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South Windsor energy committee plans Drive Electric Month event and highlights 801 local plug‑in vehicles
Summary
Committee members discussed staging a Drive Electric Month event to raise EV and residential‑solar awareness, debated venue and partner options (Whole Foods/Evergreen Walk, Burr Corner commuter lot, breweries) and noted local EV charger updates and a town total of 801 registered plug‑in vehicles as of January 2026.
The South Windsor Energy Committee on a July afternoon agreed to pursue a Drive Electric Month event and traded ideas about venues, partners and logistics while reporting local EV data and charger‑site observations.
The chair said the committee should aim for Drive Electric Month next fall or the following April and use QR codes and a promotional package to attract visitors. “We can keep it up to date and maybe even put out there…what manufacturers, the breakdown on the manufacturer types,” the chair said, offering a JPEG chart showing that South Windsor had 801 registered plug‑in vehicles as of January 2026 and about a 16% year‑over‑year increase.
Why it matters: the committee framed the event as outreach to residents and businesses, a chance to showcase charging infrastructure and to partner with local retailers or dealerships to draw attendance.
Members debated venues and visibility, weighing the Town’s community center parking lot against retail locations around Evergreen Walk and the Whole Foods lot, and discussed the Burr Corner commuter lot (state‑controlled) as a large but administratively more difficult option. One committee member urged approaching the management office at Evergreen Walk to request sponsored spaces for vendors and robotics club exhibits.
The group also discussed on‑site logistics: a member reported seeing updated Mercedes‑branded chargers near Shake Shack that now offer both CCS and NACS connectors and carry signage reading “Accessible EV charger, use last.” “Accessible EV charger — use last,” the committee member said, explaining the intended meaning for drivers with disability placards and for other users when chargers are occupied.
On cost and compatibility, a committee member noted a price rise at that location from about $0.40 to $0.44 per kilowatt‑hour but said it remained competitive with other public networks; members also discussed whether non‑Tesla vehicles could use nearby Tesla‑branded stations depending on hardware versions and retrofit availability.
Outreach ideas included inviting dealers to bring new, lower‑priced models, recruiting the robotics club and local mechanics for demonstrations, and broadening the event to include electric lawn equipment and e‑bikes to increase appeal. The chair said the committee could ask the town for a special meeting to finalize dates if needed and would continue researching location approvals and sponsorship possibilities.
Minutes and next steps: the committee approved prior minutes by voice vote during the meeting and closed with a motion to adjourn. The chair said they will email members with updates and follow up on venue permissions and participant sign‑ups ahead of any formal vote to commit to a date.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 054, topfinish SEG 1212.
