Three local SW Michigan communities are celebrating National Drive Electric Week with events to heighten awareness of the benefits and widespread availability of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks and motorcycles. Local owners will be on site offering rides in their vehicles ranging from the small Nissan Leafs and Mitsubishi i-MiEVs to the notable Teslas. They will share their experiences with the convenience, low expense and ease of driving an electric car and will speak to the benefits electric cars offer to the economy and environment. Multiple charging stations are available nearby and electric car owners are invited to join in the fun at this family friendly event.
National Drive Electric Week will be in South Haven Monday September 11th, 5 – 7 pm, at South Haven Library and Farmers Market Parking Lot.
National Drive Electric Week will be in Hastings Saturday September 9th, 11 am to 2 pm, in the Hastings Library parking lot.
National Drive Electric Week will be in Kalamazoo Wednesday, September 13th, 5-7 pm, at Western Michigan University’s physical plant parking lot, 425 Stadium Drive, near Waldo Stadium.
James France, South Haven resident and new owner of an electric motorcycle, had this to say about his 2016 Zero SR: “I was hooked as soon as I took a test spin around the parking lot. It took some adjustment to get over the fact that there was no clutch or gears, but beyond that it was a pure joy to ride. It’s a great feeling to be able to ride past a gas station and know that I’ll never need to stop to fill up. I could easily go several days without charging. I can say without a doubt that I do not plan on ever going back to a gas engine motorcycle.”
A new report released by M.J. Bradley & Associates, and commissioned by ChargeUp Midwest, found that increasing electrical vehicles (EVs) adoption in the state could save Michigan drivers and electricity customers billions of dollars over the next three decades. The report also found there is significant potential for EV growth in Michigan.
The study includes both “moderate” and “high” adoption scenarios for EV growth in the state. Key findings for the cumulative financial benefits from mainstream EV adoption in Michigan include:
Reduced electricity bills for utility customers are $800 million (moderate) and $2.6 billion (high) by 2050.
Savings from ownership of an EV compared to a gasoline vehicle are $6.3 billion (moderate) and $23.1 billion (high) by 2050.
Societal benefits from reduced pollution are $1.5 billion (moderate) and $5.7 billion (high) by 2050.
Sierra Club is a national co-sponsor of Drive Electric Week. The South Haven event is co-sponsored by Sierra Club Southwest Michigan Group and Kalamazoo Electric Vehicle Association.
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Links for more information:

https://swmgsierra.org/calendar-of-events/?cid=mc-6bea5a7e02f8f5e2945b6f6b1bbf9266&mc_id=290

Photos available upon request.