Western Tech EV assessments

 

Western Technical College does EV assessments--inspections, maintenance, and repairs--during its Automotive Tech session in the summer. In addition, they can perform Prius battery reconditioning which brings battery cells back up to optimal performance.

During the assessment, students, under direct supervision of an instructor, fully check out a vehicle and prepare a comprehensive report on everything from filters to tires, mechanical, battery, software. If there are issues found, the vehicle owner is notified and may have the option of having a part replaced or repair done for the cost of the parts. 

Participating in this program, by offering your vehicle for inspection, helps train the next generation of automotive professionals. The WTC program is highly rated and includes many certifications that go above and beyond the standard requirements.

This summer, inspections will start around July 22. Those chosen will drop off their vehicle in the morning at Western's state-of-the-art Automotive Facility, located in La Crosse's industrial park, 2721 Larson Street, and pick it up later in the afternoon. The MTU bus #8 picks up hourly, a couple of blocks away, at Larson & Cunningham.

To participate, please complete the Automotive Repair Request Form or call or email Adam Remke at 6087859249 or remkea@westerntc.edu

Drive Electric Earth Month!

 Event CANCELLED due to predicted storms

The Earth Fair organizers have cancelled outdoor and tented events due to predictions of heavy rain, wind, and lightning. We will try to reschedule the AMAEV event.

Please consider joining us at Myrick Park on Sunday, April 28 for the DEEM (Drive Electric Earth Month) event, Ask Me About My EV, which will occur during the La Crosse Earth Fair. The fair runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. though if you must arrive later or leave earlier, that's fine. The EVs will again be in the lower parking lot, near the marsh trailhead and the Nature Place building. Visit this page and click on PARTICIPATE: https://driveelectricearthmonth.org/event?eventid=4138  You do not have to stay with your vehicle during the whole event, so if you were planning to come anyway, please consider signing up to join us. If you also have and can bring and electric bike, please do (but NOT required!) And, you don't need to have a new EV - we are looking for a range of ranges, ages, and price points. All experiences and stories welcome!

There is also an event in Viroqua this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. You can learn more and register here: https://driveelectricearthmonth.org/event?eventid=4308

On Saturday, June 22, the Wisconsin Chapter of the Electric Vehicle Association will be at the 33rd Annual Energy Fair in Custer, Wisconsin near Stevens Point. We will also have our summer meeting during this time. If you are interested in more information about WI-EVA, please email me.

WI-EVA is hosting a first-ever EV Road Trip Around Wisconsin in August. It's not a race, but a trip to demonstrate that longer distance travel is possible in Wisconsin, stop and talk about EVs in various cities around the state, and gather EV owners for networking and conversation. There will be a check point in the La Crosse area. Learn more, including how you can help sponsor or participate in the event, here: https://www.wisconsinevroadtrip.org/

Ask Me About My EV Sunday

 

See you Sunday!

Join us at the City Hall lot for a show and tell about electric bikes and cars.

Get answers to your questions about range, maintenance costs, home charging, traveling, shopping for an EV, using an ebike, and more!

We'll have info about current models and incentives, plus some swag!

EBikes are the most efficient mode of transportation we know of. Switching from a gas-powered car to an ebike can save you money, make you healthier,  and drastically reduce your household carbon emissions. A e-cars are cheaper to own and operate and can be fueled by the sun, further reducing transportation emissions. 

NDEW season

Tthere will be a National Drive Electric Week event in La Crosse on Sunday, October 1 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the City Hall parking lot on La Crosse Street near Fourth Street. There is no Packers game that day AND Oktoberfest at the Fest grounds nearby ends the dáy before! If you are available, please sign up at https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=4066  If you know others with EVs who might be interested in showing their cars, please forward this.

The Wisconsin state legislature increased, the annual EV penalty to $175, so the annual registration fee will be $260 ($85+$175). Plus, now EV license plates have to have a sticker identifying the vehicle as an EV.

Next Saturday, September 16, ReCharge MN will host an EV Test Drive and Expo at Winona State University from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They would love to have more EVs there. The event page and sign up info is here: https://www.recharge-minnesota.org/winona-ev-expo-2023/

There is an NDEW event in Prairie du Chien on Saturday, September 30. If you are interested, sign up here: https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=3797

The City of La Crosse is planning a Climate Action Plan ACTION Kick-off event on Tuesday, September 26 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the La Crosse Center. More details will be available soon.

On October 11, Wisconsin Clean Cities is hosting a Transportation and Innovation Expo aimed at fleet managers. “Join co-hosts Alliant Energy, Madison Gas and Electric, the City of Madison, and Wisconsin Clean Cities for a sustainable transportation conference and expo featuring the top leaders in the industry where you’ll discover the latest in transportation technologies.” Learn more at https://wicleancities.org/event/oct-11-2023-transportation-innovation-expo/.

There is an Electric Vehicle Association Wisconsin chapter. If you are interested in joining, there are a few member perks. Learn more at https://www.myeva.org/wisconsineva

Upcoming events & let's talk about chargers

First, if you haven't been to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association Energy Fair before, this is a great year to attend. The EVA - Wisconsin Chapter will be there tabling and talking about EVs and, if you volunteer, you may be able to get in for free. If you can help out, contact Jeremiah at wisceva@gmail.com.

Second, chargers. How many have had issues at road trip charging stations? We're pretty luck in the La Crosse Area to have access to a variety of Level 2 and DC Fast Charging stations, some powered by the sun, like those at the WTC Apprenticeship Center on 21st Place or behind LAX Print on Rose and Monitor, and some free like the Pine Street Ramp charger or the chargers at Hy-Vee, but on a trip it can be a whole different matter.

Last year, on a trip to Tomah, I accidentally had a bad  encounter with a Zefnet fast charger. It took me nearly half an hour, including phone calls to customer (non)support, to make the connection--it kept faulting--and then the cost to charge (previously, this charger had been free) was exorbitant. I should have checked Plug Share first. The change in fee was noted there, with a recommendation to use the other, nearby, bank of chargers.

Chargers not working and myriad apps and fee structures is not helping the switch to EVs. While batteries and ranges are improving, you still do need to charge sometime. If you're travelling in rural Wisconsin, you have to wonder if the one charger on the map you need for a boost to get to your destination (La Crosse to Appleton, for example) will be working when you get there.

A recent article in Governing magazine highlights the problem of unreliable chargers.

"Two years ago, 14.5 percent of EV drivers said they were unable to charge at a public station. Now it’s 21.4 percent. For the nation to meet its climate goals, a reliable EV charging station network is vital."

See you at the Earth Fair!

 

Join us on Sunday, April 30 at the La Crosse Earth Fair at Myrick Park. Our EV event will be located in the LOWER level parking lot near the small shelter and the trailhead.

If you haven't registered yet, please do so at our DEED page: https://driveelectricearthday.org/event?eventid=3615

For more information about EVs - shopping, how they work, why they're the best, how to charge, planning a trip, and more, please visit https://tinyurl.com/AMAEV-LaCrosse

 

See you in Trempealeau

Today! Join us for a great renewable energy event in beautiful Trempealeau! Learn about solar and EVs! 

Two great events in April!

Soon it will be Earth MONTH and Drive Electric Earth Day events will give us a chance to show off our cars and help educate our neighbors about how great, clean, fast, and fun they are!

Please consider signing up for one or both of these great events:

On April 15, the Trempealeau Public Library will unveil its new solar panel array and host an EV display. The program, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will include information about the RENEW Wisconsin Solar for Good grant program. Trempealeau is a beautiful little town on the Mississippi River and this would be a great start or middle or end to a spring river road drive. If you can attend, sign up here: https://driveelectricearthday.org/event?eventid=3631

On April 30, the third annual Ask Me About My EV La Crosse event will be held at the lower parking lot of Myrick Park during the La Crosse Earth Fair! This event draws HUNDREDS of community members, and it's a great way to spread the good word about EVs. If you can come for an hour or two or three OR for the whole day (there's plenty of stuff to do at the fair), please sign up here: tinyurl.com/AMAEVLaX-043023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Join us!

[Thank you Park Hunter and La Crosse Interfaith Leaders for hosting this event about EVs and the climate crisis on Wednesday, April 20 at noon at the English Lutheran Church, 16th and King Streets in La Crosse!]

This event will be IN-PERSON ONLY!

Three local electric vehicle owners will talk about why electric vehicles (EVs) are better for family budgets, for cities, and for the planet. From e-bikes to e-trucks, buses, and delivery vehicles, EVs can help us cut our carbon emissions and reduce our dependence on the environmentally harmful fossil fuel industry. We'll explode some myths (you do NOT have to be rich to own an EV!), talk about current and coming EV options, and answer your questions. Several EVs will be on display after the program.

Jeff Springer is the Manager of Innovation and Efficient Electrification at Dairyland Power Cooperative. Jeff has presented programs around the region on electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and energy efficiency. He owns a 2021 Ford Mustang MachE.

Cathy Van Maren is on the boards of the Coulee Region Sierra Club, the Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance, and La Crosse Area Transit Advocates. She is also a member of the City of La Crosse Climate Action Planning Team. Cathy bought a used 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf in 2019 and will never go back.

Randi Pueschner is the owner of Smith’s Bike Shop and President of ORA Trails in La Crosse. She is an avid advocate of pedestrian infrastructure and providing the general public access to outdoor recreation. She is especially excited about ebikes and how they level the playing field by bringing people of all abilities together for commuting, exercising, rehabbing, and recreation.

Ask Me About My EV at the Earth Fair!

La Crosse area EV owners will participate in the national Drive Electric Earth Day (DEED) program with an ASK ME ABOUT MY EV display at this year's Earth Fair on Sunday, April 24 from 11 to 5 at Myrick Park in La Crosse. 

If you are thinking about an EV but need more information, this is the place where you can learn from real EV owners about their experiences with range, charging, driving, and costs. We'll tell you how we chose our EV, where we bought it, and why we LOVE it! Ask your questions and get honest answers from your neighbors.

We hope to have electric cars AND electric bikes at this event. E-bikes are smaller, lighter, less environmentally damaging, cheaper, and, for local trips, often a better way to shop, transport kids, visit friends, and have a great time.

If you are an EV owner and would like to show your vehicle, please sign up to PARTICIPATE at our event page. If you plan to attend, RSVP at our event page for a chance to win a $250 VISA gift card.

Watch for more details here and at the DEED site!