National Drive Electric Week, the annual event devoted to advocating plug-in electric cars, will be sponsored by Nissan for the next three years, organizers announced today.

The Nissan Leaf is by far the highest-production electric car in history, now closing in on 200,000 global sales since the first one was delivered in December 2010.

Nissan had already been the exclusive automotive sponsor for the 2013 and 2014 events.

DON'T MISS: National Drive Electric Week: 150 Cities, 90,000 People, Electric Cars All Over (Sep 2014)

The carmaker will continue in that role for the next three events.

Drive Electric Week started in 29 U.S. cities five years ago; it has now spread to more than 150 locations not only in North America but around the world.

National Drive Electric Week 2014: Eyeing a Tesla in Ottawa. Photo by Ottawa Centre EcoDistrict.

National Drive Electric Week 2014: Eyeing a Tesla in Ottawa. Photo by Ottawa Centre EcoDistrict.

It is, organizers say, the largest annual organized gathering of plug-in vehicle drivers anywhere.

It encompasses test drives, educational presentations, and one-on-one chats with owners and drivers of electric cars.

ALSO SEE: First National Plug-In Day: Roundup Report Of Electric-Car Events (Oct 2011)

It's based on the idea that novices have to drive and ride in quiet, clean, zero-emission electric cars to "get" their appeal.

Organized jointly by Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association, events are staged at each location by local and regional groups.

National Drive Electric Week 2014: Boston. Photo by John C. Briggs.

National Drive Electric Week 2014: Boston. Photo by John C. Briggs.

They usually feature displays and drive opportunities in all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars from most or every automaker in the market.

Tom Saxton, Plug In America’s Program Manager for National Drive Electric Week, called Nissan "a driving force in the plug-in vehicle industry."

MORE: New Guinness World Record: 507 Electric Cars In One Place

Its sponsorship, he said, would help the group in its efforts to boost adoption of plug-in vehicles of all kinds throughout the U.S.

National Drive Electric Week will take place Sept. 12 through 20. To organize or attend an event, visit https://driveelectricweek.org/events.php.

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