Volunteer Profile: Amanda Toughill
If you’ve ever seen someone light up while talking about EVs, that might be Amanda Toughill. One of our dedicated volunteers, Amanda truly enjoys interacting with others, especially when it comes to sharing her experience and knowledge about EVs.
Amanda, who works in the FinTech industry and is an avid Lego builder, lives in Waddell, Arizona. While she’s called Arizona home for more than 20 years, her story spans a few places along the way: Birmingham, Chattanooga, and St. Louis. That mix shows up in how she connects with people—warm, direct, and easy to talk to.
Amanda and her husband Scott—both EV owners—first found DRIVE Electric Arizona and the Valley of the Sun Electric Vehicle Association the way a lot of great things happen: they wanted to make new friends, searched for an EV community, spotted the group on MeetUp, and decided to show up. That first step turned into a regular commitment to helping other Arizonans feel comfortable exploring EVs in a friendly, no-pressure setting.
Amanda is a hands-on volunteer who helps with event setup and logistics for our Ride & Drives, showcases her EV, and spends time with attendees. She loves community outreach and genuinely enjoys every event. She says each one gets better than the last.
“The more people understand EVs, the less intimidating they seem, and the more likely people are to embrace this new technology,” shares Amanda about why volunteering is important to her. “I also volunteer because educating the public about EVs helps improve both EV production and infrastructure.”
Today, Amanda drives a BMW i4, a car that matches her style: innovative, quick, and high-performing/high-tech. But her EV journey started with something much more relatable—she bought her first electric car, a Nissan LEAF, for one reason nearly everyone understands immediately: she wanted to stop paying for gas. The savings were real, and the switch stuck.
Amanda Toughill and her BMW i4:
EV driving is like “driving a video game. You are always trying to get better regen.”
“Most people are shocked at how little our electric bill increased when we added two EVs to our house,” she says. In addition to being more economical, Amanda believes that EVs are easier and more practical than most people think. “Charging is simple, maintenance is minimal, and they offer a smooth, quiet, and fun driving experience.”
Ask Amanda what she loves most about driving electric and she doesn’t hesitate: “I love the instant torque and how it lets me jump ahead in traffic. I love the way my car looks and how smooth and sleek it feels on the road. It’s also great not having to stop at the gas station a couple of times every week—and I definitely don’t miss seeing my mechanic all the time.”
She’s also one of our best EV translators—the kind of volunteer who can turn a confusing question into a clear, confidence-building answer. One of the biggest misconceptions she helps people move past is the idea that every charging stop takes hours. Amanda explains the reality: most charging happens at home, and on road trips fast chargers add plenty of range in 15–30 minutes—not hours.
When asked what she wished every Arizonan understood about EVs, Amanda doesn’t miss a beat. “I wish that they understood that EVs are practical, reliable, and well-suited for daily life, even in Arizona’s heat. Many people assume charging is complicated or that EVs can’t handle long drives, but with today’s technology and expanding infrastructure, they’re easier and more convenient than most realize.”
Her advice for those who are EV curious? “The best way to understand them is to take a test drive, rent an EV for the weekend, and watch reviews on YouTube – once you experience it firsthand, it’s easy to see how an EV can fit into your daily life.”
For Amanda, volunteering has been a win in every direction: it’s strengthened her confidence, deepened her EV knowledge, and, most importantly, given her the rewarding experience of helping others feel ready to embrace sustainable technology.