This Weekend: Valley Drivers Test Out EVs and Learn Benefits to Switching to Electric

WHAT: 
With gas prices at a premium, there is no time like the present for Valley drivers to consider the switch to an electric vehicle (EV). Media are invited to meet with SRP EV experts and EV drivers on April 2 at the ASU Tempe campus or April 3 at the ASU Polytechnic campus where community members will be talking one-on-one with EV owners, learning about their experiences owning and driving an EV.

The two-day Electric Car Ride & Drive Event is sponsored by the Transportation Electrification Activator in partnership with Electric Car Insider. The TE Activator is a regional partnership with a goal to help accelerate Arizona's EV future. SRP is a founding member of the group.

Media are invited ahead of the event to check out different EV models on site and interview the EV owners about their ownership experience.  

Interviews available with: 
- Catherine O’Brien, EV Lead at SRP 
- EV owners and drivers 
- John Heckman, Executive Director of the Anthesis, facilitator for the TE Activator regional partnership 

Visuals: 
- Electric vehicle models on display, including the Tesla Model 3, Ford Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, Solo by ElectraMeccanica (currently building a U.S. assembly plant in Mesa), and other popular EVs from various manufacturers 
- Community members test driving EVs *NOTE: All test drive slots are filled. 
- Community members asking questions of actual EV drivers 

WHEN / WHERE: (Sat, 4/2 & Sun, 4/3) 

Saturday, April 2, 2022 
*Media invited from 9am – 10:30am 

Location: 
ASU Tempe Campus 
Lot 82W 
275 E 6th St 
Tempe, AZ 85281 

Sunday, April 3, 2022 
*Media invited from 9am – 10:30am 

Location: 
ASU Polytechnic Campus 
Lot 30 
6075 Innovation Way W 
Mesa, AZ 85212 

ONSITE CONTACT: 
Erica Sturwold 
erica.sturwold@srpnet.com 
Call/text: (847) 571-0326  *Contact Erica if you plan to cover. 

DETAILS: 
SRP has previously hosted Ride & Drive events for the community to provide opportunities for Valley drivers to learn more about EVs and consider making the switch from gas-powered vehicles. This event teams up with other TE Activator members and ECI to help bring EV education and awareness to our communities. 

As part of SRP’s 2035 Sustainability Goal to support the enablement of 500,000 EVs in SRP’s service territory and manage 90% of the charging by 2035, SRP has a number of EV-focused offerings and programs including EV price plans, residential and business EV charger rebate programs, and connected smart home programs to encourage EV adoption. SRP is committed to building a sustainable future for all, leading by example, and enhancing the communities in which SRP employees live and serve. 

In a 2020 study conducted by SRP’s EV Community, SRP found 84% of EV customers said they would recommend buying an electric vehicle to a friend or colleague and this percentage grows each year. SRP also found nearly 40% of EV drivers say charging costs are lower or much lower than expected.