On Earth Day, we teamed up with Whole Foods Market in Boise to throw a big celebration of all things green! We were lucky to be joined by a lot of really great organizations, businesses and electric vehilce owners to help spread the word about everyday actions people can take to care for our planet.
This was our third year organizing an electric car show with Whole Foods for Earth Day, bringing electric vehicle drivers together to help educate folks about the benefits of driving all electric in Idaho. We had well over 20 electric vehice drivers attend, bringing along a range of cars that include a Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Fiat 500e, Ford C-Max energi, VW e-Golf, Ford Focus, and a home converted electric truck with solar panels included!
Idaho Power also brought along the Chevy Bolt from their fleet, which is an all electric vehicle with 238 miles of all electric range! Another driver, who used to drive the BMW i3, suprised the group and showed up in a brand new 2018 Nissan Leaf. The new Leaf boasts a 151 mile all electric range and a sleek new design.
Last year, the U.S. passed 10 billion electric miles driven. All together, the Idaho cars present on Earth Day had traveled more than 434,608 collective electric miles. That is 20,419,450 grams of avoided tailpipe carbon dioxcide pollution!
In addition to these avoided pollutants in our air, the drivers themselves are seeing the benefits of not paying at the pump. In March, Idaho was on the list of states with the most expensive fuel costs in the nation. Prices have continued to rise since then and are expected to continue as we head into summer. Driving electric saves you from paying at the pump for Idaho's flucuating gas prices.
One Tesla driver at the event was talking up another perk of driving an all electric vehilce. On the car's rear view mirror, they have a little red sticker for their zero emissions vehilce permit from the City of Boise. For $10 a year, the City of Boise offers electric vehilce drivers free parking in downtown Boise. This is just one of the creative ways Boise has tried to increase the benefits of driving electric and help clean up our air in the Treasure Valley.
Aside from the awesome array of electric cars, there was a variety of local bike vendors with a huge selection of electric bicycles to test ride. If you have not yet had the chance to try one out, please go visit our friends at Pedago Electric Bike, George's Cycles or Boise Electric Bike. These fast and very stylish alternative transportaion options make biking more fun than ever for your daily commuting needs - with less effort! We promise you will be hooked after your first ride.
No bike? No problem. For the month of May you can grab a rental rental from Boise Green Bike for free. Valley Regional Transit is offering the opportunity up as part of May in Motion, a month long campaign designed to get Treasure Valley commuters out of their cars and into alternative transportation options. You can also swing by Boise Bicycle Project for an assortment of used bikes for sale that benefit the mission of this great local nonprofit. So pick up a bike and explore this May!
The Sierra Club has been the leading voice on clean transportation in Idaho. Each year we organize a couple of opportunities for Idahoans to chat with folks that drive electric in our state to hear about the reduced fuel, maintenance and operation costs - as well as the environmental benefits of cleaner air and healthier people. Our largest public education event is National Drive Electric Week, a week in September that highlights electric vehilces and their role in a cleaner, healthier and more affordable transportation future.
Events like these are a fun way to get the word out about clean transportation options and connect with local organizations and businesses that are working for a cleaner transportation future and healthier planet. Check out any of the great partners who were at the event with us below!
Organizations and Businesses
Boise Bicylce Project
Boise Electric Bike
Boise Green Bike
Boise Urban Garden School
City of Boise
EGT Solar
Empowered Solar
George's Cycles
Idaho Conservation League
Idaho Natural Beekeep's Club
Idaho Power
My Family Tradition Sauce and Rub Co.
Pedago Electric Bike
Republic Services
Sparky Spring Water
Whole Foods Market