Winter EV ride and drive aims to engage, educate the public

To celebrate the energization of the area’s fastest electric vehicle (EV) charging station, several statewide organizations hosted a public ride and drive event in one of Minnesota’s most iconic northern cities.

The Northern Exposure: Winter EV Ride & Drive in Ely allowed anyone to experience what it’s like to drive an EV as well as learn how they safely and reliably perform in the winter. Local EV owners were on hand to share their personal experiences navigating what it’s like to drive electric in rural Minnesota and how utility programs can reduce ownership costs.

The installation of a fast charger at the Dairy Queen in Ely demonstrates the growing popularity of EVs even in locations such as northern Minnesota. Event organizers noted that in 2023, the northern third of the state more than doubled its total installed public charging stations.

The event, which was hosted by Drive Electric Minnesota and the Clean Energy Resource Teams in partnership with CURE and also supported by utilities including Great River Energy, featured a variety of EV models for attendees to test drive, including: Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightning, Jeep Wrangler/Cherokee, Tesla Model X, and Tesla Model Y.