National Drive Electric Week
Electrify Your Drive! A Free EV Car Show
Old Saybrook, CT
Sep 24, 2023
| Day: | Sunday, September 24, 2023 NOTE: this event has already happened, find current-year events on the Attend page. |
| Time: | 12:00 - 3:00 pm EDT |
| Location: | Saybrook Point Pavilion 155 College Street Old Saybrook, CT 06475 |
Event Report
Our event took place on a cool and blustery day on the outskirts of tropical storm Ophelia. Showers mostly held off until after the event. Both registered EV drivers and attendees as well as passing visitors participated in the event. At our indoor space (Saybrook Point Pavilion), we distributed our own custom-designed handouts as well those provided by NDEW along with information about state- and utility-provided rebates within Connecticut.
At this year’s event, a wide variety of EV models were displayed by EV owners and dealers. EV drivers showed the 2017 Bolt, 2023 Bolt, MINI Cooper Hardtop 2 Door, BMW i3 REx, Rivian R1S and Rivian R1T, Kia EV6, Tesla Models 3 and S, Hyundai Kona Electric, Lucid Air, and Ford F-150 Lightening. Local car dealers exhibited their newest models including the Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ sedan and EQS 580 4matic SUV, BMW i4 and iX, and Nissan Airya and Leaf. Test drives and rides took place on a scenic loop along the mouth of the Connecticut River and adjacent Long Island Sound.
In addition to our NDEW table in the Pavilion building, the Connecticut Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition provided handouts about their environmental activities at their own tables.
We thank our volunteers, the First Selectman’s Office of the Town of Old Saybrook, Mercedes-Benz of New London, BMW of New London, and Grossman Nissan of Old Saybrook for their support.
Event Description
Electrify Your Drive! A Free EV Car Show at Saybrook Point
Join us for a National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) event at Saybrook Point in Old Saybrook. NDEW is the premier venue for unbiased information about EVs from actual EV drivers in your community.
The fifth annual Old Saybrook NDEW event takes place on Sunday, 24 September, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Saybrook Point Pavilion, 155 College Street, Old Saybrook, CT 06475.
Learn about why auto manufacturers are converting to electric and why your next car, truck or SUV will be an EV! There is no need to wait: the future is already here! High-performance sports cars, sedans, SUVs, and pickups are widely available in EV format, many with longer (over-250-mile) driving ranges.
Experienced EV owners will display their EVs and will discuss why they are enthusiastic about their all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and how they use them on their daily commutes and long-distance drives, as well as how they charge the cars’ batteries.
Auto dealers will showcase some of the latest EV models; test drives will be offered. Test rides will be provided by experienced EV owners.
EV and Plug-In Hybrid EV (PHEV) owners are encouraged to register for this event by clicking on the Participate button above and to bring their vehicles for all or part of the event. We will provide directions for on-site participation, including parking on the day of the event. There will be a designated area for launching test rides.
We encourage attendees (those not displaying their car) to register for this event by clicking on the RSVP button above. By registering you will receive updates as the event approaches.
Attendees will learn about the differences between electric vehicles and conventional gas-powered cars (including why EVs are much less expensive to operate and maintain), their superior driving experience, the widespread locations and different types of charging stations, the wide range of EV models available now, and the benefits of electric vehicles for the environment and for public health.
Attendees will receive informational handouts and will also learn about special savings programs for Connecticut EV drivers, including state rebates and federal tax credits, for purchasing and leasing electric vehicles. Eversource Energy will be providing information about their current rebate program for purchase and installation of EV charging equipment for homes and businesses.
Registered Attendees
There are currently 91 attendees registered.
Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend
| Vehicle | Registered |
| Tesla Model 3 | 3 |
| BMW i3 REx | 2 |
| Chevrolet Bolt EUV | 2 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 2 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 2 |
| Kia EV6 | 2 |
| Tesla Model S | 2 |
| BMW i4 | 1 |
| BMW iX | 1 |
| Cadillac ELR | 1 |
| Chevrolet Bolt | 1 |
| Hyundai KONA Electric | 1 |
| Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid | 1 |
| Lucid Air | 1 |
| MINI Cooper SE Hardtop 2 Door | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE 350+ Sedan | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 Plus | 1 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 4matic | 1 |
| Nissan Ariya | 1 |
| Rivian R1S | 1 |
| 20 Models | 28 |
Registered attendees report 514,291 electric miles driven.
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