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Plug In America Announces 2023 Drive Electric Award Honorees

The electric vehicle advocacy group is celebrating 15 individuals and organizations for their dedication and leadership in the electric vehicle movement on Nov. 9, 2023. Recipients include U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, Hertz and the city of Phoenix.

OCT. 16, 2023, LOS ANGELES – Plug In America, a national nonprofit accelerating the shift to electric vehicles (EVs), today announced the recipients of the 2023 Drive Electric Awards. The selected individuals and organizations have demonstrated leadership, perseverance and commitment to the EV transition. Plug In America will honor the 15 awardees at a ceremony on Nov. 9, 2023, at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach.

(Image: driveelectricweek.org)

“We can’t wait to celebrate these leaders and innovative organizations,” said Joel Levin, executive director of Plug In America. “We’re inspired by their creativity, dedication and enthusiasm to teach others about EV benefits, use EVs to better their communities or push for more equitable access to EVs. We’re in awe of the work they have done, and our country is better off because of them.”

Award recipients range from two sitting U.S. senators and national car rental giant Hertz to individuals tirelessly working out of the spotlight. A committee of Plug In America’s experienced board members selected the honorees from a pool of nominations submitted by the public earlier this year.

The 2023 Drive Electric Award honorees are:

  • Linda Nicholes Lifetime Achievement Award – U.S. Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,  and Will Beckett, co-founder and board member of the Electric Vehicle Association Central Coast Chapter in California
  • Advocate Award – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York
  • EV City Award –Phoenix, Arizona
  • Organization Award – The Hertz Corporation, headquartered in Florida, and Francis Energy, headquartered in Oklahoma
  • EV Awareness Award – Joyce Breiner, co-founder and executive director of Poolesville Green in Maryland, and Rap Hankins, president of Drive Electric Dayton in Ohio
  • Individual Award – Mayor Ray León of Huron, California; Philip Jones, executive director of the Alliance for Transportation Electrification in Washington; Minh Le, general manager of energy and environmental services for Los Angeles County in California; and Carleen Cullen, founder and executive director of Cool the Earth in California
  • City Captain Award – Kate Kruk, director of community engagement for Livingston Energy Group in New York, and Barry Rands, volunteer with San Luis Obispo Climate Coalition and Citizens’​ Climate Lobby in California
  • Student Award – Anthony Asuncion, who is attending Rutgers University-New Brunswick in New Jersey

For more information about the awards and ceremony, visit https://pluginamerica.org/about/drive-electric-awards/2023-dea/

About Plug In America

Plug In America is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the United States. Formed in 2008, Plug In America provides practical, objective information to consumers and dealerships about EVs through various programs, including National Drive Electric Week, Drive Electric Earth Day, PlugStar.com, and other public outreach events. With Plug In America’s coalition of plug-in vehicle drivers, policy experts and technical advisors, their expertise represents the world’s deepest pool of experience in driving and living with plug-in vehicles. The organization’s motto is: “We drive electric. You can too.” Learn more at PlugInAmerica.org.

Source: Plug In America