At the September 5 City Council meeting, Mayor Erica Stewart proclaimed Drive Electric Week in San Luis Obispo from September 22 – October 1. Drive Electric Week is part of a nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bikes. SLO Climate Coalition and allied organizations are holding four local events during that week. All events are free and open to all.
September 26: EVs are coming: Are we ready?, an in-person presentation and discussion
San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St.
4 – 5:30pm
Space is limited: register
Governor Newsom has mandated that all new vehicles sold after 2035 must be electric. Will California be ready? This informative presentation and discussion led by Barry Rands will highlight both the promise of an all electric transportation system and the many roadblocks that need to be cleared for it to happen. Topics include general information about EVs, common misunderstandings, overview of the EV mandate, and a discussion of the policy and infrastructure issues that must be addressed in the coming decade.
September 28: Electrify Your Life EXPO
San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St.
4 – 6:00pm
A variety of vendors and organizations will be represented, offering valuable information about financial incentives and technical assistance available for going electric.
Speakers at the Expo include:
- Andy Pease, City Councilmember and Green Building consultant
- Alexa Colon, Regional Rep for Electriq Power, presenting the Powered Up SLO program, installing no-cost solar and battery systems for SLO county residents
- Gray Gautereaux of 3C-REN, presenting a primer on the how-to’s of home electrification and an overview of the financial incentives and technical assistance available
September 28: EV Showcase
Farmers’ Market, Chorro St., San Luis Obispo
6 – 9pm
This is an opportunity to view EVs on display and speak with the owners.
September 30: EV Ride & Drive
Prefumo Creek Commons (behind Dick’s and Target) off Los Osos Valley Road in San Luis Obispo
10am – 3pm
The SLO EV Ride & Drive Event is the capstone of Drive Electric Week SLO, featuring a wide variety of electric cars, trucks, and bikes, many of which will be available for a test drive or ride. EVs on hand include the Rivian pickup, Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Bolt, Mercedes EQ, several Tesla models, and featuring the new Chevy Blazer EV. EV owners of these and other models will be on hand to answer questions and talk about the joys of driving and riding electric. There will be information available on rebates and tax credits to buy or lease an EV. The first 50 test drivers get a free breakfast burrito served up by the Wicked Garden mobile cuisine!
A message from Barry Rands:
SLO Climate Coalition’s Green Transportation Program Director, Barry Rands, has been organizing Drive Electric Week events in San Luis Obispo for 6 years. He says, “It is exciting to see how electric transportation technology is evolving so quickly. Battery capacity and driving range have increased while EV prices have decreased. And supply is finally catching up to demand. We will have a greater variety of cars to see and drive than ever before at our Ride & Drive event.”
Sponsors:
The SLO events are presented locally by SLO Climate Coalition, Citizens’ Climate Education, SLO County Air Pollution Control District, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition, and Community Environmental Council.
National Drive Electric Week is presented nationally by Plug In America, Electric Vehicle Association, Sierra Club, and EVHybridNoire.
Promotional sponsors include Ecologistics, ECOSLO, Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club, Cal Poly, SLO Bicycle Club, City of San Luis Obispo, Central Coast Community Energy, electricdrive805, Madonna Inn, QuitCarbon, PoweredUp Network, and Electrify America.