National Drive Electric Week
Pueblo West, CO
Sep 14, 2019
Pueblo West, CO
Sep 14, 2019
| Day: | Saturday, September 14, 2019 NOTE: this event has already happened, find current-year events on the Attend page. |
| Time: | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. |
| Location: | Pueblo West Library EV Charging Station 298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd. Pueblo West, CO 81007 |
Event Report
We had a prime location right next to a classic car show. We had the perfect billing: "From the Classic to the Electric." We thought we’d have an unending line of people wanting to ride in one of the 13 Teslas, or other EVs we had available. Not so……
When we offered rides in EVs, the attendees acted as if we asked them if they wanted the plague. We told them this is a great opportunity to give them a try. They did not want to do it. Sometimes we were able to cajole them into it. Kids, however, showed enthusiasm and if the attendees had kids, the parents went along with it, even reluctantly.
Muscle car enthusiasts don’t translate to EV enthusiasts at all!! Rude awakening. Folks had a litany of misconceptions and fears about EVs. Range anxiety. Not being able to have enough power to pass a truck. Running out of electricity. Batteries don’t last. Unsafe.
One Tesla owner told us that she often encounters a truck blocking the charging stations at hotels because they think their rooms cost more because of the free charging of other customers. She now carries a Power Point to explain how Tesla pays for the stations & the electricity.
So, we see that we have a lot of educating to do. Fortunately, the Renewable Energy Owners Coalition of America, (REOCA) reoca.org had a followup event on Sept 17 called "the Electrification of Transportation", a panel discussion about the EV landscape in Pueblo County and what we can do about it. (Pueblo County has the lowest per capita amount of EVs in Colorado: 147 in a population of 166,500.) The Mayor gave introductory remarks about the city plans for replacing retired fleet with EVs and plans for electric buses. Alexandra Aznar from NREL; Jack Snell, Energy Services Manager of San Isabel Electric; Devin Moeller, Renewable Energy Manager at Black Hills Energy, Laura Getts, former Energy Coordinator of Pueblo County and Nate Baxter, consultant with Vidmar Honda participated in a lively discussion about challenges Pueblo faces, some possible solutions as well as the larger picture, ie. what mass EV development may mean for Colorado's EV infrastructure.
In October, REOCA will be doing a follow up "A Continuing Conversation with EV Owners". We will have a Nissan Plus & a Bolt owner both with full electric homes available for a Q & A with prospective EV owners.
So, even though we felt a bit disappointed with the Ride EV event, our experience is having a positive impact on our priorities. We see the work we have to do.
photo by: Manny de Lizarriturri Mindy and her cool Smart Car, the only Convertible EV on the road! |
Event Description
Join San Isabel Electric and local electric vehicle owners
in the Pueblo West Library parking lot for the 50Fest Electric Vehicle
Tailgate Party. Come hang out with EV owners showing off their cars. Learn
about the pros and cons of owning an EV, from the owners themselves or take a
test ride. Employees from San Isabel Electric will also be demonstrating
how the new Pueblo West Community Electric Vehicle Charging Station works and
representatives from the State will also be on hand to talk about available
electric vehicle rebates and incentives.
What you’ll learn:
- The little-known advantages of owning and driving an EV
- Whether an EV is right for you
- Tips and strategies for comparing EVs, including battery vs. plug-in hybrid vehicles
- How tax credits may or may not apply to your purchase/lease
- San Isabel Electric’s EV charging rate program and exclusive member-only rebates
- Colorado Energy Office plan for fast-charging stations across the state
Registered Attendees
There are currently 62 attendees registered.
Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend
| Vehicle | Registered |
| Tesla Model S | 7 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 6 |
| Smart fortwo electric drive | 2 |
| Tesla Model X | 2 |
| Chevrolet Bolt | 1 |
| Jaguar I-Pace | 1 |
| Nissan Leaf (2018+) | 1 |
| 7 Models | 20 |
Registered attendees report 556,256 electric miles driven.
