Drive Electric Earth Month

Drive Electric Earth Month
Educational EV Showcase
Trotwood, OH
Apr 22, 2022

Day: Friday, April 22, 2022 NOTE: this event has already happened, find current-year events on the Attend page.
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 am EDT
Location: Trotwood-Madison High School
4440 N Union Rd
Trotwood, OH 45426
Contact the event organizers, which took place in 2022.

Event Report

Earth Day and Trotwood-Madison High School on April 22, was an exciting and emotional event. Our celebration was sponsored by Plug In America, Electric Vehicle Association, Sierra Club, EVHybridNoire, Wells Fargo, and Normal Now (sponsored by Electrify America).

Drive Electric Dayton delivered a 45 minute presentation to 150 students of Trotwood-Madison High School. Our main presenter was Tim Benford, President of Drive Electric Dayton. 

The event was organized by Rap Hankins, EV Equity Advisor, Drive Electric Dayton. Erynn Hayes, Agriscience and Science Teacher, Testing Coordinator organized the event inside the High School.

“The Dirty Truth About Combustion Engine Vehicles” video was presented after Tim Benford’s highly educational slide show on the importance of EV’s and their role in saving the planet.

The students were treated to chauffeured rides on the school’s campus where they rode in: Teslas, VW ID4, Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, and a Polestar. Students were given gourmet popsicles (from Sweet P’s Handcrafted Ice Pops, a local African-American owned business in Dayton, Ohio). 

We presented the school district with books, The Electric Car in America, 1890-1922, Kerry Segrave, and Speed and Scale, John Doerr, to be used by teachers in the High School to expand their curriculum and to be placed in the school’s library.

The reason I chose Trotwood-Madison High School is because the City of Trotwood is a disadvantaged and underserved community of 24,000 people that has fewer than three EV chargers within its 30 square miles. It was important that Earth Day be used as a teaching tool to educate the students on the benefits of EV’s as well to explain that the coming socialization of EV’s and the burgeoning green economy is an opportunity for students to participate in jobs of the future including: automotive design and development, manufacturing, infrastructure development, EV maintenance, scientific research, and sales and support. 

During the presentation, students were introduced to African American role models: Crystal Windham, interior designer of Cadillac’s first fully electric EV, the Lyriq; Richard Patterson, former Tesla Model S designer and first Black manufacturer and designer of a Supercar; and Rap Hankins of Trotwood, Ohio, Electric Vehicle Champion of the Year, 2021.

One of many touching moments was when I asked a student what did she know about EV’s. Her response was telling.

“I know Tesla makes cars and I know my parents will never be able to afford one.”

Events like the one we held at Trotwood-Madison are essential if we are to build racial and economic equity and begin the process of making EV’s affordable, accessible and reliable to ALL.

We all had a great time and Drive Electric Dayton has been asked to return for a second annual Earth Day event (scheduled for April 21, 2023) at Trotwood-Madison High School. We are also planning EV Me Out to the Ballgame where we will show up to 40 EV’s before a Dayton Dragons game on June 25th. The students of Trotwood-Madison High School have been invited to share the event with us. 


Rap Hankins

EV Equity Advisor, Drive Electric Dayton

EV’s FOR ALL


 


photo by: Jan Hankins
Students of Trotwood-Madison High School enjoying Ice Pops, provided by Sweet P's Handcrafted Ice Pops, a Black-owned business in Dayton, Ohio. EV's present: Tesla, Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf, and Polestar.

More photos from this event.

Event Description

 

Bringing the youth of the 21st century in full view of the electric vehicle surge and the potential impact these high school students can/will have upon the growth, longevity, and successes for electrification and sustainability projects/programs. Look-see, sit in, check out the EV's being presented is encouraged by students and staff. 

Links to future local educational programs will be encouraged. Slide presentation introducing EV's, Ohio's stand among the nation in reaching a green environment, addressing and encouraging necessary steps to include underserved communities by emphasizing equity for all, with accessible, affordable and reliable EV's. Showing level 2 charging station and need for inclusion of charging infrastructure sites in underserved communities.

Registered Attendees

There are currently 10 attendees registered.

Owners of These Vehicles Have Registered To Attend

Vehicle Registered
Polestar 2 1
Tesla Model 3 1
Tesla Model S 1
Volkswagen ID.4 1
4 Models 4

Registered attendees report 201,175 electric miles driven.

Presented By

Plugin America logo
Electric Vehicle Association logo
Sierra Club logo
EVHybridNoire logo
Drive Electric USA logo

Gold Level Sponsor

Silver Level Sponsor

Bronze Level Sponsor

All DEEM 2025 sponsors support Plug In America's coordination of Drive Electric Earth Month.

Back to top