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News Release

Berkeley to Host Free Electric Vehicle Test-Drive Event

“Experience Electric” at Downtown Farmers’ Market, Saturday, June 28

OAKLAND, CA — The “Experience Electric – The Better Ride” campaign will offer free test drives of the latest electric cars on Saturday, June 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market in Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Park on Center Street between Milvia Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way.

The electric vehicle (EV) ride-and-drive event will feature the latest models from Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Nissan, smart and others. Licensed drivers can try out EVs and feel the differences between driving with electricity and gas-powered cars on a first-come, first-served basis. Those taking test drives will receive a $5 token for prepared food, produce or other items at the Farmers’ Market.

“Test-driving at a dealer’s showroom can be a bit intimidating, but there’s no pressure or sales hype at our events,” said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, who also serves as a member of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Board of Directors, and co-chairs the Bay Area’s EV Strategic Council. “Most everyone has seen an EV on the road or in ads, and this is a chance to try one out, have some fun and feel the electric experience.”

The Experience Electric campaign is a joint initiative of MTC, the Air District and a consortium of EV organizations including the California 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 overall 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, MTC: (415) 778-5262

Experience Electric Campaign