Over 500 attend 'Taco and Test Drive EV' event at Elk Grove City Hall

Along with test driving electric and hybrid vehicles, participants also attended information sessions on  various aspects of ownership of...

Along with test driving electric and hybrid vehicles, participants also attended information sessions on
 various aspects of ownership of alternative fuel cars. | 


As part of an effort to inform the public of the environmental benefits of electric and hybrid vehicles, the first Taco and Test Drive event was held last Saturday at Elk Grove City Hall. To the delight of the organizers and sponsors, over 500 people participated in the all-day affair.

The event, which was sponsored by SMUD, The City of Elk Grove, and local car dealers, was in large part organized by Elk Grove Planning Commissioners Mckenzie Wieser and George Murphey. 

One of the popular attractions was the chance for participants to test drive a wide variety of electric and hybrid vehicles free of sales pressures often encountered at a dealer showroom. About 211 of the participants took test drives in the vehicles provided by Niello Corporation including Niello BMW of Elk Grove; Maita Toyota; and Nissan of Elk Grove.  

Organizers were pleased with the keen interest and the high number of test drives conducted. Several participants reportedly took test drives in multiple cars.

Murphey extended a thank you to all the sponsors and participants for making the event a success. He also noted that people attended for a variety of reasons.

"Whether their interest was in greenhouse gas reduction, economic, or resource conservation, the ultimate result will be a cleaner environment as more drivers learn about, become more comfortable with the switch to EVs," Murphey said. "That was the purpose of the event."

For her part, Wieser said she was pleased to be part of an event that spreads the word on improving the environment. She also suggested that there could be future events. 

"This event was the first of what we hope will be many, to do just that - educate," Wieser said. "With the transportation sector being one of the largest causes of greenhouse gas emissions at 41-percent, I felt why not start where we can really make an impact. This event was well attended and got me fired up for what's next."




  




 






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Randy Bekker said...

Before you get warm an fuzzy over a free lunch a a Green knew deal shouldn’t we as some questions. California being the 5th largest economy in the world we should have expectations.
Are these vehicles being assembled, built in California if not why not?
Is California offering a rebate or tax incentive to buy an electric vehicle?
Other than registration fees what road taxes due these vehicles pay?
When the batteries are no longer good what is the process for recycling an what is the damage to the environment?
What is the costs to replace these batteries? What are the accidents dangers to 1st responders if these batteries break open an what is the environmental dangers?
Is there away to hook to solar instead of plugging into the grid?
Besides being a commuter vehicle with easy battery charging stations how are these vehicles able to use outside a network of charging stations?
How do these vehicles help to take vehicles off the road to lesson commuter traffic?
Now I do see the use for certain vehicles that may stay in a city for electric use, but I think without answering these questions without a sales pitch it boils down to a free lunch and a warm fuzzy feeling about the environment that has very little affect.

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