Dozens lined up to test-drive zero- and low-emission vehicles in the parking lot at the Cal State University Chancellor’s Office Saturday for the third annual National Plug-In Day.
This year’s event, which took place in 98 cities nationwide, showcased alternative eco-friendly methods of transportation, according to Paul Scott, co-founder of Plug-In America.
“We want to popularize the notion that electric vehicles are here now,” Scott said. “They are viable. Thousands of Americans are using them on a daily basis and love them … They are no longer experimental cars.”
Attendees were allowed to test-drive multiple types of electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt and the Fiat 500e.
Glendale resident Omo Velev said he heard about the event on iTunes and as an owner of an electric BMW, he decided to make a trip to Long Beach on Saturday.
“People have to have an open mind,” Velev said. “It’s hard to know what to expect. It’s not like gas if you run out of range. You can’t fill it up in five minutes and go, but it’s a different experience … It hardly makes any noise. It’s almost serene.”
For this year’s event, Google Inc. donated three 240-volt electric vehicle-charging stations that will be installed in the south parking lot of the Chancellor’s Office, according to Adopt a Charger Executive Director Kitty Adams. Adopt a Charger is a non-profit organization that solicits sponsorship to install electric chargers in public places, such as national and state parks, museums and universities.
CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White said he is pleased the 23-campus system has become associated with such technology.
“It’s a perfect juxtaposition,” White said. “We just put in these three new charging stations here. Each of the [CSU] campuses are putting some in as well. There are already some [at Cal State Long Beach] that are solar powered. They are important for the employees and students but also the community at large.”
Adams said the charging stations are being installed and powered with free electricity by Smart Car USA and that they will be free for public use for the next three years.
According to Scott, the event was a collaborative effort by Plug-In America, the Sierra Club, the Electric Auto Association and Adopt a Charger. Adams said individual owners, not dealers, provided most of the vehicles at the event.
While electric cars were the event’s focus, some other unconventional modes of transportation were also showcased.
An attendee at the event, Don Smith, recently bought a Solar Electric Scooter that he zoomed on through the parking lot, allowing people to take it for a ride.
Smith said his scooter can travel up to 20 miles per hour on a full charge. He said the scooter cannot replace his car, but it is a fun way for him to run errands close to home.
At the event, White took a spin on an electric bicycle from Pedego and said he was eager to test-drive a Tesla later on in the day.
Long Beach Vice Mayor Robert Garcia, who was also at the event, said he hopes to eventually provide more options for people with electric or hybrid vehicles throughout the city.
“We are going to try to put more plug-in stations … and we are going to continue to encourage plug-in and electric stations so that wherever people go, they can have access to this service,” Garcia said.