National Drive Electric Week is revving up this Saturday, and Vermont is getting in gear to celebrate.
Current and prospective electric vehicle drivers will converge at the annual Sun CARnival from 1-5 p.m. on Sept. 25 to explore electric options available in Vermont, go for test drives, and discuss experiences of making the switch to electric driving.
The event will be in the old Hannaford parking lot, across the street from the Lowe’s at 189 Hannaford Dr. in South Burlington. Attendance is free.
“This event is about getting these people together to celebrate the transition away from gas cars, while encouraging our neighbors across the state to check out electric driving for themselves,” said Jake Elliott of SunCommon, the event’s organizer.
The event will feature over 17 models of electric cars, as well as electric motorcycles, electric bicycles, and electric lawn mowers. It has garnered hundreds of attendees every year since its inception in 2014.
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National Drive Electric Week events are also being held in Montpelier and Bethel on Oct. 2.
Vermont’s vehicles contribute to 40% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, while only 4% of the state’s private vehicle registrations in the last year were electric, according to a 2021 report by the organization Energy Action Network.
The state of Vermont’s goal is for 90% of its energy to come from renewables by the year 2050, as stated in its Comprehensive Energy Plan. “As of now, Vermont is far from meeting this goal,” said the nonprofit 350Vermont, who argues for switching to electric vehicles as a major step towards achieving this goal.
In addition to environmental concerns, some electric vehicle advocates also point to economic reasons for switching to plug-in vehicles. The cost of charging an electric car is roughly equivalent to paying $1.50 for a gallon of gas, the organization Drive Electric Vermont reports.
Related:So how is Vermont doing fighting climate change? A new report tells us.
Going electric:Green Mountain Power is going electric next year, with two of its trucks
Contact April Fisher at amfisher@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AMFisherMedia