For Immediate Release: July 12, 2022 Contact: Rosemary Mascali rmascali@usgbc-li.org; 516-672-2645
Drive Electric Long Island to Host Numerous Electric Vehicle Events in Long Island Communities
Drive Electric Long Island Awarded Electrify America Sponsorship for Long Island Outreach Campaign
Electrify America has awarded the Drive Electric Long Island Coalition a $50,000 sponsorship for a brand neutral electric vehicle education and outreach campaign for Long Island. Drive Electric Long Island was formed in 2018 to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles on Long Island. Long Island is the largest market for electric vehicles in New York State with over 2 million registered vehicles.
Drive Electric Long Island will be conducting an EV Outreach campaign to educate Long Islanders on the basics and benefits of electric vehicles through Ride and Drives and virtual and in-person “EV 101” events at local libraries, workplaces, and major Long Island public events including the second annual EV Symposium and Ride and Drive at Farmingdale State College on October 14, 2022.
In 2021, Drive Electric Long Island volunteers began offering virtual and in person EV 101 events in conjunction with several libraries and towns. “We offer a 45 minute presentation, followed by a Q&A with current EV owners, and it always gets good discussion going,” commented Rosemary Mascali, Chair of the Drive Electric Long Island Education and Outreach Committee. “For our in person presentations, EV owners bring their vehicles to ‘show and tell’ their story of why they decided to buy an electric vehicle and share their experiences as an EV owner,” added Mascali. In 2021, a total of thirteen events were held, reaching over 200 participants.
With the Electrify America sponsorship, Drive Electric Long Island will expand to offer a more comprehensive outreach program. Three different types of events are planned to promote EV adoption, with each event type targeting a different group of participants, including EV 101 events at local libraries – both virtual and in-person, public Ride and Drives in conjunction with major Long Island public events, and workplace Ride and Drives hosted by local employers. The goal is to conduct a total of forty events over the next 12 months.
“Electrify America is committed to introducing eMobility to Americans across the country to help drive ZEV adoption,” said Matt Nelson, Director of Government Affairs at Electrify America. “We are pleased to sponsor the community outreach campaign by the Drive Electric Long Island Coalition.”
“As a ZEV [Zero Emissions Vehicle Coalition] State, New York has set a goal of having over 800,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2025, and with its large number of registered vehicles, Long Island can play a big role in achieving that,” said Marjaneh Issapour, Director of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Center at Farmingdale State College and Chair of the Drive Electric Long Island Coalition. “There is a lot of interest in these vehicles due to the savings they can provide.”
Local businesses are already expressing interest. “Our employees recently participated in a virtual EV101 event hosted by Drive Electric Long Island and they were very impressed with the information that was presented. We look forward to hosting an EV Ride and Drive and an EV Show and Tell event with Drive Electric Long Island in the near future. These electric vehicle events motivate our employees to be part of our sustainability initiatives and help to reduce our Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions,” said Gary Nasta, Director of Environmental Programs at The Estée Lauder Companies and a member of the Drive Electric Long Island Education and Outreach Committee.
For more information on the campaign, visit https://driveelectriclongisland.org/. ###
About Drive Electric Long Island
Drive Electric Long Island is a coalition of electric vehicle stakeholders dedicated to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure on Long Island, both consumer and commercial. Drive Electric Long Island initiatives seek to address the key barriers to widespread adoption, including awareness, charging infrastructure and cost.
About Electrify America
Electrify America LLC, the largest open DC fast charging network in the U.S., is investing $2 billion over 10 years in Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, education and access. The investment will enable millions of Americans to discover the benefits of electric driving and support the build-out of a nationwide network of ultra-fast community and highway corridor chargers that are convenient and reliable. Electrify America expects to have more than 1,800 total charging stations with over 10,000 chargers in the United States and Canada by 2026. During this period, the company will be expanding to 49 states and the District of Columbia, delivering on its commitment to support increased ZEV adoption with a network that is comprehensive, technologically advanced and customer friendly.
Electrify America earned the 2020 and “2021 EV Charging Infrastructure Best-in-Test” award from umlaut, an infrastructure and benchmarking specialist, now part of Accenture, as published in Charged Electric Vehicles Magazine. Electrify America’s Electrify Home® offers home charging solutions for consumers with flexible installation options. Electrify Commercial® provides expert solutions for businesses looking to develop electric vehicle charging programs. For more information, visit www.electrifyamerica.com and media.electrifyamerica.com.
