Free Electric Vehicle Test Drives, Peninsula Clean Energy Offers

SAN CARLOS, CA — Peninsula Clean Energy is sponsoring a multi-city event that may energize the public's need to switch out the gas guzzlers and go electric.

The electricity provider is offering free electric vehicle test drives at community festivals in Redwood City, Menlo Park, Burlingame and Foster City that PCE Peninsula customers may take advantage of.

PCE, San Mateo County’s not-for-profit community choice electricity provider, will also offer $10 festival food vouchers to the first 100 test drive participants at each event as well as the opportunity to win additional prizes.

The free test drives are part of PCE’s Go Electric program aimed at reducing vehicle fuel emissions, the largest source of greenhouse gases in San Mateo County. PCE also provides incentives for buying or leasing a new EV, subsidies for low-income purchasers of used electric vehicles and supports installation of new local electric vehicle charging stations.

See also SMC Low Income Residents May Qualify For Break On Electric Car.

“Electric vehicles are affordable and save drivers over $1,200 a year on maintenance and fuel costs compared to an average gas-powered car,” PCE Chief Executive Officer Jan Pepper said. “Residents can experience driving an EV at these events and see just how fun these cars are on the road.”

Any member of the public with a valid driver’s license can test an EV at the following events:

• Facebook Festival: Aug. 17 from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. at its headquarters at 1 Hacker Way in Menlo Park

• Burlingame on the Ave.: Aug. 18 from 10 a.m – 3 p.m. in downtown Burlingame on the corner of Burlingame Ave and Lorton Ave.

• Foster City Summer Days: Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Leo J. Ryan Memorial Park on the corner of Shell Boulevard and Batclutha Drive

• Downtown Redwood City through the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability: Sept. 10 from 10 a.m – 3 p.m. on the corner of Winslow and Hamilton streets

More information on the benefits of EVs as well as the federal, state and local incentives for buyers is available at www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/electric-vehicles.

“Our residents can help address climate change and save money by going electric,” said Pepper, who noted that some EVs now have a driving range of up to 300 miles on a single charge.

Public EV charging stations have become more commonplace throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and much of California and may be located online.

Peninsula Clean Energy formed in March 2016 as a joint powers authority made up of the San Mateo County and all 20 cities and towns within and now serves approximately 290,000 accounts.