The author would like to credit and thank Karen Freedman, co-chair of the League of Women Voters FL Clean Energy Action Team, for her contribution to the content in this article.
National Drive Electric Month
National Drive Electric Month (NDEM) is a nationwide celebration that highlights the benefits of electric vehicles. This fall, events will be taking place across the country to help educate the public on the cost-effectiveness, public health, and environmental benefits of electric transportation. It’s an opportunity for members of the public to see a wide variety of electric models in one place, talk to EV owners and have their questions answered. The campaign is presented by several national organizations that offer fantastic resources, but the real secret sauce of the events is the volunteers who help coordinate them and the EV drivers who participate as peer-to-peer EV ambassadors.
Here is everything you need to know to host an event and share the benefits of EVs with your community.
Consider Organizing an Event
This year’s event window runs from September 12 through October 12, 2025. Anyone can create an event, and the NDEM website makes it easy to create an individual event webpage to promote the event.
Advantages of creating an event through the NDEM platform include:
- Adding your event to an interactive US map & event list
- Creating an individual event webpage
- Making email notifications easy with registered EV owners & interested attendees
- Providing access to how-to guides, a social media toolkit, templates, Canva, sponsor logos, handouts, etc.
- Receiving free banners/signage, educational handouts and swag
- Providing access to free event-planning webinars
Organizing an Event 101
Reach out to your local municipality and see if they would be interested in co-hosting the event. Partnering with your municipality can help with identifying access to a venue, co-promotion and the opportunity to piggyback on an existing event. You can ask your mayor to create a proclamation celebrating the event. Also, consider partnering with your local utility as well as civic and environmental organizations. When selecting the date and location, look for a site that is walkable and accessible to attendees with varying levels of mobility. A community park that is visible will attract more participants day off than an area on a busy highway. Also consider amenities like shade, restrooms, and access to food.
Publicity Considerations
Start promoting the event early with flyers and posters that include:
- Date, time, location
- Event website
- Contact info
- QR Code
- Photos
- National & local sponsors’ logos
- Description w/ Buzzwords: FREE, Family-friendly, EV showcase, Local EV owners share enthusiasm, etc.
Ask your local library, local businesses, restaurants, and schools to display the poster.
Here’s a beautiful example from the Lakeland National Drive Electric event in 2023.
You can also post your event online to various community calendars and social media venues. You can create press releases that can be sent to your local radio and television stations, community newspapers, and local magazines.
Event Considerations
Having a volunteer check-in the EV drivers who will display their cars and direct them to where they park will provide great structure and set the tone for a successful day. The sponsors provide printable signs that EV drivers can display on their vehicles to help explain the models to participants.
Having an education table with resources, including multilingual versions, is vital to connecting with attendees. Consider having a knowledgeable volunteer(s) be ready to answer questions. You can also have an EV quiz game and spin wheels to engage participants.
Other details to consider include having a kids’ table with coloring sheets that can occupy children while you talk to the adults they are accompanied by. Also, consider getting a prize(s) donated that can be given away as a drawing and having folks sign up so you can continue to connect with them after the event.
Get additional modes of transportation and electric equipment on display like:
- E-bikes
- Electric school buses and transit buses (contact your school district and transit authority)
- Electric lawn care equipment (local homeowner or yard care company)
Finally, try to get either a ride component (if EV drivers are comfortable driving attendees in their EV) or a drive component where participants can drive an EV. Reach out to local car dealerships to see if they would be interested in bringing a representative and vehicle for the event.
Post Event Considerations
One important aspect of the National Drive Electric Month events website is that you can update it after the event with photos and statistics like how many vehicles participated and how many attendees you talked with. It’s also great to send thank you correspondence with the EV drivers, volunteers, and local government representatives who helped pull off an amazing event.
Get Started Organizing
National Drive Electric Month events don’t need to have a ton of vehicles to be impactful. If you have an interest in helping educate your community about electric vehicles, take the plunge and organize one this year. Not sure yet? Learn more about organizing an event by looking at the NDEM planning guide, Getting Started As An Event Organizer. If you are just too overwhelmed, click here to find a National Drive Electric Week event near you and commit to volunteering this year with the intent of hosting your own next year.
Electrify the South is a Southern Alliance for Clean Energy program that leverages research, advocacy, and outreach to promote renewable energy and accelerate the equitable transition to electric transportation throughout the Southeast. Visit ElectrifytheSouth.org to learn more and connect with us.
