Roanoke Electric Co-op will be celebrating National Drive Electric Week on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at its headquarters, where member-owners are invited to take a spin in a Tesla.
National Drive Electric Week, Sept. 14-22, 2019, is dedicated to heightening awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles.
At the co-op’s event, member-owners will have the opportunity to ride in the co-op’s electric vehicle. Team members will also be on hand to explain how to charge electric vehicles at home and while traveling, to discuss the installation of charging stations, and to answer general questions about electric vehicles.
“The thing that really stands out to me, as an engineer, is the cost savings per mile for electric vehicles,” said George Stamper, the co-op’s vice president of engineering and information services.
For example, he said to charge fully a 200-mile electric vehicle, it would cost about $5. In comparison, to fill up a large, gas-powered vehicle, it would cost at least $25. There is additional cost-saving potential when vehicles are charged overnight, during off-peak times. “So, charging with electricity is significantly less expensive than using gasoline,” Stamper said.