Unitil will host its third Annual “Electric Vehicle (EV) Ride & Drive” in Exeter on Saturday, June 8, to give members of the public a unique opportunity to test drive an EV, learn about the latest vehicles on the market, and connect with fellow EV enthusiasts.
The event will be held at Unitil’s electric operations facility, 30 Energy Way in Exeter, N.H., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, June 9., at the same time and location.
The “Ride and Drive” is a free event designed to help educate consumers about EVs. Several electric vehicles from local dealerships will be available for those in attendance to check out and even test drive to get a better feel for the EV experience from behind the wheel. Volvo Cars of Exeter, Enxing Kia of North Hampton, and Green Wave Electric Vehicles of North Hampton are among the dealerships planning to attend. In addition, personal vehicles will be on display as well for a “show and tell” in which their owners will be on hand to answer questions and share their experiences driving an electric vehicle.
EZ Electric Bikes & Scooters will also attend to offer the latest in electric bikes and scooters.
“Our ‘Ride & Drive’ events have continued to gain in popularity as interest in EVs grows and people are looking for ways to explore the market and their options,” Unitil External Affairs Director Alec O’Meara said. “This is the perfect opportunity for dealers to showcase a variety of makes and models and for those who already drive an EV to offer their insight and personal experiences as owners to curious potential buyers looking to educate themselves.”
Among the EV owners planning to attend is Kensington resident Zeke Schmois, who brought his Tesla Model X to show attendees last year. This year, Schmois will bring along his new 2024 Tesla All-Wheel Drive Cybertruck, an electric medium duty full-size pickup truck with a space-age design. The Cybertruck has a towing capacity of 11,000 pounds with a full ton payload.
Schmois said he was in the market for a truck and decided on the Cybertruck because he knew that its unique design and features would be eye-catching and generate interest from the public. Since his Cybertruck arrived in March and he began driving it locally, he said many people who have seen the unusual-looking truck on the road have inquired about it, which is what he hoped would happen because it’s allowed him to have informative conversations about electric vehicles in general.
Another feature that he found appealing was the Cybertruck’s Powershare technology, which allows the truck to automatically provide 11.5 kilowatts of backup power to a home like a generator in the event of an outage. The bed of the truck also comes equipped with two 120V outlets (20A) and a 240V outlet (50A) with a max rating of 9.6 kilowatts of continuous power.
“I’m a big proponent of EVs,” said Schmois, who serves on the Kensington Energy Committee. “It just so happened that Tesla reached out to us to order the Cybertruck around the time that we needed a truck, so it was a good time for us and a good option.”
For more information on electric vehicles and EV time-of-use rates, which could save money for eligible electric customers who own an electric vehicle, visit unitil.com/electric-vehicles.
Photo caption:
2024 Tesla Cybertruck of Kensington resident Zeke Schmois.
