Sonoma to Host Free Electric Vehicle Test-Drive Event
OAKLAND, CA — The “Experience Electric – The Better Ride” campaign will offer free test drives of some of the newest electric cars on Sunday, Sept. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sonoma’s Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival at Sonoma Plaza.
The electric vehicle (EV) ride-and-drive event will feature the BMW i3s, Chevy Volt, Chevy Spark, Ford C-MAX Energi and Ford Fusion Energi. Licensed drivers can try out the various EVs on a first-come, first-served basis and feel the differences between driving with electricity and driving a gasoline-powered car. Those taking test drives will receive souvenir sunglasses and a $5 voucher redeemable at festival food vendors.
“Test-driving at a dealer’s showroom can be a bit intimidating, but there’s no pressure or sales hype at our events,” said Jordan DiGiorgio, Experience Electric project manager. “Most everyone has seen an EV on the road or in ads, but this is a chance to try one out, have some fun and feel the electric experience.”
The test drives are part of the three-day Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival, which was first held in 1897 and is California’s oldest community festival.
The Experience Electric campaign is a joint initiative of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and a consortium of EV organizations including the Center for Sustainable Energy, Plug In America and Charge Across Town. The campaign’s goal is to increase EV adoption in the Bay Area’s nine counties. Accelerating EV use is a key strategy for state and local governments to reduce emissions from gas-powered vehicles, improve air quality and achieve goals for curbing greenhouse emissions.
To learn more about Experience Electric and future ride-and-drive events, visit www.facebook.com/thebetterride or www.energycenter.org/ExperienceElectric.
MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the agency chartered with protecting air quality in the Bay Area.
Contact:
John Goodwin: (415) 778-5262