Reaction to O&R’s 4th Annual Ev Ride & Drive Event: Positively Electric!
Over 400 would-be electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts signed up recently for the chance to get behind the wheel of some of the nation’s most popular electric vehicles from Tesla’s Models 3, Y and X to the Volvo XC40 to the Ford F1-50 Lightning EV pickup truck at Orange & Rockland’s (O&R) fourth annual Electric Vehicle Ride & Drive event.
The event at Blue Hill Plaza in Pearl River didn’t disappoint as the would-be EV enthusiasts bloomed into full-fledged fans. One driver described the feeling of driving an EV as “positively electric”! Another driver said, “You cannot drive these vehicles without coming away wanting to buy one. They’re awesome.”
The chief feature that makes O&R’s event so popular is that the guest drivers are riding with the actual owners of the individual EVs – not salespeople – but every-day drivers who have seen the vehicles perform under real-life conditions.
“We’re not in the car business,” said Terri Kirsch, vice president of business development at Electric Car Insider, the vendor O&R hired to promote and manage the event. “We’re in the education business.”
Since the first guest drive in this program in 2019 through this latest round of guest drives, O&R has sponsored 1,667 guest drives.
For a closer look, watch this video.
Orange & Rockland (O&R) President and CEO Robert Sanchez said, “Here at O&R we’re aggressively moving away from purchasing vehicles powered by fossil fuels. We’re committed to empowering our customers to do the same by helping them make the transition to electric vehicles. Every person who chooses to go electric is supporting cleaner air and a healthier environment.”
Starting last year 100% of O&R’s new light-duty vehicle purchases are EV. The company expects to field a 100% electric light-duty fleet by 2035
O&R’s Andrew Farrell, in the driver’s seat of O&R’s Ford Mustang Mach-E, goes over a few details about the operation of the electric vehicle (EV) with customer Mark Kalman in the passenger seat.
Power Ready Program
O&R’s Power Ready Program (PRP) is providing incentives that can cover up to 100% of the EV charging stations’ installation costs (depending on eligibility criteria) for Level 2 or direct current fast charging stations at commercial facilities, multifamily buildings, or parking areas.
Chargers, which meet minimum program requirements, are eligible to recover up to 50% of the cost. Chargers, which are publicly accessible and have non-proprietary plugs, may receive up to 90% of the cost, and if located in a low- or moderate-income community are eligible for up to 100% of the cost. To get started, visit: oru.com/powerready.
Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (O&R) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies. O&R is a regulated utility that provides electric service to approximately 300,000 customers in southeastern New York State (where its franchise name is Orange & Rockland) and northern New Jersey (where it’s Rockland Electric Company), and natural gas service to approximately 130,000 customers in New York.