By Kevin Greer
Lakeside Communications Manager
Are you thinking about making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV) or interested in learning more about this type of transportation? Join us from 2-4 p.m. every Tuesday (except July 4) at the Pavilion Circle for the Lakeside Environmental Stewardship Society’s (LESS) Electric Car Display.
LESS displayed a Tesla last summer and it attracted interest from many Lakesiders, so the group decided to showcase more cars for the Sesquicentennial season.
“After last year, we thought we could make this a weekly event,” LESS member Jim Heikes said. “We’re not just bringing in Teslas because there are so many different electric cars now.”
LESS members will display their EVs and will get some assistance from the Bowling Green-Toledo Electric Car Club.
LESS representatives will be at Pavilion Circle to answer questions. However, they’re not trying to be salespeople or persuade anyone to purchase an EV. They will have information booklets that include access to learn more online.
“We’re educating Lakesiders, and we know it’s a slow walk,” LESS member Phil Savage said. “Maybe a person walking along the lakefront hadn’t really thought about an EV, and here are some people who know about them.”
The number of EVs on the road is increasing. The sticker price is something that has kept consumers from going to the dealer to buy an EV or hybrid, but the cost has consistently gone down over the last couple of years. Demand is going up, so that’s making it difficult to find one.
“The problem is that some of the dealers don’t have the cars yet,” Heikes said, “but EVs are the future, so the shortage won’t last much longer.”
Savage said most owners don’t take long trips with their EV, but he drove his to Lakeside from North Carolina without taking long stops to charge his Hyundai Ioniq 5.
“I never charged any longer than 27 minutes,” Savage said. “I chose to charge longer because we were having lunch.”
LESS is an association devoted to improving the environment of Lakeside with recycling, composting, lectures and other programs throughout the summer. Heikes feels Lakeside is a great community to display EVs.
“I think Lakeside is a perfect place to do this,” Heikes said. “I think most Lakesiders want to embrace the environment in a better way and this is the way to do it.”
Savage added, “We’re giving them an opportunity to take a step. We’ve got a book there and they can take a picture or scan a QR code. Lakesiders can take something with them, and they may wait until they get back from vacation to look into that.”
If you have an electric vehicle and would like to display yours as part of this educational program, contact Jim Heikes at 937-470-2441 or Phil Savage at 336-213-0077.
