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The City of Little Rock will joined communities across the country in recognizing the 11th annual National Drive Electric Week with a kickoff celebration from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 600 Pleasant Valley Drive.
The event featured several electric vehicles (EVs) on display, with opportunities for participants to test drive EVs and ask questions of EV owners. Vendors were on hand, and there were giveaways, including a chance to win $250.
Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., delivered opening remarks, including a proclamation of Sept.25-Oct. 3 as Drive Electric Week in Little Rock.
“We encourage everyone to be conscious of their role in being responsible stewards of the environment, and to that end Little Rock has begun and will continue to add electric vehicles to its inventory as we use sustainable solutions to modernize and upgrade our fleet,” Scott said.
The City of Little Rock purchased its first fully electric vehicle, a Chevrolet Bolt, in 2021 and will be implementing more during normal replacement cycles. Two Charge Point charging stations were added to the Fleet Services Maintenance Facility. Today’s Power will add two more stations for the City at the maintenance facility at 501 Ferry St. and will open to the public.
Each year, EVs grow in popularity and are hailed as the future of clean, pollution-free driving. A recent survey by Consumer Reports and the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that over 60 percent of prospective car buyers in the U.S. are interested in electric vehicles; public interest, across geography and income level, is growing.
Little Rock’s event was one of more than 180 across the nation (and around the world) where electric vehicle owners and their communities will hold online webinars, electric car parades, “tailpipe-free” tailgate parties, recognition of leaders promoting EVs, launches of new public EV charging stations and other public events.
The Little Rock Sustainability Office and Today’s Power are local sponsors of the event. NDEW is presented by national organizers Plug In America, the Electric Auto Association, the Sierra
Club, and EVHybridNoire. Nissan LEAF® is the exclusive automotive sponsor of NDEW 2021 and Wells Fargo is the exclusive banking sponsor of NDEW 2021. ClipperCreek and Electrify America are silver level sponsors. Edison International and Enel X are bronze level sponsors. IBEW 11 is a green level sponsor.
For more information about Little Rock Drive Electric Week, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/218411033671792
About Plug In America: Plug In America is the nation’s leading independent consumer voice for accelerating the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States. Formed as a non-profit in 2008, Plug In America provides practical, objective information collected from our coalition of plug-in vehicle drivers, through public outreach and education, policy work and a range of
technical advisory services. Our expertise represents the world’s deepest pool of experience of driving and living with plug-in vehicles. We drive electric. You can too. PlugInAmerica.org
About the Electric Auto Association: The Electric Auto Association is North America’s leading volunteer organization that accelerates the adoption of EVs. More than 100 chapters and thousands of members talk neighbor-to-neighbor at community events about the benefits of driving electric. For more information, visit electricauto.org.
About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.8 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About EVHybridNoire
EVHybridNoire is the nation’s largest network of diverse EV drivers and enthusiasts, the voice of multicultural EV drivers, and the first national diverse organization focused on e-mobility, environmental sustainability, clean energy, and transportation equity — providing access for all to next-generation vehicles and transportation options. For more information, visit evhybridnoire.com.