Guest MINDSETTER™ Emma Bailey: National Electric Week Comes to Worcester

Email to a friend Permalink

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Guest MINDSETTER™ Emma Bailey

National Drive Electric Week is taking place September 12-20th with more than 180 events across the US, Canada, and China. It celebrates electric motoring as a greener alternative to gas-guzzling transportation, proclaims electric vehicles (EVs) lower emissions and carbon footprint and encourages folks to learn about EV benefits with fun "ride and drive" events so that they can walk away ready to "dump the pump".

Originally dubbed National Plug In Day, the event started in 2011 in a mere 29 cities as a way to promote EVs and build public awareness about them. It grew into National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) starting in 2014, and quadrupled in size. The 2014 NDEW expanded to over 152 events in 39 states from Hawaii to Vermont and abroad, and was attended by over 35,000 visitors. The event is presented nationally by Plug In America, the Sierra Club and the Electric Auto Association, although local fans in each city help organize the gatherings. Local EV and hybrid plug-in EV owners and enthusiasts are encouraged to show up with their cars and help spread the word!

This year, NDEW will be a place to meet and learn from enthusiastic advocates here in Worcester, and in places as diverse as Wichita, Baton Rouge, Oklahoma City, and Charleston, not to mention the many EVs aficionados in California, Hawaii and Washington, and even some in Hong Kong! Event highlights include projects like Brian Kent’s - he plans to participate in Jeffersontown, KY activities as part of his first annual Negative Carbon US Road Trip, by logging and blogging 26,000 miles in his electric car, starting from his home in Albion, NY and planting one tree in 48 states along the way.

There are many reasons everyone should consider switching over to an electric car or plug-in hybrid EV including convenience, less dependence on fossil fuels, and they don’t emit planet-damaging combustion emissions or waste heat that are harmful to the environment. Enmax has reported that gasoline powered vehicles convert only 20% of the energy stored in gasoline, but electric cars are capable of converting 3 times that amount - about 60% of the energy they received goes towards power at the wheels. And although EVs may appear to the the more costly option when compared to a conventional vehicle, take into account the time and money spent visiting the gas station and the investment becomes well worth it.

In order to combat climate change wherever we can, a great place to start is ensuring that the family car doesn't run on dirty fossil fuels, but clean, green electric power instead. If you’re looking for more ways to live a greener, more environmentally friendly lifestyle, this event is the perfect place.

The Worcester Electric Vehicle Ride and Drive Event is taking place Thursday September 17th, from 5-8 pm at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. It is being hosted by the Institute for Energy and Sustainability, WPI and National Grid and will be the place to meet EV enthusiasts, get excited about switching over to driving clean, and leave ready to dump the pump. This event is FREE, and all family members are welcome!

Emma Bailey is a Midwest based blogger with a keen interest in technology, politics, and pop culture.

Related Articles

• Guest MindSetter: Emma Bailey: The Benefits of Solar Power in MA
• What Worcester Needs to Know About “Smart Grids”
• Worcester Ranked in Top 30 Users of Green Electricity in the U.S
• NEW: WPI Unveils New Electric Vehicle Charging Station
• EcoTarium Receives $244,290 Grant for Electrical Grid Connection
• Six Charges in MA That Make Your Electric Bill More Expensive
• NEW: First Electric Vehicle Charging Station to Open in Worcester
• DealBird Group Buy of the Week: $600 Off an Electric Touring 130 Kayak

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink