National Drive Electric Week
Kalamazoo, MI
Sep 16, 2015
Kalamazoo, MI
Sep 16, 2015
| Day: | Wednesday, September 16, 2015 NOTE: this event has already happened, find current-year events on the Attend page. |
| Time: | 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
| Location: | People's Food Co-op, The 100 Mile (Farmer's) Market 507 Harrison St. Kalamazoo, MI 49007 |
Event Report
The week included two showings of "Who Killed the Electric Car?" - one at Kalamazoo Public Library Main Branch, one at Kalamazoo College. A total of about 40 people saw the movie. The Q&A sessions that followed indicated that almost all audience members changed their preconceived notions about viability and practicality of electric cars.
At the Ride-and-Drive, everyone who rode or drove came away impressed. We asked each one to fill out a brief questionnaire beforehand and a followup afterwards. The followup asked just one question: What did you learn? Almost all mentioned how quiet and smooth their ride was. Most talked about how impressed they were with practicality, speed, and acceleration. No one gave any negative answers. One rider made a numbered list of 20 impressive things he learned about driving electric. We clearly won people over!
We also made several awards to local groups and individuals who've led our community in service to a sustainable clean-energy future.
photo by: Bruce Brown, Sierra Club SouthWest Michigan Group On the far left, dressed all in black, is the Tesla Roadster. Behind the table are Sierra Club SouthWest Michigan Group volunteers Gail Nelson (in the red hat) and Jim Ferner (wearing the shades). |
Event Description
Electric cars are available, affordable, sensible, and CLEAN.
Come to the Ride-and-Drive Demonstration and find how much FUN they are too!
Sign up to take a ride, or even drive one.
An all-electric BMW will be one of the cars at the Ride-and-Drive. Come see it and the Chevy Volt, Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, a Zero electric mortorcycle, and the '92 Honda Civic that Paul Pancella converted to all-electric. A Tesla Model S will arrive at about 5:00pm!
It's all happening at the People's Food Co-op 100-Mile Market, 507 Harrison Street, Kalamazoo, from 3:30pm to 6:30pm Wednesday, September 16.
Photo: Envision Solar for Wired.com
With your own net metering, or even off-the-grid solar-powered charging station, you can power your EV to run on 100% fossil-fuel-free CLEAN energy!
Four Elements Energy will be on hand at our Ride-and Drive Demonstration with their portable solar-powered charging station to show you how you can make this work for you. Representatives from Sierra Club solar partner Solar Winds can explain how net metering works in Michigan. They will have more EV info for you too.
NEWS for Kalamazoo Drive Electric Week
Check back on this page for news about the National Drive Electric Week in Kalamazoo as it unfolds.
Saturday September 5, 2015
- National Drive Electric Week is "Larger Than Ever: 165 Cities, 3 Countries" - Click here to learn more!
Wednesday September 2, 2015
- Our press release is out! Ask your local newspaper if they are covering the event!
- The Kalamazoo College movie screening has moved from the classroom to Recital Hall in the Fine Arts Building (see below).
Wednesday August 25, 2015.
- Life Cycle Motorcycles is bringing their Zero Electric Motorcycle to the 100-Mile Market Ride/Drive Event!!!
Monday August 24, 2015.
- Kalamazoo College to be designated National Drive Electric Week Kalamazoo Ambassador School
- Kalamazoo Public Library, Central Library Adult Programming, to offer electric car movie viewing.
EVENTS scheduled for Kalamazoo Drive Electric Week
Two Showings, with Q&A to follow, of Who Killed the Electric Car?
Who Killed The Electric Car? The movie, starring Martin Sheen, Tom Hanks, and Mel Gibson, presents an overview of electric car history, focusing on the 1990's creation and mysterious disappearance of almost 5,000 electric cars that were quietly built and leased, but more quietly collected and crushed, in spite of offers to purchase them above cost. Who Killed the Electric Car? won several awards. Among them:- 2006 Mountain Film Special Jury Prize.
- 2006 Canberra International Film Festival Audience Award.
- 2006 Best Documentary, Environmental Media Awards.
- Writers Guild of America Best Documentary of 2006.
- 2007 Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Documentary Feature.
First showing
Kalamazoo Public Library is generously supporting National Electric Drive Week - Kalamazoo with the week's kickoff presentation of Who Killed the Electric Car?
- Wednesday September 9, 7pm - 8:45pm
- Van Deusen Room, Downtown Central Library, 315 Rose Street, Kalamazoo
Second showing
Kalamazoo College, chosen to be National Drive Electric Week's Kalamazoo Ambassador, will also host Who Killed the Electric Car?
- Tuesday September 15, 11:35am - 12:30pm
- Recital Hall, Light Fine Arts Building, Kalamazoo College, 1200 Academy Street, Kalamazoo
- Special guest speaker: Ben Brown, member Sierra Club SouthWest Michigan Group, Electric Auto Association, Plug-in America
The feature event of the week: Electric car exhibit and free ride-and-drive demonstrations!
Kalamazoo Drive Electric Week co-sponsor the People's Food Co-op 100-Mile Market will host Kalamazoo's first-ever all-out public education event on behalf of clean - zero-tailpipe-emission - electric driving!
- Wednesday, September 16, 3:30-6:30pm
- People's Food Co-op, 100 Mile Market, 507 Harrison St. Kalamazoo
- Sign up at the 100-Mile Market to ride and/or drive an electric car and get your 'EV Grin On!'
- Get the real scoop: Talk to Kalamazoo area owners about their actual electric vehicle experience.
- See local electric vehicle models and speak with area dealers.
- Learn about setting up your own solar-powered charging station.
- Demonstrations, displays, vendors.
- Be present at the first area awards recognizing local leaders in sustainable electric transportation.
- Plus prizes, gifts, and more...
Want to know more?
Learn more about electric cars at these links:
- Infographic from Union of Concerned Scientists - based on 2013 information. (After clicking the link, click again to resize.)
- Infographic from PlugShare and PluginCars.com on the growth of charging station availability from 2011 to 2013.
- Check out the Ben Brown electric car experience.
For your viewing pleasure, a few entertaining and informative videos:
Organizations and supporters of National Drive Electric Week Kalamazoo
Cole Nissan, Cole Automotive GroupKalamazoo College
- Tim Cole
- Charlie Jeffrey
Western Michigan University
- Mary Jane Underwood Stryker Center for Civic Engagement
- Facilities Management
- Sustainability Program
- Dr. Harold Glasser, Executive Director of Campus Sustainability & Professor
People's Food CooperativeKalamazoo Public Library
- 100 Mile Market Team
Sierra Club: Southwest Michigan Group
- Ben Brown, Co-Captain
- Bruce Brown, Co-Captain
Matt Lechel, Chris Dilley, Sasha Acker, David Schuster, Paul Pancella, Jacob Pinney-Johnson, David Reynolds, Guy Wiggins, Erwin Maier, Lori Truac, William Anderson, Jeff Spoelstra, Gail Nelson, Alison Geist, Paul Manstrom, Liefie, Greggory the Great, Pamela Thwaite, Tom Saxton, Jim France, Lora Ortiz, Dan Runyon, Patricia Farris, Art Toy, Rebekah Kik, Liza Winters, James Skillen, Nathan Danillson, Mary Beth Farhat, Kelly Haak, Carrie Finch, Barb Heinonen
Registered Attendees
There are currently 40 attendees registered.
Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend
| Vehicle | Registered |
|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf (2011-2017) | 4 |
| Chevrolet Volt | 3 |
| EV Conversion | 2 |
| BMW i3 REx | 1 |
| Ford Focus Electric | 1 |
| Mitsubishi i-MiEV | 1 |
| Tesla Model S | 1 |
| Tesla Roadster | 1 |
| Zero Motorcycle | 1 |
| 9 Models | 15 |
Registered attendees report 255,599 electric miles driven.
In the News…
- LAPD Gets Tesla Model S, BMW i3 Electric Cars As Police Cruisers
- Electric Vehicles, Solar Energy and Net Metering
- Hondatron, my affordable DIY electric car conversion
- DRIVE ELECTRIC KALAMAZOO: ELECTRIC VEHICLES @ 100-MILE MARKET!
- Electric vehicles to be showcased in Kalamazoo for Drive Electric Week
- Drive Electric? Why not?
