Sept. 12: Mote to celebrate National Drive Electric Week with “Electrify the Island”
Electric vehicles and other eco-friendly technologies will show their power during “Electrify the Island”: the Sarasota-based kickoff event for the fifth annual National Drive Electric Week, which will feature more local events than ever this year: 170 events in 165 cities coast-to-coast.
Mote’s free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, on the grounds of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium on City Island, Sarasota.
Mote is a world-class marine science and education institution that launched a Sustainable Energy Initiative in 2012 to enhance the Lab’s environmentally sound practices including using solar power, electric car chargers and other eco-friendly technologies and practices to conserve energy, water and other natural resources.
Electrify the Island will feature a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) expo, ride-and-drive sessions that allow visitors to test some of the sleekest EVs around including cars from BMW of Sarasota and Sunset Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, along with vendors focused on sustainability and energy efficiency and educational booths provided by Andrews & Associates Realty, Inc., Freedom 4 Electric Bike Company; Region Solar, Sarasota County, City of Sarasota and others.
BMW of Sarasota will display the BMW i8, the first sports car with the consumption and emission values of a compact car. Guests are welcome to speak to BMW of Sarasota representatives about the efficiency and dynamics of the BMW i8, which will be at the event on display only.
The event will feature two forums that are free to the public. At 11 a.m., a panel discussion titled "EV 101" will allow EV owners, representatives from Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and the public to discuss EV essentials. At 1 p.m., join a forum about multi-unit dwellings and discuss the challenges faced by condo residents who own EVs. At noon, city and county officials will read proclamations honoring Electrify the Island and National Drive Electric Week.
Mote Aquarium admission is not required to attend Electrify the Island. However, it's a great day to visit: Mote's admission is reduced to $6 for Florida residents every Saturday in September 2015.
The 2015 Electrify the Island is made possible by the following sponsors: Florida Power & Light Company; BMW of Sarasota; Brilliant Harvest, LLC; Sunset Chevrolet, Buick, GMC; Gettel Nissan; Sarasota Ford; Apollo Sunguard Systems, Inc.; and Willis A. Smith Construction.
