Vermont Business Magazine Vermonters are gathering at three events next week to celebrate the clean-air and cost-saving benefits of electric cars in support of the sixth annual National Drive Electric Week. Drive Electric Vermont is partnering with the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition and Burlington Electric Department to host three different electric vehicle showcase events in Williston and Burlington. Local electric car owners and dealers will attend each event to demonstrate the benefits of driving electric and provide helpful information about the high-tech vehicles to interested Vermonters. Many models, including the Nissan LEAF, the Tesla Model S, the Ford C-Max Energi, the Chevrolet Volt, the Ford Fusion Energi, and the Volkswagen e-Golf, will be on display and available for test rides and drives at the events.
“National Drive Electric Week is all about getting out in the community and providing Vermonters with an easy way to learn more about the widespread availability of plug-in vehicles.” said David Roberts, Coordinator of Drive Electric Vermont. “These events will show our community members how electric cars are benefiting the lives of Vermonters, saving them money on gas and maintenance, keeping pollutants out of the air and providing them with a safe and fun drive.”
The first event will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2016 at Hannaford Supermarket, 78 Marshall Avenue, Williston, VT from 10am to 11:30pm.
The second event will take place on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at Burlington Electric Department, 585 Pine Street, Burlington, VT from 3:30pm to 6:30pm.
The third event will take place on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at the University of Vermont outside of the Davis Center, 590 Main Street, Burlington, VT from 11:00am to 2:00pm.
Each event is free and open to the public, more details are available at www.DriveElectricVT.com.
“At Burlington Electric, we are leading through energy innovation to promote a cleaner, greener transportation sector for the Burlington community we serve,” said Burlington Electric Department General Manager Neale Lunderville. “Sharing the benefits of electric vehicles with our business and residential customers and neighbors complements our continuing work to build new EV charging stations around Burlington. We know that increased numbers of charging stations help bring more EVs to Burlington. Focusing on EVs and charging stations as part of our work helps fulfil our vision to build a sustainable energy future that supports a growing economy and thriving community. We appreciate our growing partnerships with Drive Electric Vermont and the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition.”
“We are excited to bring Drive Electric Week to the UVM campus and expose the next generation to these vehicles. With the combination of more EVs on the market, a growing familiarity with the technology, and an increasing concern with tailpipe emissions, we hope to draw a variety of interested people to this event,” said Abby Bleything, Vermont Clean Cities Coordinator.
The number of electric vehicle registrations in Vermont has steadily climbed over the past four years. As of July 2016 there were over 1200 plug-in vehicles registered in the state – up 33 percent over last year. These cars are spread throughout Vermont, with 71 percent of our communities having at least one registered.
Each year, Plug In America, the Sierra Club and the Electric Auto Association team up with local groups to organize events promoting the use of electric vehicles. This year more than 200 events are expected to take place across the country to celebrate National Drive Electric Week 2016 from September 10-18.
Drive Electric Vermont is a project of the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation in partnership with the State of Vermont, industry representatives, and a broad array of stakeholders advancing electric vehicle technology.
Vermont Clean Cities Coalition works to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector by advancing the use of alternative fuels and vehicles, idle reduction technologies, electric vehicles, and fuel economy measures. Vermont Clean Cities Coalition is sponsored by the Department of Energy.
Burlington Electric Department (BED) is a department of City government and an essential part of the City of Burlington’s infrastructure. As a public utility, BED is an expression of the community’s commitment to not-for-profit rates, local control, and sustainability. BED offers customers the right to participate directly in the most important decisions about the future of the utility. This participation demonstrates the importance of community-based decisions about our energy future because they reflect local values such as renewable energy.In fact, Burlington was the first city in the nation to source 100% of its power from renewable generation. BED provides reliable and safe electricity with exceptional customer service at affordable rates. BED regularly works with its residential and business customers throughout the City to identify ways to drive down their energy costs.
Source: September 7, 2016 - Burlington, VT - VEIC