The North Bay's First Electric Vehicle Rally

Even though Earth Day is on April 22 celebrations last through the weekend. On April 26 you may see a rally and parade by your house but chances are you won’t hear anything or smell the exhaust. Cool the Earth, an organization that teaches kids and families how to reduce their carbon footprint, is teaming up with the Golden Gate Electric Vehicle Association for Shift to Electric 2014, the first-ever Electric Vehicle (EV) rally in the North Bay. The route for this electric vehicle parade starts off at the new Target store in San Rafael, heads to Greenbrae and then Sonoma, finally ending in Yountville at Bardessono, California’s first and only LEED platinum certified resort.

Pre-registration is required to drive an EV in the rally. The public is welcome at each of the rally stops to view eight makes and models of EVs and to speak with their owners. Schedule of events is as follows, per Cool the Earth:

8:30-9:50 a.m.: Kick off at Target, San Rafael with test drives of the new Nissan LEAF. Coffee served by local, organic coffee and tea company, Weaver’s Coffee.

10-11:30 a.m.: Bon Air Shopping Center in Greenbrae, again with test drives of the new Nissan LEAF and Ford Focus EV, information about green energy alternatives to charge your electric vehicle. Sungevity Solar will be offering free popsicles from their solar powered popsicle truck.

12-2:30 p.m.: Cornerstone Gardens in Sonoma County with more electric vehicle test drives.

3:30-5:00 p.m.: The rally and event will finish at Bardessono, California’s first and only LEED Platinum certified resort in Yountville. Tickets for this finish-line reception can be purchased at shifttoelectricrally.com.

Kids are welcome at the event.

Shift to Electric 2014 is sponsored by the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM).