Recognizing National Drive Electric Week 2017 in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, National Drive Electric Week, September 9-17, 2017, is a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today's widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more; and

WHEREAS, Started in 2011, as National Plug In Day, the event began as a simple idea to hold simultaneous events across the country on the same day to emphasize driving electric and has expanded to an entire week of events to heighten awareness of today’s widespread availability of plug-in vehicles; and

WHEREAS, National Drive Electric Week 2017 is sponsored by a variety of organizations, including

Plug In America

,

Sierra Club

, and the

Electric Auto Association

; and

WHEREAS, In 2014-15, U.S. electric vehicles (“EV”) sales declined by 5% but at the end of 2016, U.S. EV sales increased by 37%. By the end of 2016, there were about 30 different EV offerings, with a total sale of 159,139 vehicles across the United States. Five different models sold at least 10,000 units in 2016: Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf, and Ford Fusion Energi; and

WHEREAS, Electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles are less expensive, are better for the environment, promote local jobs, and reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oils. EVs also use far less energy than gasoline-powered cars, generally cost about a third as much as a gas-powered car to run, and often have lower maintenance costs; and

WHEREAS, Since 2014, global EV sales have more than doubled. Forbes Magazine estimates that 2016 concluded with a 41% global increase in sales to reach 777,497 vehicles. In addition, the International Energy Agency’s

Global EV Outlook

reported that the number of electric cars on the roads around the world rose to 2 million in 2016; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, the United States was the leading country of electric vehicle sales and was estimated to have sold 291, 332 electric vehicles; and

WHEREAS, The attendance of National Drive Electric Week has more than doubled in prior years with over 90,000 people going to events in the United States, Canada, and Europe; and

WHEREAS, To raise awareness of EV benefits among youth, National Drive Electric Week has launched an initiative to involve high schools and colleges nationwide. Each local event partners with a school or college near that event. That Ambassador School invites its faculty, staff, students and parents to the event and hosts an EV lecture. In turn, the local event adds the Ambassador School's name to its press releases; and

WHEREAS, National Drive Electric Week 2017 encourages big cities and small towns to become leaders of EV adoption and promote a healthier and greener tomorrow; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby recognize National Drive Electric Week 2017 in the City of Philadelphia.

End