Photo Courtesy of Samantha Dynowski
This fall, the longtime National Drive Electric Week celebration grew into something bigger: National Drive Electric Month. Sierra Club members and volunteers were part of the festivities as nearly 200 communities across the country held events in September and October showcasing electric vehicles including cars, trucks, buses, and bikes.
This year’s NDEM came at a pivotal moment for clean transportation. More drivers than ever are purchasing electric cars, but attacks on clean car standards and nonstop disinformation from fossil fuel interests are ramping up. At the same time, Congress’s disastrous budget bill set the federal EV tax credits for new and used EVs to expire on September 30, 2025.
So, is now still a good time to buy or lease an EV? The short answer is Absolutely, Yes! Here’s why:
- State and Local Rebates: Even without the federal tax credit, a lot of help is still on the table. States like California, Colorado, New Jersey, and Oregon offer rebates or tax credits that cut the price of a new or used EV, often with additional funds for low- and moderate-income households. Many utilities also provide rebates for home chargers or discounted off-peak charging rates. Be sure to check electricforall.org/rebates-incentives to learn exactly what’s available in your area.
- Big Manufacturer Deals: Automakers themselves are offering strong discounts and lease deals to keep EVs moving.
- Cost Savings: Looking beyond the purchase price, the savings in fuel costs and maintenance can be significant, making EVs a win for affordability and a smart financial choice for many families.
- Consumer Choices: With electric vehicles coming in all shapes and sizes, there have never been more clean transportation choices for people in the market for an electric vehicle.
Looking Back at NDEM 2025
This year’s NDEM was one of the biggest celebrations yet. Across the United States, volunteers and partners hosted 196 events in 175 cities. We estimate 61,549 people attended, and more than 2,600 of them rode in or test drove an electric vehicle.
Those numbers reflect an impressive amount of work from Sierra Club chapters and volunteers: recruiting local dealers and EV owners, securing venues, promoting the events, and discussing the benefits of EVs to people in their communities. To everyone who organized, tabled, presented, directed traffic, or lent your EV for test drives: thank you! These events don’t happen without you.
Community events are also exactly what we need right now. Some special interests are still doing their best to spread disinformation about EVs, but a ride in a quiet, quick, clean vehicle can turn the idea of going electric from an abstract idea to a reality for many interested consumers.
NDEM Event Snapshots: A Nationwide Movement
NDEM 2025 showed how broad and diverse the EV movement has become, with events in communities that have embraced electric cars and in places where they are still a novelty. Here are a few highlights:
Ventura, California: Local organizers held two events (in Port of Huenene and Ventura Harbor) that included both EVs and an electric school bus recently procured by the local school district. Sierra Club volunteer Kent Bullard, the Santa Barbara - Ventura Chapter Transportation Chair, won an Event Organizer Award for his work on these events and supporting EV showcases throughout California. Congrats, Kent!
Pocatello, Idaho: Local organizers hosted this electric car show, featuring 21 different models, in a part of the country where EVs are still new to many drivers. Using the back of an electric pickup truck as a stage, local speakers included EV advocates and Mayor Blad. The shift to clean transportation is a nationwide movement!
Muskegon, Michigan: Organizers estimated a steady stream of more than 150 local families showed up on a Lake Michigan beach to check out electric vehicles (including electric campers, e-bikes, and even a golf cart). The event, part of the national Sun Day celebration, included kids activities for kids, a letter writing workshop for community solar, and a press event with Mayor Johnson.
West Hartford, Connecticut: Sierra Club’s Connecticut Chapter led an outdoor showcase (also part of Sun Day) featuring electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and e-bikes. The event featured e-bike test rides, tours of the Town Hall rooftop solar array, demos of how to use the Town’s drop off composting bins, as well as over a dozen owners and operators talking about their electric cars, electric trucks, electric lawn mowers and more.
What’s Next: Drive Electric Earth Month in April 2026
National Drive Electric Month may be wrapped for 2025, but our work is far from done. The next big moment on the calendar is Drive Electric Earth Month in April – another opportunity for communities to host EV ride-and-drives, school events, panel discussions, and more.
If you’re interested in organizing or supporting a Drive Electric Earth Month event with the Sierra Club, please reach out to jesse.piedfort@sierraclub.org. And keep an eye out for more chances to plug in and participate.
Finally, huge thanks to our National Drive Electric Month partners – Plug-In America, EVHybridNoire, Drive Electric USA, and the Electric Vehicle Association – and to every Sierra Club volunteer and chapter leader who helped make this year’s celebration a success.