The California Electric Transportation (CalETC), in conjunction with the Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA), Equality Professional Network (EPN) and CleanTECH San Diego, is hosting a special VIP “Drive Your Values” event for San Diego LGBT business and community leaders to raise awareness about the numerous health and economic benefits of a growing electric vehicle (EV) marketplace.
The event will attract more than 100 LGBT leaders and will be held at the LEED Platinum SDG&E Energy Innovation Center from5:30pm – 8:30pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to test-drive a wide variety of electric vehicles at the event.
CalETC also will present its inaugural Drive Electric Green Megaphone Award for state leadership to Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, who will deliver a keynote address.
A panel of experts on the LGBT marketplace and electric vehicles including Barbra Blake, CEO, GDSBA: Kathleen Connell, Sustainability Chair, EPN; and Shad Balch, Manager, Product & Policy Communications will follow the keynote address.
Lastly, City Council President Todd Garcia will be presented with the Drive Electric Green Megaphone Award for local leadership.
The San Diego Gay Men’s Choir will kick-off the evening with a brief selection of “car-themed” songs.
The purpose of the event is to provide a unique and fun opportunity for leaders from throughout the LGBT community to come together to learn more about the growing EV marketplace. The LGBT community has long supported innovative businesses and technologies and will likely become a key demographic of EV consumers.
The LGBT marketplace nationwide is growing with the total buying power of the adult U.S. LGBT community projected at $790 billion. This event provides an opportunity to directly connect with the vibrant LGBT community in San Diego and throughout the state to “test drive” EV marketing and discuss effective ways to better engage the community about the range of EVs now available.
Some of the electric vehicle automakers already have begun engaging the LGBT community through their marketing and advertising. When GM released an LGBT-themed Detroit area print ad specifically for the Motor City Pride event in 2012, it quickly went viral with more than 15 million views. George Takai even featured it on his Facebook page and the ad also won the GLAAD Amplifier Award that year.
CalETC is a non-profit association promoting economic growth, clean air, fuel diversity and energy independence, and combating climate change through the use of electric transportation. CalETC is committed to the successful introduction and large-scale deployment of all forms of electric transportation including plug-in electric vehicles.
CalETC believes that people are more inclined to purchase an EV if they are better educated about the unique benefits that EVs provide to drivers and would be further motivated to support policies that advance the EV marketplace once they learn about the economic, health and pollution reduction benefits associated with EVs.
