National Drive Electric Week
Birmingham National Drive Electric Week EVent!
Birmingham, AL
Oct 02, 2021

Event Report

Birmingham EV owners answer questions at NDEW EVent

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Adrian Gonzalez often hears questions about charging his Tesla.

Gonzalez provided plenty of answers about charging and other topics about electric vehicles (EVs) at Saturday’s National Drive Electric Week EVent at The Market at Pepper Place in Birmingham. He was one of more than two dozen EV owners who talked 1-on-1 with visitors and showed off their cars.

“There are a lot of questions about range – where you charge, how you charge, how long you have to charge,” said Gonzalez, a Birmingham resident. “That seems like it’s a question on everyone’s mind.”

Gonzalez, like most EV owners, charges almost exclusively at home and rarely needs an away-from-home booster, which he added is something most motorists don’t know.

Nissan Leaf owner Tony Nichols said he also often addresses “misinformation” about EVs, especially the vehicles’ power. Most people don’t realize EVs have instant pick-up and acceleration.

“That’s what makes the car fun to drive,” said Nichols, a Birmingham resident. “When I’m at a red light, I don’t think anything anyone beat me off the line, except maybe the Tesla.”

Added Gonzalez, “That instant torque is what surprises people. It’s like a rollercoaster. I’ve had people ride in my car and they screamed like it was a rollercoaster.”

The testimonials from Gonzalez and Nichols illustrate why NDEW EVents can be especially useful for anyone considering an electric vehicle, said Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition Executive Director Mark Bentley. Research shows most Alabamians have never driven an EV, but many want to and find EV owners as the most trusted source for information.

Visitors to Birmingham’s NDEW EVent perused a variety of EVs on display, with owners showing off models from Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Kia, Nissan, Volvo and Volkswagen. The cars on display have logged more than 1 million miles driven, according to event organizers.

“There’s really no replacement for talking to real-life EV owners who can talk about their real-world experiences of driving an EV every day, how and when they charge them and how much money they save,” Bentley said. “It’s critical that we continue to educate people about the many benefits offered by EVs as more are showing up on Alabama roads.”

Birmingham-based Autocar, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks, also displayed one of its new electric terminal tractors, and Max Transit showed off an all-electric bus.

Saturday’s EVent was co-sponsored by the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, UAB Sustainability, Alabama Power Company, the City of Birmingham, Drive Electric Alabama and the Zero Emissions Owners Group (ZEOG).

Most automobile manufacturers have embraced the EV revolution and announced major investments in EV technology and manufacturing. In late September, for instance, Ford announced an $11.4 billion investment to create new factories in Tennessee and Kentucky for EVs and batteries to power the vehicles. Ford also plans to begin selling its all-electric F-150 Lightning pick-up next year.

Alabama automakers, led by Mercedes-Benz’s plant in Tuscaloosa, have announced an estimated $1.88 billion in new investments in advanced vehicle technology since 2018. An Alabama’s leaders understand the growing popularity of EVs, including the latest efforts through ADECA to significantly expand EV infrastructure.

Dozens of battery electric (BEV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models are currently available. Newer EV models boast longer range and better performance than the original models, and some start in the mid-$20,000 price range and consumers can be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500.

National Drive Electric Week, which runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 3 this year, is a nationwide observance to raise awareness of the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles. Three NDEW EVents were held in Alabama this year – today in Birmingham, this past Wednesday in Auburn, and Saturday, Sept. 25 in Huntsville.

photo by: Josh Bean, Direct Communications Lineup of EVs on October 2nd in Birmingham at The Market at Pepper Place NDEW EVent

Event Description

Registered Attendees

There are currently 136 attendees registered.

Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend

Registered attendees report 1,230,623 electric miles driven.