If you’ve seen the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” then you know that electric vehicles are not a new invention. In fact, they date back just about as far as the gasoline-powered versions that would eventually take hold and enable global mobility.
It stands to reason that EVs – just like gasoline cars – have had a fanboy following nearly as long, complete with enthusiast drives and picnics. At these events, men (not sexist, just realistic) stand around, kick tires, and talk about their cars before going on a cruise.
This is exactly what took place in Washington, D.C. on May 27th 1914.
Calling themselves the Electric Vehicle Association of America, the group of electric car owners gathered, played some games and then embarked upon a 14-mile journey that would take them more than and hour and 15 minutes to complete.
On May 27th 2013, a new generation of EV enthusiasts will gather to commemorate the 99th anniversary of that first event. They’re calling the event the “Electric Sociability Run.” Count on Teslas, Volts, Leafs, Fiskers, maybe even some Detroit Electrics to be on hand. Fancy hats are not required.
The group wagers it’ll be the largest grouping of electric cars in the nation’s capitol since 1914.
We think it’s a cool idea but we won’t be attending for two reasons.
- We’re in Portland, Oregon.
- It’ll probably be a dreadful bore.
Enthusiast days for any type of motorized event, while seemingly fun on the surface, are in actuality a bit of a nightmare.
Go to any given dinner party or social gathering and locate the least interesting man in the room. Now take 100 or so copies of that same man, put him in a field surrounded by cars – in this case electric cars – and you’ve got yourself an automotive enthusiast gathering.
We want to bolster the image of electric cars just like this group of EV activists. We just think there’s got to be a better way to do it. At least the average speed of this event will likely top 15 mph.
We’ll keep you posted on how the event turned out.
You can watch “Who Killed the Electric Car?” in it’s entirety here for free. Would you drive an EV? Why or why not? Comment below.
