BRATTLEBORO — The second annual Electric Vehicle Fair, set for Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Marlboro College Graduate School, 28 Vernon St., will showcase a wide range of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, along with electric-assisted bikes, cargo bikes, and electric scooters.
Many of these vehicles will be available for test rides. Electric vehicle owners and local dealers will be on hand to answer questions, and table displays will provide information. At 2:30 pm, local bike enthusiast Dave Cohen will offer a talk on the benefits of electric and cargo bikes.
More than half of all Vermont communities have plug-in electric vehicles (EV) registered. Owners spend the equivalent of $1 per gallon of gas to charge their vehicles, while saving $1,200 or more on annual maintenance costs. EV purchasers are eligible for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits.
Electric vehicle enthusiasts says that EVs accelerate faster than most equivalent gas-powered vehicles, have increased traction for winter driving due to the weight of the batteries, and are quiet, produce zero tailpipe emissions, and can be powered with renewable energy. If all Vermont cars were electric, Vermont residents would save more than $800 million in gasoline costs every year.
Cohen says electric bikes are unparalleled in their energy efficiency and profoundly expand the range, carrying capacity (children and cargo), hill climbing ease, comfort, and the overall utility of biking. Additionally, a cargo bike with an e-assist system can be a replacement for an automobile for many local transportation needs. E-assist batteries are easily charged at home or in the office and can take a rider as far as 60 miles.
The Electric Vehicle Fair is free and open to the public, sponsored by Brattleboro Climate Protection, VBike, the Brattleboro Energy Committee, and the Marlboro College Graduate School.