Monthly Archives: September 2014

EV News, Local EV Event

Drive Electric Week Melbourne 2014 Recap

National Drive Electric Week – Melbourne, FL 2014 was a great success!

SCEV Driver Club Members Pose for Photo

Despite poor weather conditions National Drive Electric Week Melbourne drew around 300 people from the hours of 10-3 to the event on Saturday, Sept 20th at City Hall in downtown Melbourne, FL. The event was organized by our group, the Space Coast EV Drivers with the City of Melbourne partnering with us as our location sponsor.  Event sponsors included Melbourne BMW, Schneider Electric, Brevard Solar,  SEMAConnect and FPL who were all on site with information for EV owners and future owners.  WFIT 89.5 FM was Melbourne’s local National Drive Electric Week Media sponsor. NDEW2014 Sponsors
Exhibitors included our sponsors as well as Blue Life Florida, Central Florida Clean Cities Coalition, Tesla Motors, and Space Coast Progressive Alliance.  Donations for the event were received from our sponsors as well as Tesla Motors, Electric Car Insider Magazine, Palm Bay Kayaks (prize donation), Corey’s Bagels (food donation) and 5th Avenue Starbucks in Indialantic (coffee donation).
Mayor Meehan opens National Drive Electric Week MelbourneMayor Kathy Meehan  opened the event by reading a National Drive Electric Week Proclamation alongside  members of the City Council as well as representatives from the City of Melbourne’s Sustainability program.
Over 26 different types of electric vehicles were on display at the event and owners gave a combined number of over 50 test rides or drives during our event.  Event attendees were able to drive or ride in privately  owned Nissan Leafs, Chevy Volts,  Tesla Model S vehicles and a Toyota RAV4EV while the owners of the vehicles shared their personal experience with their vehicle. Even the Mayor got in on the fun and learned more about the all electric Tesla Model S. Mayor Kathy Meehan Poses with a Tesla Model S
The attendees were able to learn about, price, availability, cost savings and more from the owners of the vehicles. Other EVs such as e-bikes, a Tesla Roadster, BMW i3s , Ford Fusion Energi plug in hybrids  and a Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid were also on display at the event. Personally owned Nissan Leafs as well as Chevy Volts dominated the event.
Josh and Brenna, founders of the SCEV Drivers group were on hand all day to give information to attendees and answer any questions.
SCEV Drivers Tent
Tesla Roadster
“The Melbourne event, organized by the Space Coast Electric Vehicle Drivers club, had high-end electric vehicles as well as economy models on display. The yellow Tesla Roadster, BMW i3 and Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid were the most popular vehicles.” – Florida Today
BMW i3 on Display
We look forward to next years event!
Be sure to check out the event coverage from Florida Today by following these links:

http://www.floridatoday.com/videos/news/local/2014/09/20/15976679/

http://www.floridatoday.com/videos/news/local/2014/09/20/15980589/

 

National Drive Electric Week

NDEW2014 City Proclamation

NDEW2014 City of Melbourne Proclamation

Tony Patton, Josh Pritt, Brenna Kaminski, Julie Foster, and Mayor Kathy Meehan pose for a photo after the NDEW2014 City Proclamation is read
Tony Patton, Josh Pritt, Brenna Kaminski, Julie Foster, and Mayor Kathy Meehan pose for a photo after the Melbourne National Drive Electric Week City Proclamation is read

On August 26th the Space Coast Electric Vehicle Drivers founders Josh and Brenna attended the City of Melbourne’s National Drive Electric Week City Proclamation reading during August’s City Council meeting. The Proclamation was read by Mayor Kathy Meehan . Julie Foster of the City of Melbourne, a Volt owner, and an SCEV Driver herself also spoke.

Mayor Kathy Meehan reads the City of Melbourne's National Drive Electric Week Proclamation
Mayor Kathy Meehan reads the City of Melbourne’s National Drive Electric Week Proclamation

Julie spoke about the National Drive Electric Week Melbourne Event taking place Sept 20th and invited the attendees of the Council meeting to join us on Saturday Sept. 20th for the event. She also thanked the SCEV Drivers for their hard work and drive to bring this event to Melbourne, Fl.

Julie Foster of the City of Melbourne speaks at the Council meeting
Julie Foster of the City of Melbourne speaks at the Council meeting.

Tony Patton, a leaf owner and a regular at the SCEV Driver meet ups along with Ken Sherman, a future EV driver, came to show their support.  After the proclamation was read we had time for a few more photo opps.

Tony Patton, Josh Pritt, Brenna Kaminski, Julie Foster, and Mayor Meehan pose for another photo opp.
Ken Sherman (not pictured), Tony Patton, Josh Pritt, Brenna Kaminski, Julie Foster, and Mayor Meehan pose for another photo opp.

We are very excited to have the opportunity to work with the City of Melbourne to bring National Drive Electric Week to Melbourne, FL this year. Thanks to all who attend the meeting in person and in spirit! We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday September 20th from 10-3 at City Hall for the first annual Melbourne, Florida National Drive Electric Week event.