DEM Invites Public to Celebrate National Drive Electric Week at Drive Green Event at Colt State Park on Saturday, Sept. 30

Published on Thursday, September 21, 2023

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Green Energy Consumers Alliance, and the Ocean State Clean Cities Coalition (OSCCC) invite the public to celebrate National Drive Electric Week at the annual Drive Green at the Park event. This year the event will be held at Colt State Park in Bristol, RI on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 11 AM – 2 PM. This family-friendly event will include electric vehicle (EV) test drives, chats with experienced electric car drivers, face painting, a trunk-or-treat, and lawn games. For more details on this event and to register, please visit here.

National Drive Electric Week, held from Sept. 22 – Oct. 1 this year, is an annual, nationwide celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more. Test drive type events are being held across the country, helping raise awareness and exposure to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. DEM’s Office of Air Resources (OAR) works closely with Green Energy Consumers Alliance as OSCCC (housed within DEM), which is a federally funded program designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation industry. OSCCC has previously partnered with Green Energy Consumers Alliance to host similar events at other Rhode Island State Parks in past years.

The transportation sector is responsible for approximately 40% of Rhode Island’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is a major source of smog, particulate matter, and hazardous air pollutants that harm public health. In May, Rhode Island became the eighth state to propose the adoption the Advanced Clean Cars and Advanced Clean Trucks standards to rein in carbon pollution. Once fully implemented, this policy will help RI achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. Transportation is also a primary driver of climate change and it is critical that RI focuses on the transportation sector for the future health and prosperity of the state.

Consumers curious about EVs can learn more about rebates and incentives by visiting www.drive.ri.gov. View DEM's Electric Vehicles Map to see how many EVs are being driven near you and for locations of charging stations around the state.

For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.