National Drive Electric Week
Kalamazoo, MI
Sep 14, 2016
Kalamazoo, MI
Sep 14, 2016
| Day: | Wednesday, September 14, 2016 NOTE: this event has already happened, find current-year events on the Attend page. |
| Time: | 5p-8pm |
| Location: | WMU physical plant maintenance building parking lot on Stadium Drive, next to Waldo Stadium just northeat of the stadium and across from Dairy Queen Kalamazoo, MI 49006 |
Event Report
The 2016 National Drive Electric Week Kalamazoo was held along one of busiest highways going through the city with hundreds people seeing the cars on display and a bill board explaining the event.
Presentation highlights included past and new venues. One even converted a known 'ev skeptic' who, in his review commented on understanding and now admiring highway capable electric cars.
Drive highlights include several surprise ev's attendees from an early (1970's) production model to several Zero motorcycles to a Tesla Model X. Additionally, PV and wind installers attended events to help promote the link between clean energy and ev's. There was interest in owning new/used ev's after the drive experience and getting the 'real scoop' from owners.
All the ev's on display and driven had fans, from the expected sporty Teslas to those looking for a retro VW Bug in the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
The Event has found very strong venues which we look forward to returning to.
photo by: Mark Miller for Sierra Club Southwest Michigan Group Gail Nelson of Sierra Club Southwest Michigan Group, far left, helped keep the ride-and-drive organized and running smooth, as did William Anderson, second from left in the black hat, of Michigan Electric Auto Association. Sam Carnavacciolo's black Tesla Roadster, second from the right, got the most attention. |
Event Description
Free presentation: All About Driving Electric
Paul Pancella's FREE presentation, open to the public, will make you run out and order an electric car!
Paul is planning three presentations. All are free and open to the public.
- Tuesday September 6 at 1:00 p.m., Paul will get a head start on Drive Electric Week with a presentation at Bangor Public Library, 420 Division Street, Bangor, Michigan.
- Monday, September 12 at 3:00 p.m., Kalamazoo Valley Community College will host Paul's electric car
presentation at The Groves, 7107 Elm Valley Drive, Kalamazoo.
- Tuesday, September 13, Kalamazoo College will host Paul's electric car presentation at Recital Hall, just off the main lobby of the Light Fine Arts Building on the K-College Campus at the northeast corner of Academy and Thompson in Kaslamazoo. The presentation starts at 4:15 p.m. Light refreshments provided.
Paul made himself an electric car expert eight years ago when he gutted his 1992 Honda Civic and converted it to an all-electric car. The photo on the right shows the engine Paul removed and the electric motor that took its place. Once the internal combustion engine was gone, so were exhaust system repairs, oil changes, and trips to the gas station.
Even if you think an electric car isn't for you, come to Paul's presentation. It will open your mind!
FREE electric vehicle demonstration rides!
From 5:00 to 8:00 Wednesday evening, September 14, join the 2016 Kalamazoo Drive Electric Week drive-and-ride electric vehicle demonstration at Western Michigan University's physical plant maintenance services parking lot on Stadium Drive, just northeast of Waldo Stadium. The staging area is marked in red on the map.Come and find out what a great ride an electric car really is - quick, smooth, quiet, and much more affordable than you think. Best feature of all? No tailpipe emissions! Charge up at a solar-powered charging station and drive completely fossil-fuel free!
Registered Attendees
There are currently 48 attendees registered.
Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend
| Vehicle | Registered |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Volt | 3 |
| Nissan Leaf (2011-2017) | 3 |
| Zero Motorcycle | 2 |
| BMW i3 | 1 |
| BMW i3 REx | 1 |
| Cadillac ELR | 1 |
| EV Conversion | 1 |
| Ford C-MAX Energi | 1 |
| Mitsubishi i-MiEV | 1 |
| Tesla Model S | 1 |
| Tesla Roadster | 1 |
| 11 Models | 16 |
Registered attendees report 279,206 electric miles driven.
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