2015 Drive Electric Week EV Car Show

What a GREAT day at the St. Louis Science Center!  

There were so many fun cars on display!  The weather was PERFECT!  I got to chat with lots of folks about the joys of driving an EV.  I got to ride in a 7-seater Telsa (on the interstate, too!)  What zip!  What a dash - oh my!  I got to catch up with folks from last year and from the EV Leaf Rally!  I got to swap pro tips and learn about other EVs.  

Banner for the Citi cars (circa mid 70s). 

It is fun to see so many types of cars (and a motorcycle and a bike!)  

Look at the photos below to get a feel for the day.

Did you enjoy the show? Comment below.

What car did you wish was there that wasn't?  Comment below.  

Elias chatting up specs with a 2011 Leaf owner

This was the funnest car there, IMHO.

Cool 2-tone interior on a Tesla

Rear seats on the Tesla

Solar powered Telsa charging station at a private home

GPS activated suspension control

Our Leaf Rally friends!

EVie!

A lot of folks were impressed by the lines of the i8. 

After market conversions too!

The VW Gulf was purchased in Rhode Island!

Our Leaf - what a good lookin' car!

One family (3 kids) own these TWO Volts.  Left = Dad's, Right = Mom's

Elias test driving the electric bike!

Several Chargers Around St. Louis - Pro Tips

Current mileage:  20778 

I am sorry I have been TERRIBLE at posting.  It has been very busy in our home.

I would like to share some tips on places to charge around St. Louis.  Here goes . .

St. Louis Science Center  (pay to park unless you are a member)
There are 2 chargers. EVie (The Electric Truck) is often parked by one charger - BUT you can still use that charger (which is a faster charger than the other one.)  See how the cord reaches.  (Dedicated EV spot.)

   

MOBot Missouri Botanical Gardens  St. Louis, MO
Enter the garden, turn right and make your first right.  The stickers on the Level 2 chargers say free for garden members - but they are free for EVERYONE!  (Use your ChargePoint card.)  With free garden days (Wednesday or Saturday) with free charging - this makes for an extra bonus!  There are 4 chargers (2 per pole).

Moonrise Hotel,  Delmar Loop

You have to pay the $8 valet parking.  The Level 2 charger is right across from the valet stand/entrance.  Charging is free and there is a 3 hour time limit.  You can keep an eye on your car from the rooftop bar!  (Or walk anywhere in the Loop . . . )

The red car on the left side is the LEAF!

Principia College, Elsah, IL
This charger is pretty slow.  I think I charged at about 4 miles per hour.  :(    I am glad, however, that they have an outlet (it is a bring your own cable).  Ask at the gate house where the charging area is located.  (How awesome is it that 2 EVs were using it!)  4 plug ins available.

What is your pro tip about charging in the St. Louis area? Comment below!

Stop #1: First Annual Nissan Leaf St. Louis Spring Rally

STARTING MILEAGE:  12119

We arrived at Bommarito Nissan at around 9:05 am.  There were already 2 other customer's Leaf's ready for the fun!

 We signed in, received Raffle tickets, and chatted a bit.  (One ticket per passenger  - so I go three!)  Soon, DONUTS and BREAKFAST sandwiches from the local Mom n Pop donut store (Kelly's Donuts) arrived.  YUM!!

We ran into our salesman - Dustin Olson. Told him how much we love our Leaf!!

We soon got T-shirts.  (No kid sizes.  Adult M to XXL.)  They are nice quality with the graphic that matches the store banner.  (Side note:  No year, just the date - so when I wear it a few years down the road it won't look so dated . . . )  

It was fun to chat with the other Leaf Owners. We eventually decided to head on out to the next stop.  I didn't get a shot, but it was fun to ride in a line of Leaf's!!  We were all headed to Stop #2:  Lou Fusz Nissan. 

And we were off!

___________________________________________

Here are some other random pix from the rest of the stops!

 

First Annual Nissan Leaf Spring Rally!!

Current Mileage:  12,119
____________________________

When: April 18 2015

Where:  St. Louis Area Nissan Dealerships

What:  Drive your Leaf or test drive a Leaf, Chat with current & prospective Leaf owners, raise EV awareness

Cost:  FREE!!

Locations (can visit any in any order):

Bommarito Nissan   9:30 donuts, coffee, croissants, T-shirt to first 50 people

Lou Fusz  Nissan  Noon Pizza

Suntrup Nissan (NO QUICK CHARGER, Level 2 Only)  12:30-1 pm ish food

St Charles Nissan  1 pm Ice Cream Truck

West Co Nissan  11am-4 pm Food Truck

Grand Prize:  Each Leaf driver will get one raffle ticker for every "eligible Leaf owner" in your car, at each dealership you stop at.  Prize: $500 Best Buy Gift Card.

Other Prizes: Some dealerships are giving away key chains, balloons, T-shirts, water bottles, and more!  This is a first, and it is not well advertised.  Help make this event great! 

HOPE TO SEE YOU AT ONE OF THE STOPS!!

This event should end around 6 pm. 

____________________________________________

The cone my husband put out at West Co Nissan in October that is still in use - blocking off the EV only parking space.  Who will be using this charger on Saturday for the rally?  (It is FREE btw!) 

Happy New Year!!

My how time flies.  Sorry I have been gone.  We have been focusing on other areas of our life. 

Here are some highlights: 

1)  Current mileage: 7381  (wow!)

2)  Biggest surprise:  Adding in the NEW quick charger (Level 2) at home.  It is AWESOME.  I didn't think I needed it.  Well it charges SOOO quick - less than 3 hours for 0-100%!  (32 Amp.)  My husband installed it and the new sub panel in the garage.  Nice work!  I love not messing with the cord each day and I am so glad I bought the holster - so the charging end always has a home in our sometimes chaotic garage! 

 

3)  Fun Charging Moment:  We had a "staycation" at a local Drury Hotel that my husband ran the tower crane for.  We plugged in since we were there for 2.5 days.  In the parking garage there is ONE outlet (accessible to the two spots closest to the doors).  No one said anything to us - not even the Manager who saw us charging!  Yea Drury! 

4)  Nerd moment:  Finding a FREE level 2 charging station not listed on PlugShare! 

5)  Safety:  My husband was rear ended at a stale red light and the Leaf did VERY well.  He was very protected.  I am glad it is such a safe car. (AAA towed it on a flat bed trailer - which was my preference.  I said, "It is a FULLY electric car.") 

6)  Most annoying thing:  Travelling on vacation and renting an ICE and having to STOP and PUMP GAS in the WINTER.  I love NEVER stopping to pump gas.  Plus, the ICE is so loud . . .

7)  Electric bill:  Increased by 36%.  However, there are other areas of consumption that are not Leaf related.  Still MUCH MUCH MUCH cheaper than gas. 

8)  Drove out to Wentzville to buy a chicken coop on craigslist.  Had to stop and quick charge in St Peters - and there was someone else on the quick charger!  (Only had to wait 5 minutes.)  This was a first!   

9)  How is it holding up:  I love it. Upholstery looks good as new.  Still handles like a dream.

10)  Regrets to switching to an EV:  Zero. 

Stay tuned for more updates!  More timely updates, that is!  :)   Happy New Year!