The future is now. National Drive Electric Week celebrated at Brookwood Village (photos/videos)

Tesla
A Tesla SUV that has unconventional doors and actually dances. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Last Saturday, Bham Now was on hand at Brookwood Village, to help launch and celebrate National Drive Electric Week.

The event in the Birmingham metro area was part of the National Drive Electric Week Showcase, which is being held at 300 similar locations across the country this week.

This year’s Magic City showcase was presented by the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, UAB Sustainability, Alabama Power, the City of Birmingham and ZEOG (Zero Emissions Owners Group).

Curtiss and Cadillac
A Birmingham-made Curtiss motorcycle. Behind the bike is an electric Cadillac. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

350 visitors

More than 350 visitors learned from electric vehicle (EV) owners on hand and got to see up close 25 new and used EVs from Nissan, Chevrolet, Tesla, Ford, BMW, Fiat, Toyota, Honda and Cadillac on display at the event.

“It was wonderful to have such great participation from electric vehicle owners and manufacturers,” said Mark Bentley, executive director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition. “Electric vehicles make up the fastest-growing segment in the automobile industry in the United States and the EV owners who are here are among the best ‘salesmen’ there are, just by telling their stories of being on the road – and how much money they save by using electricity instead of gasoline.”

Here is Bentley describing the event on Bham Now’s Facebook page. On display behind him will be the “dancing” Tesla SUV.

Also on display was a a pair of Curtiss Motorcycle Company electric motorbikes. Curtiss a Birmingham-based company, was recently profiled in Bham Now. The local company manufactures and sells high-end, high-performance electric motorcycles.

Jobs for Alabama

Along with locally built electric motorcycles, electric cars are being manufactured in Alabama.

FullSizeRender 426 The future is now. National Drive Electric Week celebrated at Brookwood Village (photos/videos)
Plug in right upfront. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

“Electric vehicles are being built in 20 states, including Alabama, and the EV industry creates thousands of well-paying jobs in our state and country and reduces our dependence on foreign oil,” Bentley concluded.

Want to learn more about electric vehicles? Check out the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition and the ZEOG – Zero Emissions Owners Group.

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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