Space Coast EVA Chapter to “Launch” Drive Electric Events
EVA Contributors | Will Smith, Pres. of Space Coast EVA, Bob Hathaway VP of Space Coast EVA, and Bill Bowden, Dir. of Space Coast EVA
EV Terms in this article:
Battery Packs | EV Ride and Drives | Level 2 Charging Station | Off-Peak Pricing Programs
While NASA and SpaceX have big events throughout the year, the Space Coast Electric Vehicle Association can say the same and especially in April. The Space Coast EVA will “launch” their main event on Sat., April 22 at the American Car Museum in Melbourne, FL, where there will be dozens of electric vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles — sign up here. The chapter has over 25 different electric vehicle models registered as of April 13.
Space Coast EVA has many events in the sunshine state and has been showcasing Ford’s new F150 Lightning electric pickup truck.
“We get a positive reaction when we showcase the F150 Lightning due to all the hurricanes in Florida,” says Will Smith, President of Space Coast EVA. “The light bulbs go on when we explain how the truck can power a house.”
Electric manufacturers to be featured at the Space Coast EVA events:
Hyundai
Nissan
Tesla
Ford
Mercedes
Porsche
Audi
Many e-bikes will be available to test drive, too
*Thanks to Coastal Hyundai, Nissan Melbourne, Tesla Merritt Island (also discussing solar offering) and Infinity Bike Shop for supporting the event.
The Space Coast EVA is leveraging other car events in the sunshine state to get more people educated on EV ownership. (Source: Space Coast EVA)
Many people at traditional car showcases and EV events are asking questions about the F150 Lightning’s features, such as battery pack range, charging, and general truck driving experiences. “With so many questions about the F-150 electric truck at these events, I’ve created a slideshow in my front trunk with a huge TV display,” says Bob Hathaway, VP of Space Coast EVA.
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Another interesting component to EV ownership is utilities and the price of electricity. Many utilities, not surprisingly, want consumers to use more electricity and especially late at night. Many utilities will offer wholesale pricing or off–peak pricing programs for electricity. For example, Florida Power and Light offers unlimited electricity to customers in off-peak hours for $31 a month. Customers sign a 10-yr contract and receive an installed Level 2 charging station. Make sure to check with your utility before and after you buy an electric vehicle.
Besides the event at the car museum, Space Coast EVA members will be at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex on April 20 answering questions about their electric vehicles, along with a test track setup for ride-and-drives. “We were planning an event at the Apollo building before the pandemic, which houses the Saturn rocket and moon rover,” says Bill Bowden, Director of the Space Coast EVA. “This year’s Space Center Visitor’s event is free and open to the public, and is a ride-and-drive!”
Also, the Florida Tech Student Organization for Sustainability will also be on hand at the NASA visitor center to help park cars and assist in setup and teardown for the EVA and the event.
Below are the details for these two events:
April 22, 2023 | SpaceCoast EVA Earth Day Event
10 am - 2 pm EDT
American Muscle Car Museum
3500 Sarno Rd, Melbourne, FL 32934
For more information, visit here.
April 20, 2023 | Earth Day 2023
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex
Times - call for information
For more information, visit here.