We’re rolling through the Pacific Northwest in Chad’s Model S just past 4 AM in the morning. We’re virtually gliding to Portland, headed to another briefing with colleagues on the outreach plans ahead – one that we’ve done dozens of times in key cities and states as we set a new direction for our group.
Outside, a rainy, gloomy dawn begins to break while everything inside remains quiet. Looking up I catch the latest thumbs up from another car as we pass. The twenty-somethings crowded inside recognize what they are seeing: their future is passing before their eyes.
In 2012, Plug In America embarked on a new chapter, one that will leverage the experience, enthusiasm, and unparalleled credibility of current plug-in drivers to bring the promise of electric transportation to hundreds of thousands of prospective new owners. Once again, we’re poised to change the course of history.
We can only do it if we have your help. Please donate to Plug In America before year’s end to ensure that we can sustain this epic work.
While the twenty somethings we pass appreciated our car (and every plug-in I’ve been in receives the same reception – deservedly – they are all iPads on wheels), they likely will never recognize the single-minded passion of its driver, who represents the tens of thousands of drivers linked to Plug In America. Beginning over a decade ago, this group fought for an almost impossible idea: electric transportation could help remake America while reforging its most iconic industry – the car business.
Those first few could not have imagined the scale of impact they have achieved. By years end roughly 50,000 vehicles will have been sold just in 2012. NRDC’s Luke Tonachel wrote recently that in the past year plug-in electric vehicle sales jumped 228 percent. National sales numbers have hit records throughout the last quarter of 2012 as plug ins crossed the important 1% of total vehicle sales threshold in California. Sales are up 18,000 percent since the Tesla Roadster was introduced in 2008. We’re headed towards 300 million electric miles traveled; new records for miles traveled are being set each month. The first all-electric trips across various states, from Mexico to California, and across Canada have been logged and electric travel within and between most major US cities is now a reality.
This year, Plug In America’s major contribution to extending awareness – National Plug In Day – reached over 25,000 people and sparked over 130 positive media stories just as the plug in sales figures started to climb. It’s now poised to become an international celebration of electric vehicles in 2013.
The list of vehicle imagination and creativity sparked by these pioneers includes:
BMW Active-E
Brammo
Chevrolet Volt
Coda Sedan
Fisker Karma
Ford C-Max
Ford Focus
Ford Fusion
Honda Fit
Mitsubishi i
Nissan Leaf
Smart ForTwo ED
Tesla Model S
Tesla Roadster
Toyota Prius
Toyota RAV4
Wheego Whip LiFe
Zero
In 2013 we expect eight more new plug-in models on the market.
This success might cause us to believe that the electric vehicle market is safe and that the path to this better future is secure. Those closest to the market know that this moment remains tenuous. And that’s why we’re on the road at 4 in the morning to lay out the important plans ahead. The audience, once again, proves to be receptive and enthusiastic.
Our vision remains audacious. The obstacles to achieving it are still too many. Worse, status quo continues to be brutally unacceptable. Recent analysis published in The Lancet reveals that over 3 million people per year die prematurely from air pollution, much associated with traditional vehicles. Of course, the catastrophic consequences from tying our transportation economy to oil are too many to count.
As we glide on these wings of change during this crucial moment in history, we see our future passing before our eyes. Help us capture it.
We’re rolling through the Pacific Northwest in Chad’s Model S just past 4 AM in the morning. We’re virtually gliding to Portland, headed to another briefing with colleagues on the outreach plans ahead – one that we’ve done dozens of times in key cities and states as we set a new direction for our group.
Outside, a rainy, gloomy dawn begins to break while everything inside remains quiet. Looking up I catch the latest thumbs up from another car as we pass. The twenty-somethings crowded inside recognize what they are seeing: their future is passing before their eyes.
In 2012, Plug In America embarked on a new chapter, one that will leverage the experience, enthusiasm, and unparalleled credibility of current plug-in drivers to bring the promise of electric transportation to hundreds of thousands of prospective new owners. Once again, we’re poised to change the course of history.
We can only do it if we have your help. Please donate to Plug In America before year’s end to ensure that we can sustain this epic work.
While the twenty somethings we pass appreciated our car (and every plug-in I’ve been in receives the same reception – deservedly – they are all iPads on wheels), they likely will never recognize the single-minded passion of its driver, who represents the tens of thousands of drivers linked to Plug In America. Beginning over a decade ago, this group fought for an almost impossible idea: electric transportation could help remake America while reforging its most iconic industry – the car business.
Those first few could not have imagined the scale of impact they have achieved. By years end roughly 50,000 vehicles will have been sold just in 2012. NRDC’s Luke Tonachel wrote recently that in the past year plug-in electric vehicle sales jumped 228 percent. National sales numbers have hit records throughout the last quarter of 2012 as plug ins crossed the important 1% of total vehicle sales threshold in California. Sales are up 18,000 percent since the Tesla Roadster was introduced in 2008. We’re headed towards 300 million electric miles traveled; new records for miles traveled are being set each month. The first all-electric trips across various states, from Mexico to Brithish Columbia, and across Canada have been logged. Electric travel within and between most major US cities is now a reality.
This year, Plug In America’s major contribution to extending awareness – National Plug In Day – reached over 25,000 people and sparked over 130 positive media stories just as the plug in sales figures started to climb. It’s now poised to become an international celebration of electric vehicles in 2013.
The list of vehicle imagination and creativity sparked by these pioneers includes
BMW Active-E
Brammo
Chevrolet Volt
Coda Sedan
Fisker Karma
Ford C-Max
Ford Focus
Ford Fusion
Honda Fit
Mitsubishi i
Nissan Leaf
Smart ForTwo ED
Tesla Model S
Tesla Roadster
Toyota Prius
Toyota RAV4
Wheego Whip LiFe
Zero
In 2013 we expect eight more new plug-in models on the market.
This success might cause us to believe that the electric vehicle market is safe and that the path to this better future is secure. Those closest to the market know that the moment remains tenuous. And that’s why we’re on the road at 4 in the morning to lay out the important plans ahead. The audience, once again, proves to be receptive and enthusiastic. We’re going to reach 200,000 people, generate almost $400 million in market activity, and do it with unimagineable efficiency thanks to the tireless contributions of thousands of current drivers.
Our vision remains audacious. The obstacles to achieving it are still too many. Worse, status quo continues to be brutally unacceptable. Recent analysis published in The Lancet reveals that over 3 million people per year die prematurely from air pollution, much associated with traditional vehicles. Of course, the catastrophic consequences from tying our transportation economy to oil are too many to count.
As we glide on these wings of change during this crucial moment in history, we see our future passing before our eyes.
Please help us capture it.
