Though it’s growing in popularity, most people remain in the dark when it comes to electric cars, trucks and other vehicles.
The number of electric vehicles on the road is growing. In 2011, about 10,000 EVs were sold across the country, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Sales jumped to more than 240,000 in 2020.
What had once been viewed as a fad is now increasingly looking like the future of automobiles. That makes it imperative to teach the public about its advantages.
“(Electric vehicles) in the Midwest, it’s still fairly new,” said Shane Neher, energy advisor for the JCREMC electric utility. “A lot of people’s perception is about the environmental aspect of things, but it can also be a cost benefit as well.”
To help people better understand the benefits, JCREMC is hosting a first-time festival dedicated to all things electric vehicles. EV Day, a car show-style event, will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 9 at the company’s headquarters in Franklin.
People can test-drive an elective vehicle, see many different models of EVs currently on the market and learn about JCREMC programs that benefit owners of electric vehicles.
“The whole goal is to have a platform for people who have these questions and want to do a walk-through kind of atmosphere. You can look at these technologies, and if you have questions, there will be people there who can answer them,” Neher said.
The EV market remains a small portion of overall vehicle sales in the United States. A report by Pew Research Center released in June indicated that just 7% of car owners have an electric vehicle or hybrid, and EV sales make up just 2% of new car sales.
But interest is heating up. That same Pew report showed that 39% of people surveyed would be very or somewhat likely to seriously consider buying an electric vehicle the next time they are going to buy a car.
On Thursday, Gov. Eric Holcomb joined with governors from Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin announced the establishment of a partnership to collaborate on electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the Midwest region.
“As the Crossroads of America, transportation plays a vital role in Indiana’s economic success and continued growth,” Holcomb said in a news release. “I’m proud to partner with our neighboring states to put the Midwest region on the leading edge of providing the charging infrastructure needed to futureproof our transportation network and meet the demand as rapid adoption of electric vehicles continues.”
JCREMC has seen these developments. The cooperative utility, which supplies electric service to more than 26,000 customers in Johnson County and parts of Morgan, Shelby and Brown counties, has been working on an electric vehicle awareness event for several years.
The company created an EV Team, focused on raising awareness about incentives and programs that benefit EV users. Programs are available to help educate people about electric vehicles, as well as provide benefits for those who already own them.
The EV Experience is a loaner program featuring JCREMC’s Chevrolet Bolt. Participants can test drive the electric car in a non-sales environment, signing it out and testing its range, handling and other attributes.
“The whole goal is to give people a feel about electric vehicles, because they are different, in terms of drive-ability goes,” Neher said. “People can test drive the commute aspect of it, just to see how far they can go and what it’s like to drive these vehicles.”
JCREMC’s website features a special section where people can learn about the newest EV models, calculate cost comparisons with traditional gas-powered vehicles and find information about the logistics of owning an electric vehicle. The utility has an energy advisor who can provide information on maximizing potential savings through rebates, rates, charging times and more after buying an electric vehicle.
For those who purchase an electric vehicle, JCREMC offers a rebate for installation of a 240-volt outlet needed to charge an EV, and can provide a free Level 2 EV charger for qualifying members. Chargers allow people to schedule charging when electric rates are lowest.
According to the utility’s rate structure, charging a Chevrolet Bolt during the lowest-rate hours — 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. — would cost less than $200 a year. That’s a significant savings from the cost of filling up the gas tank of a similar-sized compact car.
These are the types of details and education points that will be presented during EV Day, Neher said.
“EV, finance wise, can save you just by not having to stop at the gas station two or three times a week,” he said. “We’re trying to educate the population about what an EV is and how it can benefit you.”
The EV Team initially envisioned a TED Talk-type event, bringing in experts to provide information and participate in question-and-answer sessions. But with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, organizers weren’t sure that would work.
Still, they know people are curious about electric vehicles, and wanted to host some kind of outdoor activity to cater to them.
“We know there’s a lot of people who aren’t necessarily on the side of the fence yet about EVs, but they have questions about,” Neher said. “We do a lot for the community, such as Touch-A-Truck events catering to younger kids, so we thought we’d do an EV event similar to that.”
Local car dealerships have partnered with JCREMC to feature different models of electric vehicles which people can explore. Attendees to EV Day can test drive the utility’s Bolt, and EV Team members will be on hand to answer questions about rebates, chargers and tax incentives.
As this is the inaugural event, organizers are unsure what the turnout and interest level will be. But with the growing popularity of electric vehicles, the potential exists for this to become an annual community event, Neher said.
“This is new for us. I consider it still a niche thing, in terms of interest from the public,” he said. “So just having a platform or show for those who are involved with EVs to educate those who are interested in them, it’s a great platform for that.”
