Longmont Drive Electric Week

Just imagine...50 vehicles (cars, trucks, bikes, and even motorcycles) driving up Main Street in Longmont with no revving motors, no squealing brakes, and no exhaust fumes...just peace, quiet, and the smell of local restaurants wafting through the sidewalks. This dream will be a reality with Longmont’s first EV Motorcade on Saturday, September 26th, from 5 - 6 pm. Drive your EV in the motorcade, or come have dinner on Main Street for a front row seat, or watch from the comfort of your home on the SRL Facebook page livestream.

​Thinking about getting an electric vehicle? Or just EV-curious? Join us on Thursday, September 24, for real conversations from community leaders and EV owners about the affordability, benefits, and incentives for plugging in. Curious about charging infrastructure? Worried about getting stranded? Come ask your questions and get the lowdown on what it’s like to be an EV owner in Longmont. Register HERE for this free webinar: “The EV Solution: How Electric Vehicles combat climate change while promoting affordability and equity”. You’ll get a virtual tour of a Longmont resident’s EV and charging set-up, as well as great information from state and city leaders about how the future is electric.
In the meantime, check out this great Boulder County resource for all things EV, including rebates and credits on cars and charging equipment, how to find public charging stations, and lots more. It’s great to see the County stepping up to respond to the fact that about 30% of climate change causing carbon emissions come from the transportation sector.

Think that EV ownership is just for the elite few? Think again... affordable (under $10K) used EVs are readily available, maintenance costs are much lower than with conventional cars, and of course, no more trips to the gas station! Check out this article about the true costs of owning a conventional vehicle. And HERE is a list of all the current EV/Hybrid models available - there are over 40 models, with several in the $20K range for a new car.
Finally, join SRL in asking City Council to become a GoEV City. To celebrate National Drive Electric Week this year, let’s get a commitment from City Council to move the needle in the right direction: City fleets, school district buses, and RTD buses should be transitioned to electric as soon as possible; 30% of private vehicles should be transitioned by 2030 with the help of incentives and programs; and the City needs to “develop policies and strategies to improve transportation equity and extend the benefits of transportation electrification to low-income households and communities disproportionately affected by the harmful effects of air pollution.”

Even though critics say that EVs are inaccessible to the general public, in fact, the electrification of the transportation sector will be necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change on the most vulnerable sectors of our community. EVs become even more a part of the climate solution as our electric power moves towards 100% renewable sources. Let’s each do our part to encourage the adoption of the EV solution individually, and locally, and keep our eyes on the prize of 100% renewable energy for Longmont and beyond.