As part of the Clean Energy Expo, a ride and drive event will allow curious consumers to take electric vehicles for a spin.
For those considering purchasing an electric vehicle or even just driving one, the electric vehicle “ride and drive” event hosted by UpGrade Athens County will allow people to take one for a spin.
As part of the 2016 Clean Energy Expo at the Athens Community Center, a “ride and drive” event will take place Saturday in which electric vehicles can be test-driven. The ride and drive will begin at 3 p.m. and will end at 7 p.m.
The event is hosted by the City of Athens and UpGrade Athens County, an organization which informs local residents about clean energy options. Clean Fuels Ohio, a nonprofit that seeks to reduce emissions and help businesses move to cleaner forms of energy, also contributed in the planning.
In addition, through a partnership with the Ohio University Credit Union, anyone who takes out a loan to purchase a 100 percent electric vehicle will qualify for zero percent interest on the loan.
Matthew Roberts, the info and outreach director for UpGrade Athens County, said the electric vehicles that would be purchased through this loan will be from nearby dealerships in Columbus. Many of the vehicles are from 2011-2013, and Roberts said the prices range from $10,000-$13,000.
Those who purchase electric cars will start seeing its benefits almost immediately, Roberts said.
“It’s much cheaper to charge your car,” he said. “On a monthly basis, you’ll probably see your electric bill go up $15 at the most.”
Roberts said the electric vehicles will be provided by local residents who have agreed to let their cars be test-driven, and somewhere from six to nine cars will be present. Because driving the vehicles on the road would drain the batteries faster because of the longer distance traveled and higher speeds, the test-driving may just be limited to the parking lot of the community center.
As another part of the expo, a “fast charge” station will be presented that was donated to the city by Nissan. The fast charger will be able to get an electric vehicle to a full charge in about 30 minutes. In comparison, a regular electric vehicle charger that would be used in a home will charge the car in about eight hours.
Roberts said the “ride and drive” will serve as an educational opportunity for those involved.
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“It’s mostly just a test,” Roberts said. “It’s an opportunity to really see, are electric cars a good thing, especially for Athens? Does it make sense to create a corridor of electric transportation between Athens and Columbus or Athens and West Virginia?”
Sam Spofforth, the executive director of Clean Fuels Ohio, said those types of ride and drive events can help to clear up some misinformation consumers tend to have about electric vehicles. He said the electric motor of an electric vehicle accelerates quickly, smoothly and quietly, in contrast to the concerns about its power.
“You often find that people have misconceptions that electric vehicles are slow, underpowered (or) too small,” Spofforth said. “We’re able to counter those misconceptions pretty quickly once people can get behind the wheel.”
@seanthomaswolfe
