ARCHIVED PAGE
This page is no longer maintained with updates but remains available for reference purposes.
Drive Electric
Drive Electric Week is coming to the Rockford Region summer 2022. Drive Electric Week will contain multiple, exciting in-person and virtual events, designed to engage the community and provide information on new EV technology. In-person events will have, giveaways, Q&A booths with local government, event partners and more!
DRIVE ELECTRIC WEEK - July 22 to July 29 2022
Full Event Schedule:
Please join us for community gatherings (outdoor and virtual) offering giveaways, live music, and MORE as we promote public awareness of electric vehicles and technology.
City Market
Friday, September 3, 2021 - City Market Booth (3:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.)
Come see us at our City Market booth! Ask Region 1 Planning Council staff about Drive Electric Week, see ComEd’s Safety Town Demonstration with information on sustainable technology, and demo an electric vehicle charger with Carbon Day Automotive.
Drive Electric Machesney Park
Saturday, September 4, 2021 - Machesney Park Crossings Shopping Center (10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.)
Join us in Machesney Park for electric test drives provided by Lou Bachrodt, play in the bounce house, listen to live music, see ComEd’s Safety Town demonstration and learn about sustainable technology, tour RMTD’s hybrid bus, enter to win one of our giveaway prizes, demo an electric vehicle charger, and do fun crafts!
Virtual EV Ride and Drive
Thursday, September 9, 2021 –via Facebook Live (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Go to the Facebook Event HERE.
Watch a live stream of an electric vehicle test drive. This allows viewers to virtually tour an electric vehicle, learn about its components and charging infrastructure while asking questions and receiving answers in real time.
EV’s - Charging Mobility’s Future
Thursday, September 9, 2021 – via Zoom (2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Register for the Zoom Presentation HERE.
Panelists will discuss new programs, technology, development and policy related to electric vehicles and charging infrastructure on a national level. This panel will also have a question and answer session.
Please read the biographies of these very accomplished subject matter experts.
John Truckenbrod is the Founder and CEO of EV Energy Group. As an early pioneer in computer graphics, John helped to define decades of technology and process advancements in the advertising industry. John founded and operated Radar, a Chicago based production and postproduction studio that creates global broadcast commercials and digital content. Credits include super bowl commercials, times square DOOH and experiential content creation, and mobile promotions. Clients included McDonald’s, Samsung, Coca-Cola, Disney to name a few. Solving complex problems for retail brands and then creatively messaging the solution to consumers is John’s expertise. EV Energy Group curates a large portfolio of EV charging hardware, network software, advertising and consumer analytics solutions. Chicago headquartered EV Energy provides clients with turnkey EV charging solutions custom designed to serve municipalities and business.
Dr. Elizabeth A. Kócs is an environment-behavior scientist at the intersection of social, economic, policy, and technological advances in energy, sustainability and urban resilience. At the UIC Energy Initiative, she has a strong focus on energy and technology for transportation, the electrical grid and smart cities. She brings years of expertise in relationship building and partnership engagement to grow the UIC energy and sustainability network, programs and impact, and to cultivate local, regional, national and international initiatives to support collaborative efforts fostering Chicago’s growing energy, mobility, and urban sustainability ecosystems.
Dr. Thomas Wallner is the manager of the Advanced Mobility and Grid Integration Technology Research section in Argonne’s Center for Transportation Research. His team focuses on the experimental evaluation and analysis of advanced vehicle technologies including conventional, electrified and connected and automated vehicles as well as electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Thomas has published more than 100 peer-reviewed technical papers including 30 journal papers and several book chapters. He is an active Fellow Grade member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and has been serving as a session organizer and chair at several national and international conferences. He was elected chair of SAE’s Powertrains, Fuels and Lubricants Activity in 2016 and also serves as an Associate Editor for SAE’s International Journal of Engines.
EV’s in the Rockford Region
Thursday, September 9, 2021 – via Zoom (3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
Register for the Zoom Presentation HERE.
Local public and private sector leaders will discuss future sustainability efforts and initiatives in their jurisdiction, potential incentive programs and long-term goals, along with a question and answer session. Please read the bio's below of our esteemed panelists.
Chairman Joe Chiarelli
Affiliation: Winnebago County
Prior to becoming a Winnebago County Board Chairman, Joseph Chiarelli served the community as a Rockford Alderman in the 14th ward. As chairman, Joe has committed to continually work with the County Board, elected officials and all of the parties involved in issues facing our county.
Ansul Rajgharia
Affiliation: Schneider Electric
Description: Business Development Director at Schneider Electric leading the connected residential products Experience in corporate strategy, M&A, Business Unit P&L, and sales. Bachelors in Engineering from IIT Bombay and MBA from UC Berkeley. Passionate about working on energy problems and consumer-facing technology-based products.
Scott Vogt (VP of Strategy, Energy Policy and Revenue Initiatives)
Affiliation: ComEd
Description: Scott is responsible for evaluating and developing regulatory, legislative and business strategies focused on ensuring the ComEd business model evolves as our customer and stakeholder expectations change while meeting the needs of our investors. In addition to strategy, he is also responsible for Energy Acquisition which conducts wholesale market operation and settlement including energy supplier support, energy and clean energy procurement and contract management.
Mayor Thomas McNamara
Affiliation: City of Rockford
Description: Prior to becoming Mayor, Tom served the community for four years as 3rd Ward Alderman, representing constituents on Rockford’s east and west sides, as well as downtown. As Mayor, Tom has focused on developing and implementing plans to reduce crime, increasing police technology and training, strengthening neighborhoods and schools and encouraging economic development. He has worked to reduce the city’s property taxes and has appointed members to commissions and board who are fiscally responsible and share a likeminded responsibility to use taxpayer funding efficiently and effectively. The City of Rockford is collaborating with other regional leaders to prepare Rockford for sustainable transportation technology, such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure. In 2019, the City of Rockford received a Gold designation from the National SolSmart program, which
Eric Brown, Education & Advocacy Coordinate
Affiliation: RAMP
Description: Eric Brown is a Advocates for the implementation of current laws, promotion of needed legislation and improvement of existing systems for individuals with disabilities while working to diminish negative attitudes that threaten to impede equal access.
Drive Electric Rockford
Saturday, September 11, 2021 – Rockford Public Library: East Branch (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.)
Come to the Rockford Public Library East Branch where you can test drive electric vehicles and scooters provided by Lou Bachrodt, Tesla, and Bird. Listen to live music, get FREE cold treats, tour new RMTD’s hybrid bus, enter to win one of our giveaway prizes, see ComEd’s Safety Town demonstration and learn about sustainable technology, demo an electric vehicle charger, and do fun crafts!
Drive Electric Belvidere
Sunday, September 12, 2021 – Boone County Museum of History (3:00 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
Visit us in Belvidere at the Boone County Museum of History parking lot to view model electric vehicles provided by Lou Bachrodt, see ComEd’s Safety Town demonstration and learn about sustainable technology, demo an electric vehicle charger, learn about RMTD’s hybrid bus technology, meet and greet the Snow Queen and Tower Princess, do fun crafts, enter to win one of our giveaway prizes, and check out the bounce house, live music, and food trucks from Buchanan Street Strolls, along with the CASA Car Show!
