SOLAR&EV EXPO
Clean, Renewable Energy & Transport
Sept. 30, 2023, 12-4pm, Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School
Save the date for the 9th Annual Solar&EV Expo - Sept. 30th, 2023!
The 8th Annual Solar&EV Expo was a success! The Ford F-150 Lightning was out continuously on test drives, and a second Ford Lightning demonstrated the battery power available by popping popcorn in a microwave on the tailgate. We hosted workshops on a variety of topics, including Katherine Bessey from the Cooperative Development Institute on Cooperative Community Solar; Fred Garbo from Garbo-Kane Integrated Solar Builders on Residential Solar; and CEBE-led workshops on Moving Beyond Individual Car Ownership, DIY low-tech solar, electrifying everything in your life, and answering questions around batteries, recycling, and lithium. Sixteen locally-owned EVs were present for attendees to test ride and drive, as well as the Lightning from Ripley & Fletcher Ford. Electric tools like lawnmowers and chainsaws were on display, and e-Bikes were available for test rides from Pedego Electric Bikes and Rusty Crank Bike Shop. Shred Electric brought a moonbike, an electric fatbike, and a solar generator for viewing.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Please support those who support us!
2020's Expo was virtual with great success! With over 500 views and counting, we're pleased to continue our work helping western Maine (and beyond) transition to clean, renewable energy and transportation. Check out recordings from our webinars below or on Facebook.
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Chevy Bolt ride along
Come ride along with us, and get virtually behind the steering wheel of a Chevy Bolt.
EV 101 with Travis Ritchie
Travis Ritchie, EV expert and long-time EV driver, guides you through the basics of electric vehicles. Hear up-to-date information about costs and savings, maintenance, advantages and disadvantages, how and why they work, and the environmental impact of making the switch. Hear what it's like to drive an EV in our region.
E-Bike ride along
Experience riding an electric bicycle, or as close as we can get via video.
Solar 101 with Fred Garbo and Don McLean
Join Fred Garbo of Garbo-Kane Integrated Solar Builders and Don McLean, solar homeowner, for an introduction to home-sized solar. Learn about the costs and return on investment, different set-ups available, and the most current technologies.
EV Charging Etiquette and More E-Bikes!
Learn the do's and dont's of charging your EV in the community, and join us for a virtual e-bike extravaganza.
Community Solar Update
Meeting Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions goals and powering an increasingly electrified transportation system will require a dramatic increase solar capacity. Mike Dunn of CEBE's Energy Working Group facilitates this discussion about the latest developments in Community Solar and CEBE’s project with the town of Norway in the wake of the recent change in state policy. This is a great opportunity to learn about how Community Solar can benefit homeowners and businesses who may not be well-situated for installing their own panels. Q & A follows the presentation.
Solar Site Tour and Kia Niro ride along
Take a virtual tour of a local solar installation, and ride along with Seal in her Kia Niro.
Solar Site Tour #2 and Smart Fortwo ride along
Check out another local solar installation from the comfort of your couch, and get the virtual driving experience of a Smart Fortwo.
2030: A Vision for Electric Mobility in Western Maine
54% of Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. Join Scott Vlaun, CEBE's Executive Director, for a participatory look at the current realities of EV and alternative transportation in western Maine and beyond, and what the science requires by the end of the decade to avoid the worst climate change scenarios. Share your perspective as an EV driver or a potential EV driver, cyclist, or public transportation advocate. What are the next steps our community can take to lower our transportation emissions? What other solutions should be part of western Maine in 2030?
VW E-Golf and Tesla Model 3 ride along
Join us to experience the Volkswagen E-Golf and the Tesla Model 3.
2019's expo brought together nearly 40 electric vehicles, and included solar for the first time. Every year CEBE hosts the Solar&EV Expo as part of National Drive Electric Week. This is a great opportunity to drive electric cars, ride electric bikes, get involved in CEBE's Community Solar project, learn about Maine's new solar policy, meet solar installers and more! Don't miss this one. Electric mobility powered by renewable energy is the future. It's here now in Maine's Western Foothills. Don't miss your chance to learn all about it!
