The American Lung Association’s seven-state Midwest EVOLVE project is serving as a catalyst to get people behind the wheel of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles during National Drive Electric Week, running Sept. 8-16.
Nearly three dozen National Drive Electric Week events are being held in states that are part of Midwest EVOLVE, which stands for Electric Vehicle Opportunities: Learning, eVents, Experience. The initiative is a partnership between the American Lung Association and Clean Cities coalitions throughout the Midwest to demonstrate the performance and environmental benefits of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles.
The week’s events include ride and drives, workplace charging seminars, and other events at brand-neutral settings in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota.
“Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular due to the large number of models
available, their extended range, decrease in cost and more charging stations,” states Lisa
Thurstin, coordinator of the Twin Cities Clean Cities Coalition. “There’s no better way to experience the performance and clean air advantages of electric vehicles than to get behind the wheel and experience them for yourself.”
Overall, more than 250 National Drive Electric Week events are taking place this year throughout the U.S. Plug In America, the Sierra Club and the Electric Auto Association
team up with local groups to organize events. More information can be found here.
“The Midwest is often overlooked as a market for electric vehicles,” Thurstin adds. “Sometimes new EVs are first available in California or New York, so as a consumer, you have to be vocal that you want the latest and greatest technology to be available at a dealer near you.
“Our Clean Cities partners throughout the Midwest are working with automakers and
local dealerships to line up vehicles for test drives to make sure that consumers in the Midwest get a chance learn about their advantages and figure out what best fits their needs,” she says.