Los Angeles – The public will be able to test drive the hottest new electric vehicles (EVs) on the road at the eighth annual Los Angeles National Drive Electric Week (NDEW) Ride-n-Drive event, Charge Up LA! being held at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s historic John Ferraro Building, 111 N. Hope Street in Downtown Los Angeles on Sat., Sep. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Representatives from lead sponsor Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) along with EV advocacy organizations are hosting Charge Up LA! to promote awareness of EVs, plug-in hybrid-electric cars, and motorcycles, as well as the benefits they provide.
“Charge Up LA! is a fun opportunity for Angelenos to experience the clean, quiet ride of many different electric vehicles and to learn about incentive programs that can help make them affordable to purchase and own,” said LADWP General Manager David Wright.
These programs include the EV Charger Rebate that reimburses up to $500 for residential charger installation and up to $5,000 for commercial chargers, and the new Used EV Rebate Program which can knock $450 off the price of a used EV.
“Los Angeles’ National Drive Electric Week event, Charge Up LA!, is a signature event activity in this year’s nationwide celebration of the availability and benefits of electric cars,” said Plug In America’s Joel Levin. “With nearly 200,000 EVs sold in the U.S. last year, events like this are more important than ever to raise awareness that EVs are easier to maintain, cheaper to fuel and great to drive, no matter what the brand. Consumers are responding to the innovation we’re seeing in the EV market.”
In Los Angeles, EVs also have local significance said City of Los Angeles Chief Sustainability Officer Lauren Faber O’Connor. “Cities are leading the EV transition and through Mayor Garcetti’s Sustainable City pLAn and LADWP we are helping anyone who wants to go electric get there. Electrifying transportation is a key step to meeting the Mayor’s climate goals while making our air cleaner and our economy stronger.”
LADWP’s goal is to have 10,000 chargers in the City of LA by 2022. To support this goal, LADWP has already supported the installation of hundreds of publicly accessible chargers at various locations throughout the City.
The event will feature
Opening Ceremonies
Vehicle Test Drives and Displays: Audi A3 e-Tron; BMW i8, i3, 330e, 530e and Motorrad C-Evolution electric scooter; Chrysler Pacifica; Honda Clarity; Mini Cooper Countryman; Nissan LEAF; Toyota Prius Prime
The latest on charging station options, EV federal and state incentives and solar power from more than a dozen exhibitors
An EV Tailgate Community featuring dozens of EV owners
Food Trucks