With more and more Americans making the flip over to electric vehicles and many caught in limbo, National Drive Electric Week helps encourage and spread awareness about the advantages of electric vehicles. Starting on September 22 until October 1, National Drive Electric Week hosts hundreds of events across the country to help promote and educate the public about electric vehicles.
To do our part in participating, we’ve created this blog to give you more insight into National Drive Electric Week and the benefits of electric vehicles.
What Is National Drive Electric Week?
National Drive Electric Week has been around since 2011 and is sponsored by Plug In America, the Electric Auto Association, Sierra Club and EVHybridNoire. The whole purpose of National Drive Electric Week is to help connect people who are considering going electric with electric vehicle owners. This allows curious people to hear about first-hand experiences from actual owners and experts.
There’s something for everyone with National Drive Electric Week. There are over 200 events occurring, from parades, ride-and-drives, electric tailgate parties, and information booths.
National Drive Electric Week Events in Minnesota
To make it easier for you to find events that interest you, we’ve made the following list.
Electric Vehicle 101
When: Thursday, Sept. 28
Time: 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Location: The Rec Center, 3700 Monterey Drive
Join us to chat with local EV owners and experts, explore EV charging options for your home, have your questions answered by local utility representatives, and learn all about rebates and resources available.
Beltrami Electric Cooperative's EV Car Show
When: Thursday, September 28, 2023
Time: 4:00 – 6:30 P.M.
Location: Beltrami Electric Cooperative
EV owners will share their stories/benefits of EVs, overcoming range anxiety, and the best way to charge an EV battery. You'll hear about today's charging technologies and the programs available for your EV through your local electric provider for home charging off-peak rates and rebates.
EV-ER: Electric Vehicles in Elk River
When: Thursday, September 28, 2023
Time: 3:00 – 6:00 P.M.
Location: Elk River Farmers Market
Electric Vehicles in Elk River is a local National Drive Electric Week event where you can meet the EV community in your area. Visitors can check out Eddy, ERMU’s Chevy Bolt EV, as well as the City’s e-Bike. EV owners are also invited to register to bring their vehicles and share what they’ve learned through ownership. This event will also offer the opportunity to learn about new EVs, in-home and business charging, local public charging, and the EV driving experience.
EV Expo 2023
When: Saturday, September 23, 2023
Time: 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Location: Oak Grove Presbyterian
Oak Grove Presbyterian Church is hosting its 5th annual EV Expo on Saturday, September 23, from 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. The event will feature an electric vehicle (EV) ride and drive hosted by Minnesota Clean Cities Coalition, an opportunity to talk with EV owners, an info table to learn more, and a showcase of electric bikes, lawnmowers, school buses, and snowblowers.
Top 5 Benefits of Electric Vehicles
There are many benefits to choosing an electric vehicle over traditional gas-powered vehicles, some benefits include:
Eco-Friendly Option
This is one of the main reasons most EV owners choose an electric vehicle. Over 40% of EV owners said that clean air and environmental protection was a major deciding factor. Since EVs have no tailpipe exhaust, they don’t emit any exhaust gases, reducing their contributions to air pollution, smog pollution, and greenhouse gases.
Reduced Maintenance Costs
When compared to gas-powered vehicles, it is cheaper to maintain electric vehicles overall. There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars at the pump or on routine maintenance like oil changes with electric vehicles.
Enhanced Driving Performance
Electric vehicles have more responsive acceleration since it’s easier for them to produce peak torque from a standstill. They also have a lower centre of gravity, which gives them superior weight distribution as well as improved stability, handling, and safety.
EV Credits and Rebates
Many rebates, credits, and grants are available to help offset an electric vehicle's initial cost. One of the most common credits is the federal tax credit for battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This credit gives EV owners up to $7,500 back, depending on the battery capacity.
Convenience and Priority
One of the best exclusive benefits of owning an EV is the added convenience of them. You can often find free, priority, or dedicated parking bays for electric vehicles. Another benefit of EVs is how much quieter they are than gas and diesel vehicles.
Embrace The Electric Vehicle Movement With Weelborg Ford
Electric vehicles have come a long way since their humble beginnings. There are now full-sized pickups and SUVs that are completely electric. Embracing the values of National Drive Electric Week can be simple. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff here at Weelborg Ford can answer any questions you have and also help you test drive one of our electric vehicles from our vast inventory.
Contact us at 888-506-8014 or visit us in person at Weelborg Ford for more information on our inventory of electric vehicles!
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