 EV owners displayed their vehicles. Included were a Zero Motorcycle and a Jaguar iPace in addition to many other models.

“Each vehicle displayed a sign with the EV miles driven,” Gross explained. “The signs were sponsored by one of our utility companies in the region.”

“At the end of the day, visitors, dealers, and manufacturers seemed to feel that the event was a great success,” Gross continued. “One of the manufacturers speculated that our marketing model would outperform international auto shows that cost the car companies way too much money for little return. This was really nice to hear after all of the work our City Captains put in to prepare.”

NDEW event in Upple Saddle River, New Jersey

In-person makes a comeback, virtual stays on course

Localities around the country returned to in-person National Dirve Electric Week events, several including ribbon-cutting ceremonies at new charging stations.

Representatives of ChargePoint took part in a charging station debut at the North Carolina Zoo in Randolph County. A ribbon-cutting in Taos, New Mexico featured the CEO of the local electric cooperative as well as a county commissioner and a town councilor.  

Over 40 NDEW virtual events were hosted by EAA chapters and others. The Austin Electric Vehicle Association in Texas offered online discussions about charging infrastructure, emissions reductions in transportation through electrification, and Tesla Solar installations and how they can fully power cars and houses from the sun.

Hawaii’s Big Island EV Association NDEW activities were also virtual only. Included in the agenda were educational zoom meetings highlighting charging infrastructure and legislation, as well as the reflections of chapter members beta testing the Full Self Driving Tesla software.

“We’ve been getting a lot of very positive feedback on both the in-person and virtual events nationwide,” said Bolduc. “We’re very proud of all of our chapter members who organized and participated. It was a spectacular effort that is moving us forward in  EV adoption and access.”

National Drive Electric Week event in Exeter, New Hampshire