Plug’n Drive’s EVs are For EVeryone Tour Arrives at IKEA Richmond
October 8, 2024-
Free EV Education and Test Drives Available from October 10 to November 3
Richmond, BC – October 7, 2024 – Plug’n Drive is thrilled to announce that its Mobile EV Education Trailer (MEET) will be in Richmond, BC at IKEA Richmond from October 10 to November 3. MEET Richmond is part of Plug’n Drive’s EVs are for Everyone Cross-Canada Tour , providing free electric vehicle (EV) education and offering test drives to help residents learn more about the benefits of driving electric.
The MEET is a unique initiative aimed at raising awareness and understanding of electric vehicles by offering hands-on experiences and one-on-one consultations with EV experts. Whether you are curious about the costs, environmental impact, or the convenience of charging an electric vehicle, Plug’n Drive’s EV Ambassadors are ready to answer all your questions at MEET Richmond.
Visitors will have the opportunity to test drive a variety of electric vehicles to see firsthand how they perform and learn about incentives available for switching to electric. The test drives are available free of charge and are open to anyone interested in experiencing the future of transportation.
“The EVs for Everyone Cross-Canada Tour aims to tackle the barriers of accessibility, awareness, and familiarity with zero-emission vehicles and their supporting infrastructure,” says Cara Clairman, President and CEO of Plug’n Drive. “Join us at MEET Richmond to connect with our EV Ambassadors, explore our educational displays, discover our online tools, and take a test drive in the latest electric vehicles in a relaxed, no-pressure environment.”
MEET Richmond EVent Details
- Local Event Site Sponsor: IKEA Richmond
- Dates: October 10 – November 3, 2024
- Public hours: Thursdays through Sundays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Exclusive Bookings: Available Mondays through Wednesdays
- Location: IKEA Richmond, 3320 Jacombs Road, Richmond, BC V6V 1Z6
- Free EV Test Drives and EV Education: Walk-ins are welcome; booking ahead ensures your preferred time is secured: MEET Richmond booking calendar
- Driver Requirements: Must be 21 years of age with a valid driver’s license
EVs are for EVeryone Tour Sponsors
The EVs are for EVeryone Tour is made possible through partial funding from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative (ZEVAI), complemented by contributions from a number of generous Plug’n Drive Tour sponsors and local event sponsors.
Discovery Sponsors – Mike Brigham Foundation | Power Workers’ Union
Automaker Sponsors – Cadillac | Chevrolet | Hyundai | Mitsubishi | Polestar | Volvo
Accelerator Sponsors – Flo
Amplified Sponsors – CAA | Electricity Canada | Electric Mobility Canada | Indigenous Clean Energy | Women in Renewable Energy WiRE
Site Sponsor – IKEA Richmond
Canadian EV Fast Facts
- Presently, there are well over 700,000 electric and hybrid electric vehicles on Canadian roads and over 70 different EV models available, with more on the way at increasingly affordable prices.
- Canada has over 27,000 public chargers and is on track to greatly expand on that as governments, car manufacturers and charging network providers build out the network.
- Plug’n Drive has EV charging resources to help with public charging, home charging, charging at work, and retrofitting condos.
- In December 2023, the federal government introduced a sales mandate for 100% zero emission light duty vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035 with an incremental target of 20% by 2026.
- In Q2 2024, the market share of new zero-emission vehicle registrations in Canada was 13.4%, up from 10.5% in Q2 2023, according to StatsCan.
- With over 83 percent of Canada’s electricity coming from non-emitting sources (e.g., hydro, nuclear, wind, solar), the transition to electric vehicles will greatly reduce Canada’s climate-changing emissions. Light duty vehicles account for about half of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector. The transportation sector accounts for about 25 percent of Canada’s overall GHG emissions.
- Plug’n Drive has a Find Your Match app to browse and compare vehicles, cost savings, and incentives available across Canada, including the federal $5000 incentive for the purchase of a fully electric or plug-in hybrid electric car. Driving an electric car can save you between $1,500-$2,000 per year on fuel and maintenance.
- In addition to the MEET, Plug’n Drive offers pressure-free EV education and test drives through various programs in Ontario and other jurisdictions including the Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre, the Electric Vehicle Roadshow, and the Employee Engagement Program.
- Visit the Plug’n Drive events calendar to see where other events are currently scheduled.
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About Plug’n Drive
Plug’n Drive is a not-for-profit organization accelerating EV adoption in Canada to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of an electrified transportation sector. Our vision is to help Canada achieve its goal of 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035 or earlier. Since 2011, we have made incredible strides in our mission through a variety of consumer education programs, including the launch of the world’s first Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre (EVDC) in Toronto, the Electric Vehicle Roadshow event series as well as the Mobile EV Education Trailer (MEET). Our corporate partnerships include EV auto manufacturers, utilities, EV charger manufacturers, and others. For more information about Plug’n Drive’s programs, services, and events, visit plugndrive.ca and sign up for our newsletter. Join our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Alan Downward
Communications Advisor
Plug’n Drive
(647) 449-9715