2022 event gains importance as EVs take center stage

Set for September 23 through October 2, this year’s National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) promises to be more engaging than ever before, becoming a true nationwide celebration of electric vehicles (EVs) and their benefits.  

At the time of this post, 239 in person and online events were listed as confirmed.  

“EVA chapters across the country are stepping up to make this year’s program better than ever at a time that demands it,” said EVA President Elaine Borseth. “There’s a huge shift in our means of transportation right now, and we need to make sure that people have the information they need to make the change to electric.” 

NDEW 2022 is presented by the Electric Vehicle Association, Plug in America, Sierra Club, and EVHybridnoire. Platinum sponsors are Nissan and Wells Fargo. Silver level sponsors are Normal Now and Electrify America, and the Bronze sponsor is Edison International. .

Rodeo, EV style 

In North Carolina, TEVA of NC is working with the Town of Carrboro to plan an EV Rodeo on Saturday, October 1, with the intent of corralling as many EV models and ways to charge them as possible.

“We’ll demonstrate there’s an EV and a charging solution for everyone, and that’s even if you live in multi-unit housing,”  said TEVA of NC member Mark Smith. “The town of Carrboro decided to have an EV show at the farmer’s market downtown, so we are planning it with them this year. It was a great idea because so many people go down to the market every weekend.” 

Smith pointed out that Carrborro, a neighboring city to Chapel Hill, is home to many  students and faculty at nearby universities. “So many people ride bikes here, it’s really a bicycle town,” he said. “We’ll be promoting e-bikes and other Light EVs along with The Clean Machine, a local bike shop.”

Also on hand will be TEVA of NC members who have developed a Light EV tech workshop where Smith teaches bicycle mechanics how to become certified e-bike mechanics. 

Younger folks attending the event will be invited to build a veggie racing vehicle. Using carrots, celery, broccoli, and other vegetables, they will be creating 8-inch cars able to roll down a ramp (at least once).

Four-island spectacular

Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association will host 4 NDEW events, all on September 24. On Oahu, Move Electric Oah’u will be held  at the University of Hawaii,  and on Maui, Drive Electric Maui, a collaboration with Blue Planet Foundation, will be held at the Kapolei Marketplace. The Kauai event, EV Celebration, will take place at the Anahola Marketplace, a center run by  a group of Anahola native Hawaiian families who live in the area on land that was set-aside by the U.S. Congress in 1921 and is similar to Native American reservations.  

On the big island of Hawaii, Big Island EV is collaborating with local businesses that will be helping to fund an Electric Vehicle and Sustainability Fair in HIlo at Prince Kuhio mall. 

“This event just grows and grows as the years go by, and this year promises to be the biggest event across the state that we’ve ever had,” said Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association President Noel Morin. “We look forward to this collaboration with many other groups that are focused on clean transportation and clean energy.”

Co-hosting has benefits

The Southern Oregon Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Association (SOHEVA) is partnering with GreenCars, an initiative of Medford-based Lithia Motors, to host two days of NDEW activities in Medford, and one in Ashland. At the Ashland event, James Stevens,  SOHEVA’s past president, plans to demonstrate how to use an EV battery to power-up a home.

“I”m going to show people that it might be a good idea to hang onto their 2015 Volt just so they can use it as back-up if their power goes down,” Stevens said.

Find the event near you

Whether in person or online, see how you can support these truly necessary efforts and have a great time, too.