SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Today, Reno City Mayor, Bob Cashell, proclaimed Sunday, September 23, 2012, as National Plug In Day, urging “all citizens and residents to take this opportunity to learn about plug-in electric vehicles and their benefits.”
National Plug In Day is taking place in over 60 cities nationwide this coming Sunday. In Reno, the event is scheduled to be held at Idlewild Park from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The event is co-sponsored by the Electric Auto Association (EAA), Plug In America and the Sierra Club and is specifically designed to provide as many opportunities as possible for community members to test drive electric vehicles (EVs) in a no sales pressure environment.
“Although the automakers generally recognize that EVs are the future for their industry,” said Bob Tregilus co-chair of the local EAA chapter, “the local autodealers, in most cases, are strongly resisting this new, disruptive technology of electric cars.”
“So, as EV advocates,” Tregilus added, “we’re taking it upon ourselves to let the public experience EV technology first hand, and should they later visit a resistant autodealer, they’ll tell them, ‘No plug? No deal!'”
National Plug In Day will also feature EV service equipment (EV chargers) demonstrations, area nonprofit and government booths highlighting the benefits of EVs at reducing air pollution and related health costs, the nexus between renewable energies and EVs, as well as other alternative transportation options such as public buses, carpooling, bicycle, scooters and motorcycles.
A special feature will be a raffle for three opportunities to test drive a $120,000 all electric, 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, 240 mile range Tesla Motors Roadster!
Speaking about the public perception that EVs are too expensive, Marc Geller of Plug In America said, “[EV] groups are wrestling with this question of how to get people into the cars, once you get a person into a car, half of the sales pitch is done.”
“It’s all about perception,” Tregilus agreed, “and once people discover that EVs are just like “real” cars–but better–because they are faster, smoother (there’s no transmission), they’re very quite: then suddenly they realize that they’ll never have to stop at a gas station again, consumer perception changes in a flash.”
