In recognition of Earth Day 2022, Clean Fuels Ohio and Drive Electric Ohio chapters organized and supported ten events across the state to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), educate community members, and celebrate Drive Electric Earth Day. EV owners and enthusiasts from around the state participated in these events by showcasing their vehicles and engaging with event attendees. The ten events consisted of more than 120 vehicles, including an electric transit bus and electric bikes, scooters, and skateboards.
A recap on all of Ohio’s DEED 2022 events are included below:
Southeast Ohio
On April 21st, Drive Electric Southeast Ohio partnered with Rural Action, Ohio University’s Office of Sustainability, and Drive Electric Columbus to present an Earth Day EV Showcase. The Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) also attended with a booth and informational resources about their organization. Event attendees were able to interact with five different EVs, ranging from a Nissan Leaf to a Tesla Model 3, and their owners to learn about everyday life with an EV.
In addition to the five electric cars, the showcase also featured an electric motorcycle, scooter, skateboard, and a variety of bicycles, which allowed event attendees to learn about alternative methods of electric transportation.
“It was a great opportunity to meet other EV enthusiasts in the region,” said Jacob Richard, an AmeriCorps VISTA with Rural Action. “Everyone was so ecstatic to talk about their EVs, which made the event so much better!”
View photos of the event here.
Columbus
On April 23rd, Drive Electric Columbus hosted a booth and EV showcase at Green Columbus’s Earth Day celebration in Genoa Park. Attendees had the opportunity to speak with owners of a wide variety of vehicles, which included four Teslas, two Kias, a Chevy, a BMW, and a Volkswagen. The Drive Electric Columbus booth displayed EVs of all sizes, with a battery electric RC car racetrack, EV Hot Wheels for the kids, and a fully electric transit bus complete provided by the Central Ohio Transit Authority. Booth volunteers shared their EV experiences with approximately 550 event attendees and answered questions about their vehicles and charging. The event also included food trucks and live music from local artists.
View photos of the event here.
Northeast Ohio
On April 16th, Drive Electric Ohio and Solar United Neighbors hosted a booth at Local Roots Market and Café in Wooster as a part of a local Earth Day celebration. EV owners from around the region displayed their electric cars and bikes in the parking lot, allowing visitors to sit inside, ask questions, and even drive a few around the block! This event featured a wide variety of vehicles, including a Rivian truck, a Ford Transit van, an Audi Q5, and more. The event’s 300 visitors were able to view twenty electric vehicles, five electric bikes, and multiple booths from environmental organizations across Ohio.
On April 23rd, the Drive Electric Northeast Ohio chapter hosted an EV showcase at the Cleveland Zoo’s Party for the Planet event. This event featured twelve cars, including Teslas, Chevys, a Kia, a BMW, and a Ford Mustang Mach-e, which attracted over 5,000 visitors to the Drive Electric NEO display. These 5,000 visitors were able to sit in the vehicles and have genuine conversations with their owners about the EV lifestyle.
Visit the Drive Electric Northeast Facebook page to learn more.
Dayton
On April 16th, Drive Electric Dayton hosted an EV Showcase in Miamisburg. This event provided an opportunity for EV owners and enthusiasts to present their vehicle, answer questions, and talk about life with an EV. About 50 people attended the event, and EV owners displayed 23 vehicles, including a VW ID.4, multiple Tesla models, and multiple BMW models.
On April 22nd, Trotwood-Madison High School hosted an EV Fair, where about 150 highschoolers attended a presentation by Dayton Chapter Leader Tim Benford and Dayton Equity Advisor Rap Hankins. Following the presentation, kids had the opportunity to see electric vehicles up close, ask questions, and go for rides around the parking lot! Here is a video summary of the event:
On April 23rd, Drive Electric Dayton hosted an “Active Earth Day” event in Fairborn where EV owners shared their experiences and answered questions on charging, range, and maintenance. This event was a community exhibition to empower individuals to make sustainable choices, and included interactive demonstrations, speakers, and games for kids and adults. About 25 people attended the event, and EV owners displayed ten vehicles.
Cincinnati
On April 23rd, Drive Electric Cincinnati occupied two booths at the Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Celebration at Summit Park in Blue Ash and hosted a ride-and-drive with six vehicles provided by Drive Electric Cincinnati volunteers and representatives from the Cincinnati Tesla service center and Kings Volkswagen dealership. Hundreds of people attended the event, and the Drive Electric Cincinnati booths welcomed the busy traffic and beautiful weather.
On April 30th, Drive Electric Cincinnati will host an EV Showcase and ride-and-drive near the Northside Transit Center in Cincinnati. The event will run from 9:00am to 12:30pm and will include 24 vehicles, including 14 different models, as well as the opportunity to speak with EV owners and learn more about the Drive Electric Cincinnati chapter. Click here to visit the Drive Electric Earth Day site for more information on event location and details!
Northwest Ohio
On April 21st, the Center for Energy Education hosted a Utility-Scale Workshop for public officials in Defiance and invited Clean Fuels Ohio to speak about the organization, current projects, chapter events, and how individuals can get involved. Although the event was largely solar-themed, the Center for Energy Education welcomed Clean Fuels Ohio staff and the organization’s Chevy Bolt and provided an opportunity to network in Northwest Ohio and to connect solar electricity generation and electricity as a vehicle fuel.
