Be among the first in Virginia to test drive the new 2013 Ford Focus electric vehicle on Thursday, April 26.  The event will be held at Richmond Ford Lincoln from 3 – 7 pm.  Three electric vehicles are available to test drive, as well as the new 2013 Ford Escape which features a new hands free lift gate.  There will also be a live radio remote with Lori Kelly of K-95 from 4-6 pm.

Features of the new Ford Focus electric vehicle include:
• “Best in Class” Charge Time (3 to 4 hours)  – Half the charging time of other competitors.
• “Best in Class” Driving Range Between Charging Intervals
• “Best in Class” Top Driving Speed – Over 80mph
• On Board Microsoft Applications such as:
        *A charging app that allows the vehicle to charge “off-peak” when utility rates are lowest
        *State of vehicle charge apps, vehicle routing & more- all to maximize your experience
        *Remote apps for your phone to receive instant vehicle status updates
        *Preprogram the car to a certain temperature so when you get in it is already cooled or heated as desired.

Event Address:
Richmond Ford Lincoln
4600 West Broad St.,
Richmond, VA. 23230

For more information, click here

The official unveiling of the 2012 Ford Focus Electric pace car will take place at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 25 at 2:00 pm.  Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and NASCAR driver Trevor Bayne will unveil the Focus Electric pace car that will lead the field at the Richmond 400 Sprint Cup Series race on April 28.
 
Following the vehicle unveiling, Bolling and Bayne will officially deliver the pace car to RIR president Dennis Bickmeier at the track at approximately 2:45 pm.  Media will be invited to take a spin around the track in the Focus Electric pace car.    
 
The following have teamed up to deliver this exciting news:
 
Bill Bolling, Lieutenant Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia 
Trevor Bayne, NASCAR driver, 2011 Daytona 500 winner 
Mike Lynch, Managing Director, Green Innovation, NASCAR 
Eric Kuehn, Chief Engineer, Global Electrified Programs, Ford
Scott Wojtkowicz, BEV Systems Engineer, Ford
Chad D’Arcy, Focus Electric Marketing Manager, Ford
Dennis Bickmeier, President, Richmond International Raceway

For more information on the first-ever all-electric pace car, click here
 
 Address to pace car unveiling and press conference:      
Virginia State Capitol
1111 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA
 [Capitol Square entrance to Patrick Henry Building]
 

Address to pace car delivery:
Richmond International Raceway
600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222
[Start/Finish line]

Article from the Richmond Times Dispatch

April 17, 2012

The Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative (REVi) is hosting an electric vehicles rally and movie screening of Revenge of the Electric Car in partnership with Virginia Clean Cities, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Sierra Club, and Sustainable Transportation Initiative of Richmond (STIR) on Monday, April 16th. The program will begin at 2 PM with an introduction from our event partners followed by the movie screening. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for discussion and networking, as well as the opportunity to test drive an electric vehicle!

See the event posting in the “Events” section of the VCC Home page!

Event Address:
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College – Parham Road Campus
Georgiadis Hall in “The Gallery”
1651 East Parham Road
Richmond, VA 23228

REVi Rally – Flyer

Virginia Clean Cities and Clean Fuels Ohio and collaborate on releasing “EV Charging for Persons with Disabilities”

For Release February 17th

(Harrisonburg, Virginia) As our nation develops a network of EV charging stations, we must include access for persons with disabilities and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To ensure businesses have resources on proper ways to install charging stations with access for all users, including those with disabilities, Clean Fuels Ohio and Virginia Clean Cities have released “EV Charging for Persons with Disabilities.”< />

“EV Charging for Persons with Disabilities” covers accessible parking, access from vehicle to charging equipment, using the EV charging station, returning to recharge the vehicle, accessing the destination, and fast charger considerations. Read the rest of this entry »

Virginia Clean Cities and the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy were awarded a major planning grant for electric vehicles through the Clean Cities Community Readiness and Planning for Plug-In Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure grant.

The $430,000 Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative (REVi) effort will advance the Richmond region as an attractive and sustainable market for electric vehicle technology.  The project will lay the educational and policy groundwork for infrastructure installation and electric vehicle adoption in the Richmond region and the Commonwealth at large.  A regional electric vehicle strategic plan will be developed and will identify and foster policies to expedite EV infrastructure specific to the Richmond region and prepare the Commonwealth for successful deployment of plug-in electric drive vehicles.  Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones said of the initiative, “These planning efforts fit into Richmond’s triple bottom line goals of sustainability and will help lower greenhouse gas emissions in the city.”

REVi has assembled significant partnership with over 50 engaged organizations and synergistic opportunities.  Localities engaged in the proposed program include the town of Ashland, the City of Richmond, and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and Powhatan as well as municipalities within the Crater Planning District.

Ford has named its 20 cool places to charge an electric vehicle, including the The Science Museum of Virginia and Children’s Museum of Richmond, Va. Read the rest of this entry »

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College is now offering a trial course this quarter on Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure. This one credit course will teach you the advantages and differences between electric and traditional vehicles. Registration information can be found here.

Electric Vehicle Flyer_1

For more information or to register, contact Katherine Falconer at kfalconer@reynolds.edu or by calling (804) 523-5301.