National Drive Electric Week just had its biggest turnout ever [Gallery]

We've been huge supporters of National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) for years having sponsored some amazing NDEW parties in the past. Last year, the reoccurring theme we noticed was that everyone attending an NDEW event seemed to be getting a Tesla Model 3. This year, according to one of the sponsors, Sierra Club, NDEW was huge — reaching all 50 U.S. states for the first-time ever with a total of 278 events in 251 cities, across six different countries.

Above: Vancouver, WA; Photo Credit: Tracy Ceravolo; Nissan Leaf sits next to a Tesla Model S.

Ron Freund, chair of another sponsor, the Electric Auto Association, explains: "National Drive Electric Week is more than a week full of fun events – it’s a rallying cry for our leaders and corporations to do more to take advantage of readily available [EV] technology." In order to promote driving electric this year, NDEW offered over 8,000 ride-and-drives to attendees. Tesla owners typically come out in full force and a few attendees walk away convinced that a Tesla could be their next car. 

Above: Aiken, SC; Photo Credit: Todd Lista; Sydney Maddox, Jacob Early, Alex Ledbetter, and Evan Early exploring a Tesla Model X.

The events offer potential EV car buyers an opportunity to hear directly from electric vehicle owners. “At first, consumers may have been motivated by the fact that these cars are zero emissions. Now, we’re getting consumers who just know these are better cars — more fun to drive, lower maintenance and more responsive,” explains Joel Levin, executive director of another key NDEW sponsor, Plug In America. 

Above: Cupertino, CA; Photo Credit: Ben White; General Motors EV1 displayed by G. Stuckert and the California Auto Museum in Sacramento, CA.

Even though we couldn't attend a local NDEW event this year due to Hurricane Irma, we were able to send some cool EVANNEX goodie bags to Kent Okaski from the Electric Auto Association of Silicon Valley for their Cupertino NDEW event. Okaski even sent us a photo of this ultra-rare GM EV1 (see above) which they had on display. In any event, be sure to check out this gallery of NDEW photos from all across the country and be sure to sign up for a local event near you next year!

Gallery

Above: Santa Cruz, CA; Photo Credit: Ecology Action; General community members, in foreground there is a Tesla Model X.

Above: San Antonio, TX; Photo Credit: Dave Talboys - Talboys Photography; Tesla Model S, Kia Soul EV, and more electric vehicles behind the Kia. 

Above: Richmond, VA; Photo Credit: Humphrey Liu; Local EV owners explained the benefits of their cars to many interested visitors.

Above: Denver, CO; Photo Credit: Denver Clean Cities; Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, Chevy Bolt, and a converted VW beetle.

Above: Bend, OR; Photo Credit: Photo by Pine Mountain Sports; Vehicles visible in photo, left to right, Tesla Model S, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bolt, Fiat 500e, Kia Soul Electric, VW e-Golf, (front row) Tesla Model S, Nissan Leaf, and another Kia Soul Electric.

Above: Woodland Hills, CA; Photo Credit: Ian Taras; LA City Controller Ron Galperin speaking about LA City's environmental goals.

Above: Scottsdale, AZ; Photo Credit: Martina Torge; A Tesla S 90D, the first with a Vegan interior that inspired Tesla to always offer that option.

Above: Honolulu, HI; Photo Credit: Reggie Padilla; The participants at one of three staging areas for the 2017 Electric Island Drive with their various models of electric vehicles.

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Photos: National Drive Electric Week