First all-electric, drive-in movie event in the US

Just before National Drive Electric Week organizers planned to hold what they call the first electric-car-only drive-in movie event in San Francisco next Thursday, Green Car Reports reader Michael Kamm wrote to us wondering if we’d be interested in a story about an all-electric drive-in movie night that happened two weeks before, outside Albany, New York. The dynamic Capital District EV Drivers group, of which Kamm is founder and president, organized a drive-in movie night Aug. 28.

Kamm founded the group in 2013, after he became the first person in the area to lease a Honda Fit EV. The group hosts events about once a month and has held some interesting outings, including fall foliage tours, spring Lilac luncheons at a castle, ice cream socials, summer picnics, holiday-lights electric-car parades through Albany's Washington Park, mid-winter pizza nights around a bonfire, and five National Drive Electric Week events.

Kamm says he has done extensive research looking for any other electric-car drive-in movie event that happened before his and hasn't found any in the U.S. The following is his story, lightly edited for style. If any other readers know of earlier electric-car only drive-in movie events, we—and Kamm—would be delighted to hear about them in the comments.

Capital District EV Drivers drive-in movie night in Greenville, NY [CREDIT: Matthew VanDerlofske]

What movie would a group of electric car drivers get together to see at an exclusive event with a historic drive-in movie theater all to themselves? Really, there was only one choice: Chris Paine’s documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”

Ever since Dwight Grimm and Leigh Van Swall rescued the Greenville Drive-In Outdoor Cinema in Greenville, New York, I had been dreaming about putting together an all electric vehicle night, and finally everything came together last month.

I arranged to leave work early so I could arrive in time to set things up.

Capital District EV Drivers drive-in movie night in Greenville, NY [CREDIT: Michael Kamm]

One of the little details that I felt really strongly about was rearranging the sign out front to reflect our group's event.

Grimm wasn't too keen on that idea at first and I had to talk him into it. I offered to put it all back exactly as it was before I left for the evening.

It was still 90 degrees at 5 p.m., but I climbed the ladder and made it happen. Unbeknownst to the other guests, about halfway through the movie I went back up on the ladder and changed the sign back to the way it was.

Capital District EV Drivers drive-in movie night in Greenville, NY [CREDIT: Scott Edward Anson]

This may sound corny, but I really enjoyed the unusual experience of being up on the narrow wooden walkway of that 1959 sign, changing the letters around. How many people ever get to do that?

Capital District EV Drivers members Darren and Marja drove all the way from Rotterdam, New York with their two sons in their first-generation Nissan Leaf.

When they arrived, they had 47 percent charge left. Darren asked me where the charger was. I said "There is no charger here, Darren." You should have seen the look on his face. He confused the Greenville Drive-In with the Four Brothers Drive-In in Amenia, New York, which does have a Level 2 charger.

Capital District EV Drivers drive-in movie night in Greenville, NY [CREDIT: Michael Kamm]

Fortunately, I was prepared for such a situation. I brought both of my heavy-duty 10 gauge, 20 amp rated extension cords. They added up to 125 feet, which has to be some kind of extension-cord record for Level 1 charging. (No automaker or charging station manufacturer recommends using extension cords to charge, and such a setup does not meet electrical code in most places.) Darren's Leaf charged through the entire movie.

One of the unique features of this drive-in is its beer garden. Actually, it is much more than that. Dwight is a great bartender and can make some truly amazing cocktails, often from locally grown and produced ingredients. The Schoharie Mule I had Dwight made with Storyhouse Vodka from the KyMar Distillery in nearby Charlotteville, New York.

One of the ingredients in their pulled pork sandwiches is "Patent" Root Beer Syrup from Heather Ridge Farm in Preston Hollow, New York. The beer garden gives people the option to sit in lounge chairs and enjoy the movie together without sitting in their cars if they choose. Most of us did. There are loudspeakers that broadcast the sound of the movie. It adds a nice dynamic to the outdoor cinema experience.

Matthew VanDerlofske and Erik Smits even took drone video footage of the event.

Capital District EV Drivers drive-in movie night in Greenville, NY [CREDIT: Michael Kamm]

For some of us, this gathering was an emotional experience, seeing this documentary on the big screen in the company of fellow electric-car drivers.

I'm so proud of this group. We made history by holding the very first all-electric vehicle drive-in movie event in the country. Yes, little ol' us in upstate New York, not some group in California or on the West Coast.

It would have been easier to stay home, but the members who participate are what keeps me motivated to keep creating new and interesting events for all.

—Michael Kamm