Connect with us

Published

on

Drive Electric Week kicks off this Saturday with nearly 200 online and in-person events celebrating electric vehicles. Events will be held for the next two weekends, from September 27 through October 6, in the US, Canada, and one in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Drive Electric Week is an annual event organized by Plug In America, the Electric Auto AssociationEVHybridNoire, Drive Electric USA, and the Sierra Club. This is the event’s 14th 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, and EV owners to network with each other and share tips. The dealership experience is not ideal for many EV shoppers, so unfiltered conversations with EV owners can be a great way to learn.

2023 NDEW Ventura, CA. Photo: Seth Brandes

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 next 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.

A map of all of 2024’s Drive Electric Week events

Here’s a sample of some of the events happening over the course of the week:

  • Phoenix, AZ has a ride and drive on Sep28 from 8am-12pm, with a wide variety of vehicles available for test drives and raffle drawing for anyone who participates in a test drive. There are also many EV owners registered who will be happy to talk about their EVs (including a Fisker Ocean, that should be an interesting chat…)
  • Port Hueneme, CA will have an EV showcase at the Port Hueneme Banana Festival on Sep28 from 10am-5pm. There will be port tours, a kids zone, live music, and banana-themed food. (Port Hueneme is also nearby some of the largest heavy-duty EV charging station projects in the country, to help fuel port traffic)
  • Midlothian, VA will hold “Electricarpalooza” on Sep28 from 11:30am-6pm with discussions, test drives from 5 manufacturers, EV and e-bike display, and a happy hour.
In 2023, Anchorage’s event included a panel discussion with local utility Chugach electric. Photo: Kate Ayers
  • Driving electric isn’t just for the continental states, as Juneau and Anchorage will both have events. Juneau will have its annual EV round up on Sep28 11:30am-1pm with EV, e-bike, and even electric outboard motor displays, and Anchorage is holding a ribbon-cutting for a DC fast charger on Oct4 from 12-1pm.
  • Drive Electric Alabama is hosting 4 events around the state, in Auburn, Birmingham, Huntsville and Foley.
  • 4 separate Hawaiian islands are having their own events, in Koloa on Kauai, Honolulu and Aiea on O’ahu, Kahului on Maui, and Hilo on the Big Island.
  • The sole event in Mexico is in Guadalajara on Oct5 from 9am-4pm CST, and will take place at Oscar Casillas Karting Track, where there will also be a race of student-built electric karts alongside the EV exhibition and test drives.
2023 NDEW Waterloo Ontario. Photo: Ian Darwin
  • Canada’s largest event will be in Waterloo, Ontario on Oct5 from 11am-3pm. it was a pretty big event last year with lots of EVs on display, and a GM Brightdrop electric delivery truck (made at GM’s CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario) will be there too.
  • Schenectady, NY is hosting the New York Capital District’s event on Oct6 from 10am-2pm at Schenectady City Hall with test drives, live music and food trucks. Over 100 vehicles and 41 models are registered for the EV display, which means this might be the biggest event in the country (here’s a video from last year’s event).
  • Fort Worth, TX has a wide variety of exhibitors confirmed for its Oct6 event from 10am-2pm. You’ll see solar cars, golf carts, wind energy providers, local dealerships and Harley’s Livewire electric motorcycle, among others.

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, or to network with other local EV owners.

Some events will host EV parades, like 2023 NDEW in Wenatchee, WA. Photo: Julie Banken

During the peak years of the COVID-19 pandemic, events went to an all-online format, and when in-person events came back, they were a bit more muted than the days of yore. But attendance is growing back to its former glory, and most are outdoors anyway, so it’s a great way to enjoy a nice weekend day before the cold comes back (though we’re not too worried about that part here in sunny Southern California).

A few online events do remain for those who don’t have any local events near them or who are otherwise booked on the weekend. There’s an EV 101 seminar, a discussion about charging EVs at work, and a talk about EV incentives for consumers and businesses.

But most notably for those online events, Electrek’s very own Michelle Lewis will moderate Generation180’s all-women “Ask an EV Owner” panel on Thursday, October 3, at noon eastern time.

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).


Charge your electric vehicle at home using rooftop solar panels. Find a reliable and competitively priced solar installer near you on EnergySage, for free. They have pre-vetted installers competing for your business, ensuring high-quality solutions and 20-30% savings. It’s free, with no sales calls until you choose an installer. Compare personalized solar quotes online and receive guidance from unbiased Energy Advisers. Get started here. – ad*

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Lectric Ebikes may be launching a new XP 4 this week, and it could change everything

Published

on

By

Lectric Ebikes may be launching a new XP 4 this week, and it could change everything

Lectric Ebikes appears to be preparing for a major new product launch, teasing what looks like the next evolution of its wildly popular folding fat tire electric bike. Based on the clues, it looks like a new Lectric XP 4 could be inbound.

In a social media post released over the weekend, the company shared a minimalist graphic reading “XP4” along with the message “Tune in 5.6.2025 9:30AM PT.” That date – this Tuesday – suggests we’re just hours away from the big reveal of the Lectric XP 4.

If true, this would mark the next generation of the most successful electric bike in the U.S. market. The current model, the Lectric XP 3.0, has become an icon of accessible, budget-friendly electric mobility. Starting at just $999, the XP 3.0 offers a foldable frame, fat tires, a 500W motor, a rear rack, lights, and hydraulic brakes – all packed into a highly shippable design that arrives fully assembled. It’s the kind of package that has helped Lectric claim the title of best-selling e-bike brand in the U.S. for several years in a row.

With the XP 3.0 still going strong, the teaser raises plenty of questions. Will the XP 4.0 be a modest update or a major leap forward? Could we see new features like torque-sensing pedal assist, a location tracking option, or upgraded performance? Or is Lectric preparing a more comfort-oriented variant, maybe even with upgraded suspension or even more accessories included standard?

Advertisement – scroll for more content

The teaser image, which features stylized stripes in grey, blue, and black, may hold some clues. One theory is that the colors represent new trim options or component upgrades. Another possibility is that Lectric is preparing multiple variants of the XP 4.0 – perhaps targeting commuters, adventurers, and off-road riders with purpose-built versions. We took the liberty of a bit of rampant speculation late last year, so perhaps that’s now worth a revisit.

At the same time though, Lectric’s penchant for launching new models at unbelievably affordable prices has never run up against such strong pricing headwinds as those posed by uncertainty in the current US-global trade war fueled by rapidly changing tariffs for imported goods.

lectric xp 3.0 hydraulic
Previous versions of the Lectric XP e-bike line have seen sky-high sales

Whatever the case, Lectric’s knack for surprising the industry with high-value, customer-focused e-bikes means expectations will be high. The brand has built a loyal following by delivering reliable performance at a price point that few can match, and any major update to the XP lineup is likely to ripple across the market.

As a young and energetic e-bike company, Lectric is also known for throwing impressive parties around the launch of new models. It looks like I may need to hop on a red-eye to Phoenix so I can see for myself – and so I can bring you all along, of course.

Be sure to tune in Tuesday at 9:30AM PT to see what Lectric has in store – and you can bet we’ll have all the details and first impressions as soon as they drop.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

U.S. crude oil prices fall more than 4% after OPEC+ agrees to surge production in June

Published

on

By

U.S. crude oil prices fall more than 4% after OPEC+ agrees to surge production in June

Logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty Images

U.S. crude oil futures fell more than 4% on Sunday, after OPEC+ agreed to surge production for a second month.

U.S. crude was down $2.49, or 4.27%, to $55.80 a barrel shortly after trading opened. Global benchmark Brent fell $2.39, or 3.9%, to $58.90 per barrel. Oil prices have fallen more than 20% this year.

The eight producers in the group, led by Saudi Arabia, agreed on Saturday to increase output by another 411,000 barrels per day in June. The decision comes a month after OPEC+ surprised the market by agreeing to surge production in May by the same amount.

The June production hike is nearly triple the 140,000 bpd that Goldman Sachs had originally forecast. OPEC+ is bringing more than 800,000 bpd of additional supply to the market over the course of two months.

Oil prices in April posted the biggest monthly loss since 2021, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have raised fears of a recession that will slow demand at the same time that OPEC+ is quickly increasing supply.

Oilfield service firms such as Baker Hughes and SLB are expecting investment in exploration and production to decline this year due to the weak price environment.

“The prospects of an oversupplied oil market, rising tariffs, uncertainty in Mexico and activity weakness in Saudi Arabia are collectively constraining international upstream spending levels,” Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said on the company’s first-quarter earnings call on April 25.

Oil majors Chevron and Exxon reported first-quarter earnings last week that fell compared to the same period in 2024 due to lower oil prices.

Goldman is forecasting that U.S. crude and Brent prices will average $59 and $63 per barrel, respectively, this year.

Catch up on the latest energy news from CNBC Pro:

Continue Reading

Environment

Chicago plans more, and more equitable public charging as EV sales climb

Published

on

By

Chicago plans more, and more equitable public charging as EV sales climb

Electric vehicles’ share of the market continues to climb in America’s second city, with BEV registrations up more than 50% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the same period last year. Great news, but charging hasn’t up – but a new plan from Chicago Department of Transportation aims to build up enough infrastructure for the city to keep up.

In a bid to keep up with the rapid growth of EVs, Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT is currently seeking public feedback on a plan called “Chicago Moves Electric Framework.” The city’s first such plan, it outlines initiatives that include a curbside charging pilot through the city’s utility, ComEd, and expanded charging access in key areas throughout the city.

Unlike other such plans, however, the new plan aims to focus on bringing electric vehicle charging to EIEC and low income communities, too.

“Through this framework, we are setting clear goals and identifying solutions that reflect the voices of our residents, communities, and regional partners,” said CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney. “By prioritizing equity and public input, we’re creating a roadmap for electric transportation that serves every neighborhood and helps drive down emissions across Chicago.”

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Chicago experience a disproportionate amount of air pollution and diesel emissions, largely due to vehicle emissions according to CDOT. Despite that, most of Chicago’s public charging stations are clustered in higher-income areas while just 7.8% are in environmental justice neighborhoods that face higher environmental burdens.

“Too often, communities facing the greatest economic and transportation barriers also experience the most air pollution,” explains Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “By prioritizing investments in historically underserved areas and making clean transportation options more affordable and accessible, we can improve both mobility and public health.”

The Framework identifies other near-term policy objectives, as well – such as streamlining the EV charger installation process for businesses and residents and implementing “Low-Emission Zones” in areas disproportionately impacted by air pollution by limiting, or even restricting, access to conventional medium- and heavy-duty vehicles during peak hours.

The Chicago Moves Electric Framework includes the installation of Level 2 and DC fast charging stations in public locations such as libraries and Chicago’s Midway Airport, “supporting not only personal EVs but also electric taxis, ride-hail and commercial fleets.”

Chicago has a goal of installing 2,500 public passenger EV charging stations and electrifying the city’s entire municipal vehicle fleet by 2035.

Electrek’s Take

Chicago Drives Electric | ComEd Press Conference
ComEd press conference at Chicago Drives Electric, 2024; by the author.

I hate to sound like a bed-wetting liberal here, guys, but Chicago is getting EVs absolutely right with big utility incentives on both vehicles and infrastructure, a governor willing to stand behind smart environmental policy, and a solid push for more and better infrastructure in the areas where they’ll do the most good. They’re even thinking of the children.

Here’s hoping more cities follow suit.

SOURCE: ComEd, via Smart Cities Dive; featured image by EVgo.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending