North Dakota’s Department of Transportation and Capital Electric Cooperative are hosting an “Electric Vehicle Tailgate Party” Thursday afternoon from 4 pm until 7 pm, on the state Capitol grounds, just west of the DOT building..
The sponsors say the purpose is to raise awareness of EVs.
"The federal government and the state government, along with private sector partners, has been investing in electric vehicle charging stations all over the state," said NDDOT director Bill Panos. "Over the next couple of years, we'll see more electric vehicles and more charging stations than we've ever had in our history."
There are currently 266 electric vehicles registered in North Dakota, and the state has 78 charging stations.
Vehicles range from passenger cars to SUVs, school buses and motorcycles.
"We'll have as many different types of vehicles there as we possibly can, to really show the public what these vehicles are all about, how to charge them, and why they make sense today more than in our history," Panos said.
Panos said electric vehicles are considered as an alternate form of transportation – but they could eventually become the new normal.
Other sponsors of the Tailgate Party include Border States Electric, the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, Basin Electric, Lignite Energy Council, Drive Electric ND, WESCO Distributing, National Information Solutions Cooperative, Puklich Chevrolet and Bismarck Motor Company.