National Drive Electric Week

National Drive Electric Week
Cupertino, CA
Sep 16, 2017

Day: Saturday, September 16, 2017 NOTE: this event has already happened, find current-year events on the Attend page.
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: DeAnza College
Cupertino, CA
Contact the event organizers, which took place in 2017.

Event Report

The 45th annual EV Rally and Show in Cupertino featured historical electric cars, a large variety of modern electric cars, a tent pavilion by Nissan, EV ride-and-drives, 3rd-party groups, electric bike rides, high school robot demos and owner-built vehicles. In honor of the Electric Auto Association's 50th anniversary, we displayed historical electric cars included a General Motors EV1, a 1916 Detroit Electric, and a 1905 Studebaker. (Thanks to the Cal Auto Museum and History San Jose). Going from the past to the future, there was a pre-production 2018 Nissan LEAF connected to a Nissan vehicle-to-grid adapter that powered the displays and coolers in a Nissan tent pavilion. We had a good showing of the Chevy Bolt EV, the Tesla Model S, and most current models. Test drive cars were a LEAF, eGolf (125-mile range), Bolt EV, and a Kia Optima plug-in hybrid (cars and sales staff were courtesy of the DGDG dealer group). Private Telsa model S owners gave test rides.There were also e-bike test drives. A shout-out to the electric car conversions (from gas-powered models), and three-wheeled electrics including the Corbin Sparrow, the City EL "Lemon Wedge", and an "Electric Drift Trike". Zero and Brammo e-motorcycles were on display.

Speakers and contests made for a lively experience. Rod Diridon Sr. of the Mineta Transportation Institute spoke on the critical need to electrify transportation systems. Cupertino City Councilman Rod Sinks gave a proclamation for Drive Electric Week. There were silent auctions and drawings for a home EVSE station and other prizes. A special treat was the appearance of Dr. Ken Kastle as our emcee for the day.

Our 3rd-party groups included the Clean Vehicle Rebate Group, Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Breathe California, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, EVANNEX, BMW and Ford dealers, Chargepoint, eMotorWorks, EVMatch, ELV Motors, and home EVSE station installers.

Thanks to Notre Dame and Monta Vista high schools for their robot teams.


photo by: Ben White
General Motors EV1 displayed by G. Stuckert and the California Auto Museum in Sacramento, CA.

Event Description

 

Cupertino Celebrates National Drive Electric Week


Join us to check out the latest in EV and charging technology. Register above to bring your own car, and / or volunteer to help and be entered to win a chance at a $250 gift card.

An unusual guest will be there!
Have you seen the movie "Who Killed the Electric Car?" from 2006?  It featured the limited production GM EV-1, built between in the late 1990's, which was available to California residents only on a lease. 
It was later unceremoniously pulled back and destroyed. 

But a rare few escaped that fate!  You can examine one of these pioneering cars on September 16 at DeAnza College campus when you visit the 50th Anniversary Electric Auto Association's Rally and Drive Electric Week event.

On display from 10 - 4, this car inspired other major OEM's to make limited quantities of all electric cars which also will be displayed.  Come join the fun and take a ride in the newest electric cars there for testing as well as display. The latest Nissan LEAF also will make a guest appearance - don't miss that!


About National Drive Electric Week
Presented by the Electric Auto Association, Plug In America and the Sierra Club, National Drive Electric Week, September 9-17, 2017, is a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today's widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. They are fun to drive, are less expensive and more convenient to fuel than gasoline vehicles, are better for the environment, promote local jobs, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Are you considering going electric? Come talk to owners who have successfully done so.

Registered Attendees

There are currently 508 attendees registered.

Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend

Vehicle Registered
Nissan Leaf (2011-2017) 32
Chevrolet Bolt 11
Tesla Model S 10
Toyota RAV4 EV (2012 and later) 8
Chevrolet Volt 6
Tesla Model X 5
Chevy Spark EV 4
Kia Soul EV 4
Other Plug-In Vehicle 3
Zero Motorcycle 3
BMW i3 2
Corbin Sparrow 2
EV Conversion 2
Ford Focus Electric 2
Mitsubishi i-MiEV 2
Toyota Plug-in Prius 2
Volkswagen e-Golf 2
Brammo 1
C350E Plug-in Hybrid 1
Fiat 500e 1
Fisker Karma 1
Ford Ranger EV (1997-2003) 1
Honda Fit EV 1
Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive 1
Think City 1
Toyota RAV4 EV (1997-2003) 1
Volvo XC90 AWD PHEV 1
27 Models 110

Registered attendees report 2,678,746 electric miles driven.

Presented By

Plugin America logo
Electric Vehicle Association logo
Sierra Club logo
EVHybridNoire logo
Drive Electric USA logo

Platinum Level Sponsors

Gold Level Sponsor

Silver Level Sponsor

Bronze Level Sponsor

Green Level Sponsor

All NDEW 2024 sponsors support Plug In America's coordination of National Drive Electric Week.

Back to top