Get your EV questions answered at Drive Electric Week, continuing thru Sunday
Drive Electric Week kicked off last Saturday with nearly 200 online and in-person events celebrating electric vehicles, and it continues this weekend with events through Sunday, October 6.
Drive Electric Week is an annual event organized by Plug In America, the Electric Vehicle Association, EVHybridNoire, 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.
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 weekend. Several already passed last weekend, but there are some still upcoming. 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.
The first weekend has already passed, with many events happening. I attended some local events in Southern California, like the Irvine event used as the featured photo for this article. And Jo went to Chicago Drives Electric and saw a sneak peek at the upcoming Charger Daytona EV, which media haven’t even gotten to drive yet.
But here’s a sample of some of the events still to come this weekend:
- 4 separate Hawaiian islands are having their own events on Oct 5, in Koloa on Kauai, Aiea on O’ahu, Kahului on Maui, and Hilo on the Big Island.
- The sole event in Mexico is in Guadalajara on Oct 5 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.
- Canada’s largest event will be in Waterloo, Ontario on Oct 5 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 Oct 6 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 Oct 6 event from 10am-2pm. You’ll see solar cars, golf carts, wind energy providers, local dealerships and Harley’s Livewire electric motorcycle, among others.
- Ventura, CA will host an EV Showcase at the Ventura Harbor on Oct6 at 12:01-4:30pm. Last year was quite well-attended and it looks like this year will be too.
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.
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. There were a few online events earlier this week, but all have passed at this point.
But attendance is now 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).
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.
Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images
David Bailey, CEO of media group BTC Inc., and a key crypto advisor to President Donald Trump, has raised $300 million to launch a publicly traded bitcoin investment company, CNBC has confirmed.
The deal, which has been in the works since January, consists of $200 million in equity funding and $100 million in convertible debt, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the fundraise hasn’t been announced. The Information was first to cover the story.
Bailey’s company is named Nakamoto, a tribute to the pseudonymous bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. It will focus on acquiring and holding bitcoin and is set to merge with an existing Nasdaq-listed company in a transaction that’s expected to be announced early next week, the person said. The company’s public listing is expected this summer.
Nakamoto plans to buy companies around the world, including in Brazil, Thailand and South Africa, and invest its bitcoin into them, the source said. The venture is backed by a roster of well-known investors, with an advisory board that includes prominent figures, the person said.
Bitcoin investment firms raise large sums of money, often through a mix of equity and debt, to buy and hold bitcoin. Their stock becomes another way for investors to bet on the price of bitcoin.
Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), popularized the model, converting its cash reserves into bitcoin beginning in 2020. The move transformed the software company into a de facto bitcoin holding company, with the value of its stock soaring as bitcoin rallied. It’s now one of the world’s largest owners of bitcoin.
Jack Mallers, who rose to fame by launching the Strike payments app, has secured billions of dollars for his bitcoin-holding venture Twenty One, which is backed by SoftBank and Tether.
“What we really pride ourselves on is being blue-chip credibility with startup upside,” Mallers told CNBC’s Crypto World this week. “We feel like we’re big enough to win entering the market with billions of dollars of capital upon launch, but we’re small enough to grow and we’re small enough to post bitcoin-denominated returns in what’s becoming a really competitive capital markets appetite for bitcoin exposure.”
WATCH: Jack Mallers looks to rival Strategy with new bitcoin company backed by Tether and SoftBank
SSA Marine just pulled off a major clean energy win at the Port of Los Angeles. The global terminal operator has officially transitioned its entire fleet of forklifts at Berth 55 from propane to electric, making it the company’s first terminal to run 100% zero-emissions cargo handling equipment.
Berth 55 handles imported fruit from South America, and SSA Marine has operated there since the 1980s. Now, its 44 Hyster forklifts – 12 heavy-duty 10,000 lb. models and 32 3,000 lb. models – at the Port of LA are all electric. SSA Marine says the shift will cut propane use by around 44,000 gallons yearly and slash tailpipe carbon emissions by around 264 metric tons annually.
SSA Marine’s VP of sustainability, Meghan Weinman, said, “We are proud to partner with the Port of Los Angeles on this ambitious project, and we’re confident that Berth 55 will serve as a blueprint for future initiatives.”
The upgrade was a three-year effort between SSA Marine, the Port of LA, and several partners.
Michael DiBernardo, deputy executive director at the port, said the achievement moves them closer to a big climate goal: making all yard equipment at the Port of LA emissions-free by 2030. “As a result of this initiative, SSA Marine has completed that goal five years ahead of schedule, which we appreciate.”
Read more: Arc is developing a 26-foot dual motor electric tugboat for the Port of Los Angeles
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
And so it begins. Ford is raising prices on several vehicles built in Mexico, including the Mustang Mach-E. Like most of the auto industry, Ford is bracing for the impacts of Trump’s tariffs.
Ford raises prices on vehicles built in Mexico over tariffs
Just days after the company said it expected Trump’s new auto tariffs would cost $2.5 billion this year, Ford is raising vehicle prices on Mexico-built models.
A spokesperson confirmed to Electrek that Ford is increasing prices on the Mustang Mach-E, Maverick pickup, and Bronco Sport, all made at its plant in Mexico. The spokesperson said the move comes as part of its “usual mid-year pricing actions combined with some tariffs we are facing.”
The price increases do not impact Ford vehicles at dealerships or on the way. They will go into effect on imported cars after May 2 or later. These vehicles will arrive at dealerships in late June.
Despite this, Ford is still offering employee pricing on all of these models through July 4 as part of its “From America, For America” campaign, which is available on most 2024 and 2025 models.
Even with the upcoming price hikes, Ford said it has “not passed the full cost of tariffs on to our customers.” Although Ford didn’t share full pricing, the spokesperson said the Bronco Sport Heritage saw a $600 increase while the Maverick XLT AWD’s price increased by $700.
Like crosstown rival GM, Ford withdrew its financial guidance due to the uncertainty surrounding tariffs. GM estimates that the impact of Trump’s tariffs will cost even more this year, at around $4 billion to $5 billion.
Since Ford has the highest percentage of vehicles built in the US of any major automaker, outside of Tesla, it isn’t expected to take as big of a hit.
Ford imports around 21% of the vehicles it sells in the US. GM, on the other hand, imports about 46% of the cars it sells in the US.
Ford is also offering a free Level 2 home charger on any new EV purchase or lease, including the F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit van. The “Power Promise” promo includes other helpful benefits, including 24/7 live EV support, proactive roadside assistance, and an 8-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty.
Ready to snag the savings while they are still here? We can help you get started. Check out our links below to find deals on new Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E models in your area.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway