The anticipation is electric as the Cities of Beverly and Salem get ready to co-host the "Beverly & Salem Drive (and Ride) Electric!" event taking place on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Beverly High School (100 Sohier Rd.). This free event will be an inspiring showcase of electric vehicles (EVs), including at least fifteen models of trucks, cars, bikes, and scooters, as well as electric lawn equipment.
As part of National Drive Electric Week from September 22 to October 1, residents of the North Shore are invited to engage with EV owners, dealers, and advocates. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with an impressive range of EV models, with no pressure to buy, and can learn how EVs improve air quality and public health by producing no emissions on the road and leaving a smaller carbon footprint over their lifetime compared to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. Attendees will also get the chance to hop aboard one of the City of Beverly’s electric school buses and check out the Salem Police Department’s electric F-150!
“We’re electrifying our municipal fleet with ten all-electric vehicles and dozens of hybrid vehicles currently in regular use. At this weekend’s event, we’re helping residents learn about options for EVs and connect directly with their neighbors to share their experience,” said Beverly Mayor Michael P. Cahill. “Please stop by this Saturday and learn more.”
The most sustainable way to move around is to walk, bike, and take public transit. When those options are not possible, EVs can reduce your carbon footprint and bring you places safely. Today, over 1,200 EVs are registered in Beverly (3.9 percent of vehicles) and in Salem (4.2 percent of vehicles)1. With more than three million EVs already traversing American roads and consumer interest in EVs at an all-time high, it's clear that electric mobility is steering the future of transportation.
“Reducing our carbon footprint is of critical importance,” said Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo. “In just the last three months our planet has seen the hottest day ever, the hottest June, the hottest July, devastating storms, and a warming and rising sea. Reducing our impact by driving electric is one more step we each can individually consider to move us toward a more sustainable future.”
Do you need advice about vehicle charging? Ask your neighbors who have experience, City staff from Beverly and Salem, or a member of Beverly’s Clean Energy Advisory Committee to learn about public charging options. Electric lawn equipment, including mowers and trimmers, will also be showcased.
Nationally, the collaboration between Plug In America, the Electric Vehicle Association, the Sierra Club, and EVHybridNoire has ignited the coordination of NDEW, amplifying conversations and awareness about the burgeoning electric vehicle landscape.
Register to attend, show your EV, or volunteer with your sustainability-savvy neighbors here: https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=3877.
