Comment Log Display

To: California Air Resources Board
RE: VW Electrify America, Cycle 1 Investment Plan
  The Sacramento Electric Vehicle Association (SacEV), is a 600+
member
 organization, and as stated by Ron Freund, Chairman of the
Electric Auto
 Association, “... one of the largest and most active EAA chapters
in the country.”
 We strongly support the choice of Sacramento as the first awardee
for the Green
 Cities program for many reasons.....
  For years SacEV has partnered with SMUD, car dealers and many
community
 groups to initiate the wider understanding and adoption of these
21st
 Century mass produced alternatives to traditional polluting
choices.
 The Sacramento area enjoys unique support from SMUD with strong
 coordination of educational outreach programs hosted, planned, and
staged
 by SacEV. No other area of the state has this track record of
cooperation
 and effective impact in bringing the understanding of how EVs can
improve
 our quality of life.
 The non-profit SacEV has the outstanding history of educational
outreach to schools, colleges, businesses,
 publications and public events to enlighten the public about this
new technology.
Even with extremely limited funds, SacEV, members invested over
4000 hours of volunteer time with its partners, put on 55 EV
educational events in 2015 and 2016 plus
wide ranging activities which included:
● 3,570 Test drives for people interested in experiencing
driving electric.
● 15,265 One-on-one conversations on whether an EV can work
for you.
● 162 Member owned EVs provided for event support (show and
tell) at over 55 events.
● Providing educational scholarships for Automotive
Technology programs.
● Bimonthly public informational events on EV offerings,
programs, infrastructure with an opportunity to meet EV industry
experts for direct Q & A on “how an EV works for you.”
● Engaged State Government offices and utilities in
consultation on policy and planning for the adoption and
infrastructure needed for EVs.
● Working closely with the national Electric Auto Association
to share ideas, success strategies and programs that work.
● Published several articles not just across the country, but
also into Germany, about EV events and activities, along with tips
and techniques for holding successful EV events.
● Provided SacEV generated public material to train Auto
Sales reps with regard to success in the EV sales process.
 
● Co-developed Public Service Announcements highlighting the
excitement and pleasure of driving electric.
This past history demonstrates that the Sacramento community has
the foundation already in place to develop a further expansive and
effective educational outreach program when adequate funding is
actually available.
Community Experience in Partnerships for Collective Action:
The following have consistently demonstrated successful
collaboration in promoting the adoption of EVs in this
area already:
● SacEV
● SMUD,
● Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties,
● Sacramento and neighboring cities,
● Sacramento Clean Cities,
● Council of Governments,
● California Auto Museum,
● UC Davis Institute of Transportation,
● Air Quality Districts,
● Sierra Club,
● Auto dealerships,
● Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance,
● ChargePoint, ClipperCreek, and other EVSE manufacturers
● Kaiser-Permanente and other businesses,
● other local cities/governments in the region
The Sacramento area has a unique, substantial and active history of
cooperative efforts between governmental, public, and community
groups in promoting community interests in health. The Green City
award would allow that history to become a future with a major
impact on improving community health and wellness, and extend to
broader regions.
Respectfully Submitted,
George L. Parrott, Ph.D., President, Sacramento Electric Vehicle
Association
Guy Hall, Chief Strategic Officer, Sacramento Electric Vehicle
Association