National Drive Electric Week runs from Sept. 23 through Oct. 2 and North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are using this time to connect members with resources and information on electric vehicles.
A number of electric cooperatives across the state are partnering with their members and other organizations to showcase the many benefits of owning and driving an electric vehicle. Among them is EnergyUnited who hosted an EV Ride & Drive event for members on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Career Academy and Technical School in Troutman, NC. The event featured exhibitors, local EV owners, test drives and a local food truck.
“This event created a great opportunity for us as a cooperative to educate the community on what it means to drive electric vehicles. We appreciate Plug In NC, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition, local schools and others for being present as well,” said Elizabeth Gantt, sales and marketing specialist at EnergyUnited.
“Having EV owners and local dealerships showcase a variety of electric and hybrid vehicles was very beneficial to show firsthand what it’s like to own an EV and see all of the options that are out there. Education was a huge factor in this event, but we also noticed a lot of connections being made in our community. I can’t say enough good things about how things turned out. We’re already thinking about plans for next year!”
Several electric cooperatives are hosting events across the state, including Piedmont Electric’s Electric Vehicle Expo on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Carrboro Plaza. The event provides an opportunity to learn more about EVs, test drive a Tesla and talk with Piedmont Electric representatives.
Randolph EMC will be sponsoring a Kick-off to National Drive Electric Week event at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro on Friday, Sept. 30. Attendees will be able to learn more about electric vehicles, talk to EV owners and hear insights from energy advisers.
Cooperatives across the state have worked together over the last several years to build an electric vehicle charging network and fill gaps in rural to make driving electric more accessible to all, and to bring commerce and tourism to cooperative services territories. Benefits of owning an electric vehicle include less maintenance costs, an enhanced driving experience and zero tailpipe emissions.
Check with your local co-op to learn more about electric vehicles.