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| Powering Arizona’s EV Future Through Community, Education, Advocacy & EVents |
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| | AUGUST 2025 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 8 |
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| | | EV SPOTLIGHT: The Spirit of Arizona |
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| Spirit of Arizona EV: Driving a Cleaner, Stronger Future by DRIVE Electric Arizona |
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| This summer, DRIVE Electric Arizona unveiled two powerful new initiatives designed to accelerate the state’s clean energy transition and bring communities together around the promise of electric vehicles (EVs): Spirit of Arizona and Cheaper, Faster, Better. Our Spirit of Arizona Rivian R1T is more than a truck — it’s a rolling ambassador for electric vehicles and clean energy, and the cultural heritage of sustainability and resilience that has long guided Arizona’s Indigenous peoples. Wrapped in vibrant native iconography and symbols of strength, resilience, and transformation, the Spirit of Arizona is designed to spark conversations everywhere it goes. |
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| The Spirit of Arizona EV
Each symbol guides our mission:
The eagle, a call to rise with clarity and leadership. The saguaro, a teacher of resilience and balance. The horse, a symbol of freedom and mobility. The butterfly, a sign of transformation. The rattlesnake, a guardian of balance and responsibility. The turtle and the corn, represents endurance and natures gifts. The sun, the source of clean energy that powers our future.
Together, these symbols connect cultural traditions with today’s urgent mission: to drive Arizona toward cleaner air, stronger communities, and a more just future. |
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| Photo credit: Peter Culin |
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| Cheaper, Faster, Better (website section under development)
Alongside the Spirit of Arizona, DRIVE Electric Arizona has launched Cheaper, Faster, Better — a new online hub designed to make the case for EVs as the smarter choice for Arizona families and communities.
On this site, you’ll discover why EVs are: Cheaper to own and operate, with lower fueling and maintenance costs. Faster on the road, with instant acceleration, better handling and more. Better for you, better for Arizona.
The hub features easy-to-understand articles, graphics, and tools that explain how EVs save money, boost performance, and create healthier communities. For Arizona’s diverse cultures and languages, Cheaper, Faster, Better will also connect to the Spirit of Arizona project, ensuring everyone can see themselves in the electric future.
Five QR Codes on the Spirit of Arizona EV wrap point to sections on our website: QR CODE 1 (below the A-Pillars) –> Spirit of Arizona Landing Page QR CODE 2 (adjacent to Cleaner, Faster, Better) –> Landing page QR CODE 3 (on truck bed) –> Solar + EV Section QR CODE 4 (below saguaro) –> Native Nations Section QR CODE 5 (adjacent to Spanish statement) –> Spanish Language Landing Page |
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| Photo credit: Greg Bernstein • Worldwide Drone Solutions |
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| | | Each month, Valley of the Sun Electric Vehicle Association brings EV owners and enthusiasts together for our Monthly Rallies — fun, social gatherings that celebrate the electric lifestyle and strengthen our community. We meet up all over the Phoenix Metro area at sponsor businesses, charging stations, and local restaurants. Every rally has its own flavor — from casual meetups to special events like September’s Ice Cream Social. Sometimes we take it further with a group drive to destinations such as a lakeside marina for lunch, historic Jerome, or even the summit of Mt. Lemmon in Tucson, where we meetup with other Arizona EV chapters. Our rallies are a great opportunity to: Connect with fellow EV owners and advocates Showcase your car and share your EV story Enjoy local food, scenic drives, and unique destinations Invite friends and family to experience the EV community firsthand
Most importantly, these events are social, welcoming, and open to everyone — whether you already drive electric or are just curious to learn more. Check out our events calendar and join us at our next rally. Let’s drive together toward a cleaner, stronger Arizona! |
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| Check out our website’s EVENT CALENDAR and RSVP to get involved!
September 13, 2025 | September Rally: Ice Cream Edition, Goodyear
September 20, 2025 | Mesa EV Ride & Drive, Mesa (new date!)
October 4, 2025 | Phoenix EV Ride & Drive, Phoenix (Attend! Volunteer! Exhibit!)
December 13, 2025 | Sedona EV Ride & Drive, Sedona
January 24, 2026 | Cave Creek EV Ride & Drive, Cave Creek
May 1-3, 2026 | Route 66 Fun Run, Kingman (details coming soon!) |
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| Win a Ford Mustang e-Bike! |
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| Cruise in style. Cut your carbon footprint. Support clean transportation in Arizona. DRIVE Electric Arizona is thrilled to announce our Ford Mustang e-Bike Raffle, thanks to the generous donation from our partner, San Tan Ford. This sleek, high-performance electric bike will be on display at all of our upcoming Ride & Drive events leading up to the drawing on November 8, 2025 at the Local First Festival in Phoenix. Why You’ll Love the Ford Mustang e-Bike 🚀 Pedal Assist up to 28 mph — powerful, fast, and fun 🔋 60-mile range — perfect for commuting, errands, or weekend rides 🌱 Zero emissions — sustainable transportation that looks and feels amazing 💲 $4,390 value — yours for the price of a raffle ticket!
How to Enter 🎟 Purchase your raffle tickets today at www.driveelectricaz.org. 📅 Raffle Period: August 17 – November 8, 2025 📍 Drawing: November 8, 2025, 3:00 PM at the Local First Festival, Margaret T. Hance Park (DRIVE Electric Arizona booth). ✅ Eligibility: Must be 18 or older and an Arizona resident to enter. Want to see it in person? Come by any DRIVE Electric Arizona Ride & Drive event — the Mustang e-Bike will be on display, and our team will be there to answer your questions before you enter. Bonus Entry! Register for a TEST RIDE at Ford-Bikes.com and you’ll be automatically entered to win a Ford Bronco Bend! Important Raffle Details Ticket valid only with verified payment No cash value; not tax-deductible Winner responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes Employees, officers, and immediate family members of DRIVE Electric Arizona are ineligible Winner need not be present to win
Don’t miss your chance to own this cutting-edge Ford Mustang e-Bike — while supporting DRIVE Electric Arizona’s mission to accelerate clean, sustainable transportation in our state. 👉 Purchase Your Tickets Now |
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| | DRIVE ELECTRIC ARIZONA CHAPTER UPDATES |
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| | August Rally & Tucson Chapter Launch! |
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| | In Tucson, another dozen local EVs joined the rally, bringing our lineup to nearly 30 electric vehicles strong for the epic climb up Mt. Lemmon. By the time we reached the top, about 50 people from across Arizona – the Valley and Tucson alike – had come together to share in the drive, the views, and the excitement.
We wrapped up with a delicious lunch at Sawmill Run Restaurant, where we officially launched DRIVE Electric Tucson, celebrated our growing statewide community, and shared a special announcement:
“I’m thrilled to lead DRIVE Electric Tucson as we build momentum for EV adoption here in Southern Arizona,” said Rob Bowers, Tucson Chapter Chair. “This launch is just the beginning. I look forward to creating opportunities for our community to connect, learn, and experience the future of electric transporation together.”
Stay tuned as we’ll soon be organizing and launching regular meetups in the Tucson area, with a Ride and Drive event coming this November in partnership with Tucson Electric Power. This event showcased the power of community, the thrill of electric driving, and the momentum we’re building together across the state. WELCOME DRIVE ELECTRIC TUCSON! • • • Thanks to the generosity of San Tan Ford, DRIVE Electric Arizona is raffling off a Ford Mustang e-Bike! (Get your tickets now: click here)
Read more… |
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| Photo credits: CJ Schmid, Adam Draper, Janet Digby, Nathan Culin, Peter Culin |
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| ABOUT DRIVE ELECTRIC ARIZONA
DRIVE Electric Arizona is Arizona's statewide "Drive Electric" program developed as an Arizona non-profit corporation under the DRIVE Electric USA Initiative. With grant funding from the Department of Energy, and in partnership with 27 states across the country, DRIVE Electric Arizona's mission is to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. Currently, DRIVE Electric Arizona’s three chapters are Valley of the Sun, Tribal Nations (formerly Three Rivers Tribes), and Route 66 Kingman.
Launched in January 2024, the all-volunteer organization and its partners educate consumers, utilities, utility regulators, and government officials. DRIVE Electric Arizona engages auto dealers and fleet leaders, in addition to assisting with EV infrastructure planning.
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| | | CALL TO ACTION!
Support DRIVE Electric Arizona
As we work to grow Arizona's EV community, there are many easy ways to support DRIVE Electric Arizona: • please share this newsletter • engage on our social media sites • participate in EVents • make a donation |
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| | | | FORCE FOR GOOD Arizona Impact for Good is a membership organization devoted to uniting nonprofits and philanthropy across the state. DRIVE Electric Arizona is working with AZ Impact for Good to strenghen our all-volunteer efforts to advance our mission to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles throughout Arizona. |
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| | | | | Help us sustain our momentum by tagging us in your posts
and using the following hashtags! |
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| #DriveElectricAZ #VOTSEVA
#indigenousEVowners
#Route66EV
#driveelectric |
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| #electricvehicle
#eva
#deaz
#electrified #zeroemissions |
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Charge On!
John S Martinson and Peter Culin
Co-Founders
DRIVE Electric Arizona and
Valley of the Sun Electric Vehicle Association |
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