Drive Electric TN, EPB educate community at Chattanooga Green Prix

Staff from the DriveElectricTN team partnered with EBP and Green Spaces at the 4th annual Chattanooga Green Prix on Nov. 19-20, 2021.

DET hosted an electric vehicle display to educate students and the public about the ins and outs of e-mobility. Visitors of the display also had the chance to participate in an EV Art Challenge. The upcoming DET newsletter will feature the winning artist from this challenge (December 1, 2021).  

The first Chattanooga Green Prix debuted in 2017. Middle and high school students were tasked with constructing GreenPower USA electric power race cars. Fast forward four years later, this year’s Prix saw 17 different local schools joining the race. Each driver had a personalized car that represented their school’s spirit and flair.

This student-led, electric power car race was a two-day event located across from Chattanooga’s iconic Southern Belle Riverboat. There was a large race track was formed in a parking lot with only cones and rails separating the public and the drivers. It was an exciting scene to walk by and see kids maneuver their EVs around corners for some friendly rivalry with their fellow school districts.

Across from the race track were the electric vehicle education tents. An open field consisted of multiple outreach booths, lawn games, a DJ and even larger-than-life puppets called the “Playful Ecology Monsters”.

DET was able to directly engage with over 100 people and talk about recent EV developments in the state of Tennessee, including having the chance to get inside EPB’s Chevrolet Bolt and the all-new Volkswagen ID.4.

At the DET booth, kids were more than excited to show off their knowledge and excitement for the EV revolution in Tennessee! Some of the EV Art Challenge drawings showed how EVs can save money, charge at home, protect the environment and, in general, benefit the community. Kids were also excited to enjoy some free DET swag as a reward for their contribution.

The Chattanooga Green Prix is planned to happen again next spring, but the event does need donations to make sure all interested kids will be able to participate. To support the Green Prix and the continuation of e-mobility education for the youth in Chattanooga, text the word ‘Green’ to 801801 or visit the Green Spaces website.

Creating opportunities and pathways for the future generation to understand and obtain EVs is an important step towards DriveElectricTN’s goal of 200,000 EVs on Tennessee roads by 2028.