Cruising: Ride and Drive Event

An uncharacteristically drizzly Tuesday morning in San Diego did not dampen the enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs) in Azalea Park, a leafy pocket park in a neighborhood of the same name in the City Heights section of San Diego. Dozens of prospective EV owners waited under canopies for their turn to drive one of eight EVs that SDG&E had arranged for test runs.

The chatter among the eager drivers featured solar panels, getting rid of Teslas, and random green tech. But there were also a number of people there who clearly were new to the whole EV scene, which is what the “Ride and Drive” event is all about. SDG&E contracts with a San Diego–based promoter of electric vehicles, EV Options, to conduct the events, which usually happen in the spring and fall. Actual EV owners help educate drivers about the advantages. There’s no sales pitches allowed, but, “EV owners love to talk about their cars,” says EV Options’ Strategic Planning Manager Morgan Schrieber.

This was true. EV owners receive a small stipend for letting strangers drive their cars around a brief route in the neighborhood, but their passion for EVs seemed a larger part of why they were there. In a Chevy Equinox, my host told me his son nagged him into getting an EV, and now he can’t believe how much money he’s saving on gas. And in a Ford Mustang Mach-E, the owner put the car in “unbridle” mode and invited me to punch the accelerator — I’ve never felt a car jump forward so quickly. He’s owned seven different EVs and was quite honest about the pros and cons, but he loves the sporty Mach-E GT with an obvious fervor. In case you think EVs are limited to small cars, there were also larger vehicles to drive: a Chevy Blazer, a Ford F-150 Lightning, a Rivian R1T, a Chevy Silverado, and a Ford E-Transit van.

The remarkable thing about these cars is how unremarkable they are. Unlike the futuristic Aptera, these vehicles wouldn’t warrant a second glance driving around town. Really the only difference in driving these EVs versus a gas car is the “one-pedal” driving — when you lighten pressure on the accelerator, the car begins to brake (not coast like gas cars). It only takes a minute to get used to it, and I’m told it becomes second-nature within a few days. While there is a brake pedal for quick stops, my Mach-E host said he rarely uses it. 

The event featured free pastries and hot drinks from a food truck, as well as information on chargers and EV rebates. Before the test drives, SDG&E donated four electric trucks to San Diego Canyonlands, a nonprofit that works to care for San Diego’s open spaces. The utility has also given eight EVs to the Neighborhood House Association, a provider of dozens of wellness and education programs to San Diegans in need. 

SDG&E announces EV events to customers through email, so watch your inbox for upcoming Ride and Drives.