The second annual Holiday Solar Light Event & EV Ride Along and Expo is scheduled to take place on Thurs., Dec. 14, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO) recently announced.
This year’s expanded event aims to promote sustainable transportation and advance the adoption of renewable energy & electric vehicles (EVs) within the community. Supported by a spectrum of federal funding, this event is set to take place at the Leatherback Brewery at the Virgin Islands Economic Authority’s (VIEDA) Industrial Park, according to the press release.
The Solar Light and EV Ride Along will showcase the latest advancements in electric vehicle technology, featuring an array of government and privately-owned electric cars, vans, and E-bikes. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to explore the diverse range of EV models already present in the territory and learn about the environmental and economic benefits of making the switch to electrified transportation here in the USVI, the press release stated.
Key event highlights include:
- Test Drives: Visitors will have the chance to test drive electric cars, SUVs, vans, and E-bikes around the closed loop of the VIEDA Industrial Park.
- EV Educational Outreach: VIEO experts in the field of electric vehicles will provide information across a wide range of topics such as EV technology, charging infrastructure, EV service & maintenance and the role of electric vehicles in combating climate change.
- Bring Your Own EV Expo: Local electric vehicle owners are invited to showcase their electric vehicles, allowing attendees to interact with local stakeholders who have invested in EVs and can share their first-hand experiences of owning an EV in the V.I.
- Level 2 EV Charger Grand-Prize: Local EV Owners who bring their car to the expo and proof of current V.I. registration will be entered to win a Leviton Level 2 Charging Station.
- Charging Infrastructure Showcase: As the VIEO prepares to launch a network of public EV chargers across the territory, attendees will have the opportunity to interact with the charging infrastructure that will become commonplace and conveniently located in a parking lot near you.
- Government Incentives: Representatives of VIEO will be on hand to provide information about existing and upcoming incentives, grants, and policies that support the transition to electric vehicles, such as the upcoming $5000 Electric Vehicle Rebate Program and the current $7500 federal tax credit.
Kyle Fleming, director of the VIEO, expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating, “By showcasing the economic and operational viability of electric vehicle technology locally and providing hands-on experiences, the VIEO aims to encourage widespread adoption of electric vehicles within the territory. As a result of strategic grant funding, Virgin Islands Energy Office possesses the first fully electric vehicle fleet within the Virgin Islands, and in the very near future, this historic milestone with become the norm across the territory.”
For more information, call the VIEO St. Croix office at 340-713-8436 or visit the VIEO Facebook page.
