Chapter Leadership Highlights: DE-Appalachian Highlands

Introduction

July of each year is Drive Electric Tennessee Month, this year we interviewed Co-Chairs of our Drive Electric Tennessee Chapters.

Drive Electric-Appalachian Highlands started in early 2021 when multiple partners helped bring together others to support the Chapter’s development. DE-Appalachian Highlands covers Northeast Tennessee, including the surrounding communities in southwest Virginia and northwestern North Carolina. The chapter has had over 3,000 attendees at events since 2021.

Dave Hrivnack DE-Appalachian Highlands Co-Chair Interview

Q: What EV do you drive?

A: I started with a Tesla Roadster in 2010, then moved mostly to a Tesla Model 3 in 2018.

Q: What made you decide to be a chapter leader?

A: No one else seemed willing.

Q: How long have you driven an EV?

A: Since 2010 and I have racked up more than 235,000 gas free miles.

Q: What changes have you experienced since switching to driving an EV?

A: A HUGE expansion in charging options and now Level 3 charging a true game changer

Q: What is the longest trip you have taken in your EV? What were the starting and ending cities of that trip?

Q: What do you wish you had known prior to purchasing your first EV?

A: We learned from the ground up.

Q: What question are you asked most at Chapter events/meetings about EVs?

A: Charging mostly and then cost savings.

Thank You DE-Appalachian Highlands!

Thank you to Dave Hrivnack for agreeing to this interview as well as all members and partners of DE-Appalachian Highlands. We appreciate all the work this chapter is putting into supporting electric transportation in Tennessee!