Cupertino to Host Free Electric Vehicle Test-Drive Event

OAKLAND, CA — The “Experience Electric – The Better Ride” campaign will offer free test drives of some of the newest electric cars on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Annual Silicon Valley EV Rally and National Drive Electric Week event at De Anza College, located at 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard  in Cupertino.

The electric vehicle (EV) ride-and-drive event will feature the BMW i3, Cadillac ELR, Fiat 300e and Nissan Leaf, as well as Zero motorcycles and vehicles from other manufacturers. Licensed drivers can try out the various EVs on a first-come, first-served basis and feel the difference between driving with electricity and driving a gasoline-powered car. The first 300 taking test drives will receive souvenir sunglasses and a $5 lunch voucher to use at the event.

“Test-driving at a dealer’s showroom can be a bit intimidating, but there’s no pressure or sales hype at our events,” said Jordan DiGiorgio, Experience Electric project manager. “Most everyone has seen an EV on the road or in ads, but this is a chance to try one out, have some fun and feel the electric experience.”

The Silicon Valley EV rally is one of more than 100 events celebrating National Drive Electric Week, which runs from Sept. 15 to Sept. 21, and is designed to promote the sustainability, convenience and fuel-saving benefits of switching to an EV. More information about National Drive Electric Week is available at www.driveelectricweek.org. 

The Experience Electric campaign is a joint initiative of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and a consortium of EV organizations including the Center for Sustainable Energy, Plug In America and Charge Across Town. The campaign’s goal is to increase EV adoption in the Bay Area’s nine counties. Accelerating EV use is a key strategy for state and local governments to reduce emissions from gas-powered vehicles, improve air quality and achieve goals for curbing greenhouse emissions. 

To learn more about Experience Electric and future ride-and-drive events, visit www.facebook.com/thebetterride or www.energycenter.org/ExperienceElectric.

MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the agency chartered with protecting air quality in the Bay Area.