Hamden, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/04/2018 -- WHAT: The Town of Hamden and the Hamden Energy Use and Climate Change Commission are hosting an educational event about electric vehicles for all interested people to highlight the clean-air and cost-savings advantages of these now widely available vehicles.

Experienced EV owners will discuss why they like their electric vehicles and how they use them on their daily commutes and longer distance drives, as well as how they charge the cars' batteries. The event is part of the eighth annual National Drive Electric Week (NDEW). The Hamden CT event is one of nine in Connecticut and more than 300 nationwide; it is the only NDEW event in the New Haven metropolitan area.

Participants will learn about the differences between electric vehicles and conventional gas-powered cars (including why electric vehicles are much less expensive to operate and maintain), the widespread locations and different types of charging stations, the wide range of EV models available now, and the benefits of electric vehicles for the environment and for public health.Question-andAnswer sessions with a panel of EV owners/drivers and EV experts from local auto dealers.

Attendees will learn about special savings programs for Connecticut EV drivers, including state rebates and low-interest loans from the Connecticut Green Bank, as well as federal tax credits, for purchasing and leasing electric vehicles.

Plug-in vehicles by Nissan (Leaf), Chevrolet (Bolt and Volt), Toyota (Prius Prime), Honda (Clarity), BMW (i3), Tesla (Model 3 and Model S), and other automakers will be displayed and some will be available for test ride-and-drives. Mayor Curt

Leng will present a proclamation naming 8–15 September "Hamden Drive Electric Week."

See attached fact sheet about driving electric vehicles for more details.

WHEN: Saturday, September 8, 2018, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm

WHERE: Miller Memorial Library, 2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT

WHO: The Town of Hamden and the Hamden Energy Use and Climate Change Commission are organizing the event. Local auto dealers providing support include Executive Nissan, Partyka Chevrolet, A-1 Toyota, and Brandfon Honda. Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association are national organizers. The Nissan LEAF® is the exclusive national automotive sponsor.

For a complete list of National Drive Electric Week events, visit: driveelectricweek.org.

About Plug In America: Plug In America is the nation's leading independent consumer voice for accelerating the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States. Formed as a non-profit in 2008, Plug In America provides practical, objective information collected from our coalition of plug-in vehicle drivers, through public outreach and education, policy work and a range of technical advisory services. Our expertise represents the world's deepest pool of experience of driving and living with plug-in vehicles. The organization conceived National Drive Electric Week and has advanced workplace charging by pioneering ride-and-drive events at such leading corporations as Google, Mattel and Paramount Pictures. We drive electric. You can too.

About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization with more than 2.4 million members and supporters and chapters in all 50 states. The Sierra Club's national electric vehicles initiative advocates for a switch to EVs as one important way to reduce emissions and cut oil consumption. Sierra Club is proud to have been one of the three national groups organizing National Drive Electric Week since its inception in 2011.

About the Electric Auto Association: The Electric Auto Association, formed in 1967, is a nonprofit educational organization with 75 chapters worldwide that promotes the advancement and widespread adoption of electric vehicles http://www.electricauto.org/.

electricauto.org

Electric Vehicle Fact Sheet

Low Costs of Driving an EV

Electric vehicle (EV) drivers don't pay for gas, only electricity (which is much less expensive). Median savings are more than $770 per year. The cost of electricity is equivalent to $1.00 per gallon of gas.

Electric motors require very little maintenance and are much more reliable than conventional gas-or diesel-powered engines ($1,500 savings over 150,000 driving miles).

Special Savings for Connecticut EV Drivers

Connecticut offers a rebate of up to $3000 at the time of purchase or lease.

Federal tax credit of up to $7500 is available at the time of purchase or lease. ?Low-interest loans (1.99%) are available through the Connecticut Green Bank.

Convenience and Ease of EV Charging at Home

A standard 120-volt outlet can be used to charge an EV overnight in a garage (approximately 4 miles of driving distance per hour of charge).

A 240-volt outlet can be easily installed, offering even faster charging (approximately 25 miles of driving distance per hour of charge).

Charging Stations Readily Available throughout Connecticut

Many newer EVs have ranges of 250 miles or more. Over 500 (and growing) 240-volt charging stations for public use are available in Connecticut.

Even faster "super-chargers" (up to 200 miles of driving distance per hour of charge) are becoming increasingly common.

Multiple Models and Types of EVs Now Available

Almost every major car manufacturer offers or will soon offer EVs: These include battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), which run purely on battery power, and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs), which run on both a battery and a gas engine or generator.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Significantly Reduced by Driving EVs

In the US, transportation accounts for more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of the economy, including power generation.

Driving an EV greatly reduces harmful greenhouse gas (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), both air pollutants in the state as well as on the planet.

The Connecticut Clean Cars Statute mandates that EVs account for 15 percent of total car sales by 2025.