Drive Electric Event
Drive Electric Alabama
Birmingham, AL
May 14, 2022
Drive Electric Alabama
Birmingham, AL
May 14, 2022
| Day: | Saturday, May 14, 2022 NOTE: this event has already happened, find current-year events on the Attend page. |
| Time: | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT |
| Location: | The Market at Pepper Place 2930 3rd Ave South Birmingham, AL 35233 |
Event Report
Electric vehicle owners gathered
at The Market at Pepper Place in
Birmingham for Saturday’s Drive Electric
Alabama Earth Day Electric Vehicle Showcase.
The event
showcased the wide variety of EVs available to Alabama motorists, while EV
owners also greeted hundreds of visitors and answered questions about EV
ownership.
Some owners
touted the cost savings associated with owning and driving an EV, such as no
longer having to pay for gas, oil changes or other routine maintenance.
Others raved
about the excitement associated with driving an EV, thanks to the vehicles’ instant acceleration when compared to conventional
gas-powered cars and trucks.
“Anyone who has felt the pain at the pump with the recent surge in gas
prices has probably thought about an EV,” said Michael Staley, president of the
Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, one of the organizations coordinating Saturday’s
event. “But a majority of Alabamians have never even sat inside an EV. That’s
why events like today’s EV Showcase are so important, because we have real EV
owners talking about how they use these vehicles every day.”
A variety of EVs were on display
Saturday, including models from Tesla, Rivian, BMW, Nissan, Ford, Volkswagen,
Kia and more. An electric transit bus from the Birmingham Jefferson County
Transit Authority was also on display.
The bus and full-sized Rivian truck truly showcased the wide
variety of electric vehicles available.
Saturday’s event is one of many Drive Electric Earth Day events happening across
the nation. The Pepper Place
event was hosted by Drive Electric Alabama and
the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition. Other sponsors include UAB Sustainability, Alabama Power Company, the City
of Birmingham, The Market at Pepper Place and the Zero Emissions Owners Group.
EV sales soared
72 percent during the fourth quarter of 2021, and another recent study by J.D.
Power found 27 percent of likely auto shoppers indicate they would consider
purchasing an EV in the next four years.
In addition, Hyundai recently
announced it will begin building its electric Genesis GV70 and the hybrid version of the Santa Fe at its Montgomery factory. Mercedes’
all-electric SUVs are also expected to roll off the assembly line at the
company’s Tuscaloosa facility later this year, too.
As Alabamians see more EVs
on the road and the state’s auto manufacturers produce EVs, consumers are
looking for more information about them. EV owners are the most trusted source
for that information.
“It’s always wonderful to
see people look inside an EV for the first time and understand how it can fit
the needs of their family,” Staley said.
photo by: Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition Drive Electric Booth focal Point for 21 EVs on Display |
Event Description
April 16th EVent rescheduled due to bad Weather to May 14th. Please Join us then at Pepper Place.
Join us for Drive
Electric Earth Day in
Birmingham on May 14th at The Market at Pepper Place. Electric
vehicle owners will be there with their EVs from 8 a.m. until noon to answer your questions while
promoting electric vehicle awareness, technology, affordability and other
merits attached to EVs as part of
the Drive Electric Alabama-Birmingham area chapter initiative.
A
great selection of electric vehicles will be on display, providing everyone with
an up-close look at the fun vehicles that are cheaper to maintain than
conventional gas-powered cars, better for the environment and help create
Alabama and American jobs.
“Anyone
thinking about buying a new vehicle has to consider electric,” said Mark
Bentley, Executive Director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, one of the
event’s sponsors. “Many people still have questions about EVs, and the people
who own and drive have the answers. This is an easy way to learn more about
these electric vehicles that give
off zero emissions, are economical to drive and contribute to the creation of
high-paying jobs right here in our state.”
Registered Attendees
There are currently 49 attendees registered.
Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend
| Vehicle | Registered |
| Tesla Model Y | 3 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 3 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 2 |
| Nissan Leaf (2018+) | 2 |
| Tesla Model S | 2 |
| Audi e-tron | 1 |
| Chevrolet Volt | 1 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1 |
| Kia Niro Electric | 1 |
| Nissan Leaf (2011-2017) | 1 |
| Rivian R1T | 1 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 1 |
| Toyota Prius Prime | 1 |
| Toyota RAV4 Prime 4WD/AWD | 1 |
| Zero Motorcycle | 1 |
| 15 Models | 22 |
Registered attendees report 382,834 electric miles driven.
