DriveElectricTN kicks off 2020 Ride & Drive event season at Knox Auto Show

DriveElectricTN kicks off 2020 Ride & Drive event at the 32nd annual Knox Auto Show. The Electric Vehicles (EVs) featured were the Tesla Model 3, Audi e-tron, Chevrolet Bolt and Volt, and the Smart fortwo EV. These vehicles were provided by Knoxville-based Harper Audi Knoxville dealership, Beaty Chevrolet dealership, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association members, and East Tennessee Clean Fuels. “We’re incredibly fortunate to kick off our 2020 statewide DET Ride and Drive EV Experience events, with a strong team of business leaders, EV enthusiasts and volunteers,” said Virginia Salazar Buda, DriveElectricTN (DET) Coordinator.

The DriveElectricTN (DET) EV Ride & Drive Experience is a statewide program that organizes electric vehicle events that are fun, engaging, educational and inclusive. The events provide an opportunity for Tennesseans to drive EVs without any sales pressure to purchase a car, ask questions about advanced technology and get answers about why the automobile industry is experiencing a massive shift from internal combustion engines to electric motors.  “We’re also looking forward to events where we can talk about the importance of adopting EVs, which are economically sound and are beneficial to our health and environment. It’s a win-win, for all,” added Salazar Buda.

Each DET Ride & Drive Experience scheduled for 2020 will engage diverse audiences, businesses and organizations that will advance the DriveElectricTN Roadmap – a 10-year strategy initiated in 2018 by a core team of stakeholders throughout the state of Tennessee.  The Ride & Drive EV Experience is one project out of 47 listed in the DET Roadmap strategy. The Roadmap strategy embraces four Opportunity Areas for TN statewide EV adoption. These four Opportunity Areas are Charging Infrastructure, Policies and Programs, Availability and Awareness. For more information about DET’s first edition Roadmap, visit Electric Vehicle Roadmap or www.driveelectrictn.org.

Drive Electric Tennessee’s Mission is to collaboratively pursue initiatives that will significantly increase adoption in Tennessee from approximately 7,000 Electric Vehicles (EV) registered today to 200,000 PEVs by 2028. These initiatives are guided by shared principles that benefit all residents of Tennessee.  Our Shared Vision is driving Tennessee to become an EV leader in the Southeast. DET is housed within the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition (ETCF) at the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Secure and Sustainable Environment in Knoxville. ETCF is a non-profit that promotes cleaner alternative fuels and vehicles to improve air quality, curb dependence on petroleum, and support Tennessee’s economy. Other DET partners provide additional funding or staff assistance to promote DET activities across the state.

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

The East Tennessee Economic Development Agency markets and recruits business for the 15 counties in the greater Knoxville-Oak Ridge region of East Tennessee. Visit www.eteda.org

 

Published February 27, 2020