Big DEED turnout in Dayton

Interest In EVs accelerates in Ohio 

BY TIM BENFORD: PRESIDENT OF DRIVE ELECTRIC DAYTON, PAST VICE-PRESIDENT OF ELECTRIC AUTO ASSOCIATION

With help from a front page article in the Dayton Daily News on April 17, our Drive Electric Earth Day (DEED) auto show on April 24 was a resounding success for our Dayton chapter despite very poor weather conditions. 

The 28 privately-owned and 5 dealership-owned electric vehicles (EVs) were viewed by well over 100 EV enthusIasts in a parking garage at the Austin Landing retail center between Dayton and Cincinnati. The EV curious were clearly excited to sit in the wide range of vehicles and were quick to pose a host of questions to owners and dealers. 

Variety of choice

Attendees enjoyed a close look at a large gathering of Tesla vehicles (S, 3, X, Y). Local dealerships sent two 2021 Volkswagen ID.4’s and a third came in from a private owner. I was lucky enough to drive to the event in  a dealer-loaned Ford 2021 Mustang Mach-E, which I’ll briefly review below. 

General Manager Jeffrey Pizza and EV Specialist Zach Johnson of White Allen Euro Group presented a Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron that were very well-received. Later, Pizza stated that he believes auto industry pundits grossly underestimate general public interest in electric vehicles, and that based on his sales experience, EVs will reach 12 percent of new sales much sooner than analysts forecast. 

Larry DeGuire with the Mustang Mach-E provided by Beau Townsend Ford of Vandalia, Ohio

Perhaps the biggest surprise for the crowd was the late entry of a rare Polestar 2. We also had two private Kia Soul EVs on display and a Nissan LEAF. A unique hydrogen fuel cell-powered Toyota Mirai was presented by the CEO of a local company that builds and sells green hydrogen generation plants to dealer groups. Finally, a local manufacturer brought electric kit vehicles that were driven around the garage to the delight of the attendees.