Marin National Plug In Day 2012

Drive an Electric Vehicle at the Civic Center Farmers Market!

Free Event, Open to the Public

Imagine what life would be like if you didn’t have to pay volatile gasoline prices, rarely returned to your auto dealer for service, and could re-charge your car at home overnight like a cell phone.  Want to have the speed and amenities of a gasoline-powered car but not pollute the air while driving? 

Drive electric!  It’s easier and cheaper than many think.

Learn how simple it is to drive and charge an electric vehicle at Marin National Plug In Day 2012, set for Sunday, September 23, between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Marin County Civic Center, across from the Farmers Market. 

Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) and Golden Gate Electric Vehicle Association (GGEVA) are teaming up to present this free event featuring more than ten plug in electric vehicles and motorcycles, including the BMW Active E, Brammo Electric Motorcycles, Chevrolet Volt, Coda, Fisker Karma, Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi iMiEV, Tesla, Toyota’s RAV 4 EV and Plug In Prius, as well as electric bicycles.

Visitors can test drive or ride along in an electric vehicle, learn how to use plug in charging, and get an accurate assessment of yearly cost-savings and state and federal purchase incentives.  Talk with local Marin EV owners, who will share their driving experiences and reasons they choose to drive electric. 

"Electric vehicles are a win-win for Marin drivers,” says Dale Miller, president of GGEVA. “They cost less to own and drive than gas cars.  Switching to an electric car is the most effective step that Marin residents can take to reduce their carbon footprints.  GGEVA is proud to co-sponsor this opportunity for Marin drivers to see how much fun it is to drive an electric car." 

Across the country, National Plug In Day 2012 will be celebrated in more than 60 cities “to draw global attention to the environmental, economic, and other benefits of plug in electric vehicles,” according to national organizers Plug In America, Sierra Club, and Electric Auto Association.  Locally, Marin National Plug In Day 2012 will help educate and motivate drivers to consider a plug in electric vehicle the next time they need to purchase a new vehicle.  

“We want Marin drivers to consider electric vehicles when planning their next vehicle purchases because EVs are a critical component in our goal to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says Dianne Steinhauser, executive director of TAM.

She notes that TAM unanimously adopted a resolution this week supporting Marin National Plug In Day 2012 as part of its larger effort to accelerate adoption of electric vehicles and improve air quality, which includes public and local government education, promotion of zero-emission transportation, and facilitating the installation of EV charging stations throughout Marin. 

“People are discovering how truly practical these cars are for everyday driving, and that more and more public charging stations are becoming available in our Marin and Bay Area communities.  Electric vehicles are a positive environmental choice for drivers and air quality,” says Steinhauser.

Marin National Plug In Day 2012

Sunday, September 23, 2012

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Event located in the parking lot across from the Marin Farmers Market, Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael

Free admission.  Open to the public.

Organized by Transportation Authority of Marin and Golden Gate Electric Vehicle Association

About the Organizers

Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) is the congestion management agency and sales tax authority for Marin County.  TAM manages a variety of transportation projects and programs in Marin County, receiving federal, state, regional, and local funds, and working closely with all eleven cities and towns as well as the county.  www.tam.ca.gov

Golden Gate Electric Vehicle Association (GGEVA) is a not-for-profit, volunteer educational, support and advocacy organization that promotes electric vehicles.  www.ggeva.org