Solar & EV Expo at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School

NORWAY – Western Maine has seen a booming electric vehicle scene for the past seven years, with hundreds on the road and a growing electric vehicle charging network to serve the community. The National Drive Electric Week Solar & EV Expo hosted annually by the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy (CEBE) played a big part in this transition, giving potential EV owners the chance to try out a range of cars and cars. ‘learn directly from the people who drive them.

This year’s Expo will continue to generate excitement and educate locals by watching, driving and testing electric vehicles, riding e-bikes and attending workshops. Past exhibits have included up to 40 locally owned electric vehicles and e-bikes and hundreds of test drives and rides. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 2, as part of National Drive Electric Week.

It will include four interactive workshops: Electric Vehicle 101, Solar 101, The Future of EVs in Maine with Efficiency Maine Trust and the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and Community Solar Options. Introductory information on owning and operating an electric vehicle and switching to solar power will be presented, as well as an update on CEBE’s Community Solar project and information on efforts at the same time. statewide to support the transition to electric vehicles.

This event is free and will take place entirely outdoors in the parking lot of the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in the south of Paris. To protect the health of members of our community, participants are required to wear a mask and keep away from people outside their family, regardless of their immunization status. To test vehicles, people will also need to be vaccinated.

“Maine has an ambitious goal of putting 219,000 electric vehicles on Maine’s roads by 2030 and educational opportunities like this are essential to achieving those goals. We know that getting drivers behind the wheel of an electric vehicle is one of the best ways to encourage people to choose an electric vehicle as their next car. Efficiency Maine is pleased to see CEBE and other community groups maintain the momentum behind electric vehicles by providing hands-on experiences with electric vehicles, ”said Molly Siegel, Program Manager for EV Initiatives at Efficiency Maine Trust.

There are now more than 1.5 million electric vehicles on the roads in the United States, and a recent survey by Consumer Reports and the Union of Concerned Scientists showed that more than 60% of potential car buyers in the States United are interested in electric vehicles. There are now over 40 models available in the United States, with most of the newer models ranging from 200 to 300 miles or more.

“Paris Autobarn is proud to have sponsored the EV Expo for five years. Events like the Expo give people a wonderful opportunity to have first-hand experience of driving or driving an electric car. Thanks to the EV Expo, Paris Autobarn was able to put more electric vehicles on the road and in the aisles of people who may never have even thought of owning an electric car, ”said Tony Giambro of Paris Autobarn.

National Drive Electric Week is presented by national organizers Plug In America, the Electric Auto Association, the Sierra Club and EVHybridNoire. Nissan LEAF® is the exclusive automotive sponsor of NDEW 2021 and Wells Fargo is the exclusive banking sponsor of NDEW 2021. ClipperCreek and Electrify America are silver level sponsors. Edison International and Enel X are Bronze Level Sponsors. IBEW 11 is a green level sponsor.

In addition, Paris Autobarn, Efficiency Maine Trust, Lee Auto Malls, The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Council of Maine, ReVision Energy and Garbo-Kane are local sponsors of the event. CEBE has also installed 15 EV chargers in the region to help encourage the adoption of EVs as a means of daily transportation.

As in years past, this year’s event will include information on electric cars and e-bikes, Maine’s current solar policy, how to get involved with CEBE’s Community Solar project, and the opportunity to interact with other people. true electric vehicle drivers and solar owners. Founded in 2013, the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy strives to involve the community in the fight against the climate emergency. They organize, educate, act directly and implement practical and ecological solutions for a just transition to a prosperous and regenerative economy.

Additional information can be found at ecologybasedeconomy.org.