Electric vehicle education effort launched in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee

The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, Clean Cities Georgia and Tennessee Clean Fuels have joined forces and launched a three-month education and awareness campaign to promote modern electric vehicle (EV) ownership.

Television and radio advertisements started running in December 2021 and will continue through mid-March 2022 in all three states. Free virtual events have been planned to provide answers to the most common questions about EVs. 

Market research shows many of the doubts that people have developed about EVs are based on early vehicle models that boasted low battery range and unappealing designs to drivers. Coalition leaders say new modern EVs are strong rivals to their internal combustion engine counterparts in categories like performance and total cost of ownership. 

“A grant from Electrify America made it possible for us to launch this campaign to strengthen electric vehicle education and awareness efforts in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee,” said Michael Staley, President of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition. “We know the public has a lot of questions about electric vehicles, and we are excited to help get those questions answered.”

Alabama Broadcasters Association President Sharon Tinsley and her counterparts in Georgia and Tennessee say electric vehicles are a perfect topic for their Public Education Partnership (PEP) program. “The EV campaign has generated more clicks faster than any of the other digital campaigns that we’ve run. That tells me there is great interest in electric vehicles.”

Modern EV models range from affordable sedans and full-sized SUVs to luxury sports and performance vehicles and pickup trucks capable of powering a job site or pulling a fishing boat to the lake. 

“People have honest questions about vehicle range, performance and charging infrastructure,” said Frank Morris, Executive Director of Clean Cities Georgia, “and our virtual webinars will be great educational opportunities for the public to get honest answers from EV owners in their communities.”

In addition to the grant from Electrify America, the three coalitions are teamed up through a federal grant called DRIVE Electric USA. Each participating state has its own individually managed campaign like Drive Electric Alabama, Drive Electric Georgia and Drive Electric Tennessee.

Each individual state initiative has broad goals, including engaging with and educating consumers, utilities, utility regulators, local and state government officials, automobile dealers, current and prospective EV owners, fleet leaders and vehicle manufacturers. “We are focused on removing electric vehicle adoption barriers and accelerating plug-in EV use in our states,” said Jonathan Overly, Director of Tennessee Clean Fuels and lead project coordinator for DRIVE Electric USA. “We hope that people will visit our websites and sign up for one of the many upcoming virtual and in-person educational opportunities we are scheduling in 2022.”

Contact: Ainsley Kelso, ainsley@etcleanfuels.org