See & drive your favorite EVs at Drive Electric Week starting Sep 23 nationwide
Drive Electric Week kicks off this Saturday with over 200 online and in-person events celebrating electric vehicles. Events will be held for the next two weekends, from September 23 through October 1, in the US & Canada… and one in Mexico City.
Drive Electric Week is an annual event organized by Plug In America, the Electric Auto Association, EVHybridNoire, Drive Electric USA, and the Sierra Club. This is the event’s 13th year. It started in the US as National Drive Electric Week, but for the last few years, some events have been hosted in other countries as well.
These events are an opportunity for prospective EV buyers to talk directly with EV owners about the experience of owning an electric car. The dealership experience is not ideal for many EV shoppers, so unfiltered conversations with EV owners can be a great way to learn.
NDEW is a great chance for drivers to talk to EV owners in their communities about the true EV driving experience. We want to give everyone accurate, practical information so they can make informed decisions about what is best for them. There are a number of great deals and incentives available, not to mention an increase in the variety of models for sale. So there’s a lot to discover at NDEW events, even for current EV owners.
Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America
Each event is organized by local EV advocates, and they range in size from small parking lot meetups and local EV parades to large festivals with lots of booths from nearby car dealers and green businesses. Be sure to check each event page to see what your local events will look like and what types of EVs might be in attendance.
Drive Electric Week has a map and list of events happening this week. Most events are in-person, but there are some webinar-style online events that you can attend to hear about various topics related to electric vehicles. You can also search for events near you.
For the last couple of years, Drive Electric Week has been a little subdued due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, all events were shifted to online, with in-person events returning in later years. Most events were outdoors anyway, and attendees were encouraged to follow COVID guidelines.
This year’s lineup still feels a little smaller than the days of yore, but most events are in-person, with only a few online events left. Here’s a selection of some of the events happening over the course of the week:
- Poolesville, MD, on Sep 23 – There will be an EV giveaway hosted by Wells Fargo and a local Nissan dealer, along with a parade, ride and drives, cosplayers, and free drawings.
- Cudahy, CA, on Sep 30 – “Ponte Las Pilas” (“put in the batteries”), an event focused on exposing the Latino community to electric vehicles.
- Kingman, AZ on Sep 23 – At the Route 66 EV Museum, including free entry to the museum, which has a display of 25 historic EVs.
- Schenectady, NY, on Oct 1 – Hundreds of visitors are expected, with food trucks, live music, and zero-emission city bus rides. 88 EVs of 33 different models are currently registered as attending, making this one of the largest events expected in the country.
- Knoxville, TN, on Sep 23 – Likely the biggest event in the Southeast US with 127 vehicles and 44 EV models registered, along with test drives of various cars and electric bikes, live music, and an electric boat on display.
- Waimea, HI (Kauai), on Sep 23 – Even a small island is getting its own event, with eight different models of EV registered to show off. There are also events on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.
- Tulsa, OK, on Sep 23 – EV ride & drive from local dealerships and educational booths for local sustainability efforts, including how to get home solar in the area. This event is part of the local “Monarchs on the Mountain” celebration.
- North Bend, OR, on Sep 22-23 – A solar & EV fest at the “Itty Bitty Inn,” with local bands, food trucks, and coffee roasters.
Not all the events are large or hosted in big cities. There are also smaller events happening in town centers, church parking lots, and so on, often with just a handful of EV owners who are typically happy to stand around and have a frank discussion with members of the public about what it’s like to own an EV.
Online events include seminars and interviews with experts discussing various aspects of EVs. There will be seminars on electric school buses, EV charging, local EV issues in New Jersey, an “ask an EV owner” session by Consumer Reports and Generation 180, and a premiere of a new EV ad by Adam McKay, director of Don’t Look Up, along with panel discussion of how storytelling can boost EV adoption.
If you’d like to attend these events, either to show your vehicle, to volunteer to help run the event, or just to show up and look around, you can go to each event’s page to find more information. Remember to click the “RSVP” or “Volunteer” links near the top to register your interest (or register at the links mentioned in the event description).
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The Stripe logo on a smartphone with U.S. dollar banknotes in the background.
Budrul Chukrut | SOPA Images | LightRocket via Getty Images
Stripe cut 300 jobs, representing about 3.5% of its workforce, mostly in product, engineering and operations, CNBC has confirmed.
The payments company, valued at about $70 billion in the private markets, still expects to increase headcount by 10,000 by the end of the year, which would be a 17% increase, and is “not slowing down hiring,” according to a memo to staff from Chief People Office Rob McIntosh. Business Insider reported earlier on the cuts and the memo.
A Stripe spokesperson also confirmed to CNBC that a cartoon image of a duck with text that read, “US-Non-California Duck,” was accidentally attached as a PDF to emails sent to some of the employees who were laid off. Some of the emails mistakenly provided affected employees with an incorrect termination date, the spokesperson said.
McIntosh sent a follow-up email to staffers apologizing for the “notification error” and “any confusion it caused.”
“Corrected and full notifications have since been sent to all impacted Stripes,” he wrote.
In 2022, Stripe cut roughly 1,100 jobs, or 14% of its workers, downsizing alongside most of the tech industry, as soaring inflation and rising interest rates forced companies to focus on profits over growth. The Information reported that Stripe had a few dozen layoffs in its recruiting department in 2023.
Stripe’s valuation sank from a peak of $95 billion in 2021 to $50 billion in 2023, before reportedly rebounding to $70 billion last year as part of a secondary share sale. The company ranked third on last year’s CNBC Disruptor 50 list.
In October, Stripe agreed to pay $1.1 billion for crypto startup Bridge Network, whose technology is focused on making it easy for businesses to transact using digital currencies.
Brothers Patrick and John Collison, who founded Stripe in 2010, have intentionally steered clear of the public markets and have given no indication that an offering is on the near-term horizon. Total payment volume at the company surpassed $1 trillion in 2023.
WATCH: Early Bridge investor weighs in on $1.1 billion Stripe deal
Thinking about upgrading your EV? Rivian (RIVN) launched a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1S or R1T. Here’s how you can snag some savings.
Rivian R1S and R1T upgrade deal offers up to $6,000
Rivian delivered over 51,500 vehicles last year as the EV maker gains momentum. Although it was only slightly higher than the ~50,100 delivered in 2023, Rivian is expected to see even more growth this year.
After shutting down its Normal, IL manufacturing plant last April and renegotiating supplier contracts, Rivian has seen “significant cost improvements,” according to CEO RJ Scaringe.
Rivian also began delivering its next-gen R1S and R1T models last year. The new Large and Max battery packs have redesigned modules and more efficient packaging, “making them easier to manufacture and service.” For example, Rivian’s new EVs use seven ECUs, down from 17 in the first-generation R1T and R1S.
With new plant upgrades, reworked supplier contracts, and more efficient vehicles, Rivian is now passing the savings on to customers.
Rivian introduced a new promo on Tuesday, offering up to $6,000 to upgrade your R1T or R1S. The bonus amount varies by trim:
- Tri with Max battery: $6,000 USD / CAD 8,600
- Dual with Max battery and Performance upgrade: $4,500 USD / CAD 6,500
- Dual with Max battery: $3,000 USD / CAD 4,300
The offer is for current R1T or R1S owners or lessees in the US and Canada. Rivian launched the new promo on January 21, and it runs through March 31, 2025.
After you purchase or lease a qualifying vehicle, Rivian will apply a discount toward the MSRP. You must take delivery by March 31, 2025. In the fine print, Rivian stated, “You must request a trade-in estimate to qualify for this offer, but trade-in of a vehicle is not required.”
Any other models are excluded from the offer. These include Dual Standard configurations, Dual with Large battery configurations, custom builds, demo vehicles, and pre-owned vehicles.
The new offer follows Rivian’s previous upgrade promo introduced last October, giving qualifying gas-powered vehicle owners or lessees up to $3,000.
Check out the Rivian R1 Shop to view eligible models. You can see eligible Rivian R1S here and R1T models here.
Electrek’s Take
Rivian’s R1S was already the tenth best-selling electric vehicle in the US last year, with nearly 27,000 models sold. With more driving range and power at a lower cost, the electric SUV could see even more demand in 2025.
Then again, with the arrival of new luxury electric SUVs, like the Jeep Wagoneer S and Volvo EX90, Rivian will face more competition in the US.
Rivian’s latest promo comes as the Company looks to carry the momentum from the end of 2024 into the new year. The EV maker is offering other deals, including 1.99% APR for 60 months on the R1 Dual with a Max Battery and Performance upgrade.
Even if you are not eligible for the promo, we can still help you find deals on Rivian’s electric SUV in your area. You can use our links below to view offers on the Rivian R1S and R1T near you today.
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Environment
Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 lose the $7,500 EV tax credit: Here’s how you can still get it
In a sudden reversal, Hyundai’s new IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 EVs no longer qualify for the $7,500 US tax credit. Although this is a major blow to one of the top-selling EV brands in the US, there is still a way you can get the credit. Here’s how.
Hyundai EVs lose US federal tax credit in 2025
After setting another new US retail sales record last year, its fourth straight, Hyundai expected 2025 could be even bigger.
“With exciting new models like the IONIQ 9 and increased US production ramping up at our new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, I’m confident this momentum will continue,” Hyundai Motor North America CEO Randy Parker said.
Earlier this month, Hyundai announced its new 2025 IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9, both made in the US, qualified for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
This was significant news because it was the first time Hyundai qualified since the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed in 2022.
The upgraded 2025 IONIQ 5 and Hyundai’s three-row IONIQ 9 were among 25 EVs that qualified for the credit in early January.
According to the updated list from the Department of Energy (DOE) last week, Hyundai no longer has eligible EV models. The only Hyundai Motor Group (including Kia and Genesis) electric cars that qualify are the 2025 Kia EV6 and 2026 Kia EV9. Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, also lost eligibility.
Hyundai began production at its new $7.6 billion EV plant in Georgia in October. The new 2025 IONIQ 5 was the first to roll off the assembly line, which will be joined by Hyundai’s three-row IONIQ 9.
Last year, Hyundai said it expected US-built models would qualify for a partial $3,750 credit until its battery unit with SK On came online, which was expected sometime in 2025.
Kia builds the new 2025 EV6 and three-row EV9 at its West Point, GA plant, enabling it to still qualify for the credit.
Meanwhile, Hyundai is still passing the $7,500 EV tax credit on through leasing. With leases starting as low as $199 per month, the new 2025 IONIQ 5 is still cheaper than a new Toyota RAV4.
With a bigger 84 kWh battery, the 2025 IONIQ 5 has a driving range of up to 328 miles, up from 303 miles in the outgoing model, which had a 77.4 kWh battery. It also gains noticeable design upgrades and now includes an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers.
The IONIQ 5 was already the fourth-top-selling electric vehicle in the US last year. With more range, an upgraded design, and a Tesla NACS port, it will be even more attractive in 2025.
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim | EV Powertrain | Driving Range (miles) | Starting Price* |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | 168-horsepower rear motor | 245 | $42,500 |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $46,550 |
| IONIQ 5 SEL RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $49,500 |
| IONIQ 5 Limited RWD | 225-horsepower rear motor | 318 | $54,200 |
| IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 290 | $50,050 |
| IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 290 | $53,000 |
| IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD | 320 horsepower dual motor | 259 | $55,400 |
| IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD | 320-horsepower dual motor | 269 | $58,100 |
Hyundai launched a new promo last week. It offers those who buy or lease the new 2025 IONIQ 5 a free ChargePoint Level 2 EV charger. Alternatively, you can choose a $400 charging credit.
Are you ready to test Hyundai’s new electric vehicles for yourself? We can help you get started. Check out our links below to find deals on Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis EVs at a dealer near you today.
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