Want to get off gas? Learn how at Drive Electric Month events across the US — SkimNews
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- Drive Electric Month launches with over 150 online and in-person events across the US and one in Canada, running on weekends through October
- Now in its 16th year, the event is organized by Plug In America, the Electric Vehicle Association, EVHybridNoire, Drive Electric USA, and the Sierra Club — having expanded from a single week to most of September plus some October dates
- Events range from small parking-lot meetups to large festivals, letting prospective buyers talk directly with current EV owners rather than navigating a dealership
- The Poolesville, MD gathering (Sept 19) will display at least 40 EVs across 20 models under the "Camping with EVs" theme, including Pebble's all-electric Flow RV trailer
- Knoxville's Drive Electric Festival (Oct 10) already has 67 cars registered and will feature the new Rivian R2 alongside electric buses and fleet vehicles — a hurricane-surviving Rivian was on display last year
- The Waterloo, Ontario event (Oct 3) is flagged as especially relevant this year due to the entry of Chinese EVs into the Canadian market, though none have registered to attend yet
- Two online webinars on EV ownership and charging — "Where are we now? Where are we going?" and "All about electric vehicles" — are scheduled for September 23 and October 27
Why it matters: With a global oil price spike driving renewed interest in energy independence, Drive Electric Month offers 150+ free, low-pressure venues where prospective buyers can learn from current EV owners — bypassing the dealership experience entirely. The Knoxville festival alone has 67 cars already registered, and the Waterloo event lands at a notable inflection point as Chinese EVs enter the Canadian market for the first time.
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