Test Drive Electric Vehicles on National Plug In Day!

This free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, on the grounds of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium on City Island, Sarasota. 

Celebrated in an estimated 90 cities across the country, National Plug In Day is meant to promote the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) by highlighting their clean-air benefits and cost-savings.

Richard Kelly is president of Plug In America, which is a national organizer of Plug In Day events along with the Sierra Club and the Electric Auto Association.

“Thanks to the continued drop in prices, plug-in vehicles are now within the reach of millions of Americans,” Kelly said in a press release. “Many are now driving ‘for free’ because their car payments are equal to or even less than they paid for gasoline. Our aim is to raise awareness of this affordability and the many other benefits of EVs.”

Electrify the Island will feature a plug-in EV expo, ride-and-drive sessions that allow visitors to test some of the sleekest EVs around, including cars from Tesla, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan, along with vendors focused on sustainability and energy efficiency, educational booths, great food and a special discount at The Aquarium at Mote. 

At noon on Sept. 29, Sarasota Mayor Shannon Snyder will present a city proclamation honoring the local event, which will be followed by remarks from Mote Trustee Nigel Mould, event Co-Chair. 

This is the second National Plug In Day celebration held in Sarasota, following last year’s energizing success of Electrify the Circle — a major EV celebration on Florida’s Suncoast. This year’s event will spark even more enthusiasm as part of the coast-to-coast national celebration. Together, these events aim to draw global attention to the environmental and economic benefits of plug-in EVs. 

Local National Plug In Day partners include:

• Plug In America
• The Sierra Club
• The Electric Auto Association
• City of Sarasota
• Sarasota County

For more information, visit National Plug In Day online.