By Maria Ramos
The world is facing a major problem in the coming years. For
so long we have been dependent on oil and fossil fuels that our planet is now
in peril. Not only are we beginning to run low on the petroleum and oil that
has kept our society running, but the pollution caused by our overuse of fossil
fuels is slowly killing our planet. While many people understand the importance
electric vehicles play in reducing our
carbon footprint, there are still plenty of folks who haven't even
considered making the switch yet. It is for these folks that the 2015 National Drive Electric Week is
happening.
First held in 2011, the originally dubbed National Plug-In Day was so popular
that it quickly expanded to fill an entire week's worth of fun and excitement.
From September 12-20, more than 160
events are scheduled to take place all across America (and a few in Canada
and Hong Kong) that will highlight the benefits of driving electric. These
events are organized by local groups and individuals that are passionate about
our planet and how switching to electric can help.
In Los Angeles, EV enthusiasts can catch a variety of
electrifying events. On September 13, a free event is being held at Exposition
Park. From 11 am to 3 pm, you can head out and test drive some of the newest
plug-in vehicles from top manufacturers like BMW, Audi, and Kia. There will
also be a variety of speakers including politicians, actors, and activists,
giveaways, and the debut of the Chevy
Bolt Concept Car. There are events also being held in Torrance, Diamond
Bar, Long Beach, and Woodland Hills, where actor Ed Begley, Jr. will be a guest
speaker. Other events being held all over the country include live music, more
speakers, and a lot of demonstrations and test drives.
To show that even one person can make a difference, Brian
Kent began what he is calling the Negative
Carbon US Road Trip. This road trip started on August 24, in Albion, NY.
From there, Brian will be driving to all 48 contiguous states in his Nissan
Leaf and planting a tree in each one. By his estimations, these trees will trap
more than 10 times the amount of CO2 Brian's Leaf will produce on this
country-wide adventure.
While these events have a lot of fun activities planned for
the whole family, there is definitely an underlying message to be heard. To
help bring light to this message, the National Drive Electric Week events will
showcase many of the benefits of
driving an electric vehicle has over their gas-guzzling counterparts. Of
course, there are the obvious advantages of lowering emissions and reducing
pollution, but there are actually a number of other advantages that may not get
as much ink.
Everyone likes to save a penny or two and buying an electric
vehicle can actually save you a whole lot of pennies. Sure, you will be hitting
the pump a lot less, and with the rising cost of gas these days, that is quite
a savings in itself. But there are also federal tax credits and state incentives available
for qualifying vehicles.
Another big thing happening is the national 'smart
grid.' This new proposal would essentially link power grids from all over
the country and allow stored, renewable energy from one place to power homes in
another rather than everyone relying on traditional energy
providers. For example, an excess of hydropower from the northwest can help
homes as far away as South Dakota.
Driving EV’s just makes more sense. It is cheaper in the
long-run and a great solution for our environmental hardships. As renewable
energy becomes more widespread in America, the benefits of driving electric will
actually rise even more. Remember to show your love for electric vehicles at Exposition park on
September 13.
