The ninth-annual National Drive Electric Week (NDEW), a coast-to-coast celebration of electric vehicles (EVs), will be held on Sept. 14-22.
Through test drives, parades, news conferences, and announcements of new EV policies and programs, NDEW events are designed to promote the benefits of EVs. NDEW is presented by Plug In America, the Sierra Club and the Electric Auto Association. Nissan LEAF is the exclusive automotive sponsor. In addition, ClipperCreek and the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project are silver-level sponsors, Enel X is a California regional sponsor, and DTE Energy is a bronze-level Michigan regional sponsor.
Event highlights include as follows:
● Los Angeles (Sept. 14): Hosted by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), along with EV advocacy organizations, this event will allow participants to test drive a variety of EV models and get information about local incentive programs, such as LADWP’s “Charge Up LA” rebate program.
● Poolesville, Md. (Sept. 21): One of the biggest NDEW events on the East Coast, this year’s event is organized by nonprofit Poolesville Green and supported by local organizations such as One Montgomery Green, MD Volt and the Electric Vehicles Association of Greater Washington, D.C.
● Atlanta (Sept. 21): This Southeast event will have over 130 EV owners showing their vehicles and sharing their experiences, as well as appearances by national EV influencers. Organizers include the EV Club of the South and EVHybridNoire, an organization that focuses on increasing the number of diverse EV drivers and addressing the specific needs of disadvantaged communities.
● Irving, Texas (Sept. 21): Organized by the North Central Texas Council of Governments and Dallas Fort Worth Clean Cities, this event in the Dallas suburbs is the biggest display of EVs in Texas, the NDEW partners say.
“We know that consumers are curious about electric cars,” comments Raejean Fellows, president of the Electric Auto Association. “National Drive Electric Week is that special time when consumers are given the opportunity to get the inside scoop on charging, incentives and how the cars perform directly from the owners who drive electric. For free. With no pressure to buy.”