Northern Exposure: FIRST Winter Electric Vehicle Ride & Drive in the U.S. held in Ely, Minnesota

Drive Electric Minnesota and CERTs, in partnership with CURE, hosted the very first wintertime electric vehicle (EV) ride and drive event in Minnesota AND the nation (as far as we can tell) in Ely, Minn. on February 3, 2024.  

The EV ride and drive event was planned to coincide with the Ely Winter Festival with the hopes of drawing folks attending the beloved annual winter event. The idea was to encourage community members to see electric alternatives in every gas-powered vehicle class.

The event featured the area’s newest and fastest charging stations, installed at the Dairy Queen in town. Attendees were able to experience first-hand how safely and reliably EVs perform in the winter, by taking them for a spin around Ely. Additionally, there were many local EV owners (and a few who drove up from the Twin Cities) stationed near their vehicles to answer questions and to share their experiences owning an EV in Greater Minnesota. White Bear Mitsubishi offered a 2024 plug-in hybrid Outlander for me to drive up to the event. I wasn’t mad at that.

We also had a few electric utilities (Minnesota Power and Lake Country Power) available to answer questions about the EV incentives they offer customers that reduce EV ownership costs. They brought along their EVs as well, including a recently purchased Chevy Silverado! The Minnesota Department of Transportation also joined in the fun with a map for attendees to indicate places for EV chargers to be installed.  

The electric vehicles available for test drives included a Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Model X, and Tesla Model Y. The Teslas were provided by Tesla in Rogers and the Ford Mach-E and F-150 Lightning by Lundgren Ford Dealership in Eveleth — selling Fords on the Iron Range since 1929!   
 

The event was a few years in the making. The CERTs and Drive Electric Minnesota teams (mostly Katelyn and I) have been wanting to host a winter event that could help offer an experience to address some of the questions about winter performance. The opportunity came when we connected with an Ely EV owner, Hudson Kingston with CURE, at the first ride and drive hosted by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in June 2023. We started talking and by late fall we had a date, a plan, and hopes for an event that would be a catalyst for curiosity, information, experience, and literally kicking the tires of some EVs.

We were able to host the event in the local Dairy Queen Grill & Chill parking lot where owner Kelly Klun, also an EV owner, recently installed six chargers — two available for all EVs and four for Tesla vehicles (though other vehicles with a Tesla adapter will now be able to use them). “The event went off without a hitch, it was a great way for the community to share its energy and excitement for EVs,” said Klun.   

Kingston was able to provide critical on the ground support communicating with businesses and local EV owners and promoting the event.  

Although we didn’t get the colder temps we were hoping for, we did have over 100 people attend with over 50 test drives, including a few local journalists who wrote about their experiences in the Timberjay, Mesabi Tribune, and Ely Echo. We were happy to provide an opportunity for the Ely community to interact with electric vehicles in the hopes they might consider an EV as their next vehicle purchase. Of course, there is always the hybrid plug-in option with a gas tank back-up for those households that regularly drive more than 100 miles a day.  

Kyle Young, an AmeriCorps Sustainability Project Coordinator serving with Great Plains Institute/CERTs did a lot of the heavy lifting to make this event happen. "Reflecting on my involvement in three electric vehicle ride and drives during my AmeriCorps service, I've learned that the magic of these events lies not only in the sleek vehicles on display but in the people who gather around them. It's in the conversations shared, the stories exchanged, and the relationships formed that we find the true essence of progress. Each ride and drive has been a reminder that by coming together, we can drive meaningful change." 

The Minnesota Department of Commerce opened up the Electric Vehicle (EV) Rebate Program a few days after the event on February 7, and as of the time of publishing this story, still has funds remaining for both the Xcel and Non-Xcel Territory. But act fast if you purchased a new or used electric or plug-in electric vehicle after May 25, 2023! 

We are grateful to co-host CURE, and our sponsors Great River Energy, Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Minnesota Municipal Power Association, Minnesota Power, and BrainStorm Bakery. AND a special thanks to our host, Ely Dairy Queen Grill & Chill!