Advancing Clean Transportation: 2024 Impact and 2025 Outlook
March 20, 2025
2024 Engagement Overview
DRIVE Electric Arizona made significant strides in public EV outreach in its first year. The organization held 9 Ride & Drive events, giving almost 700 Arizonans hands-on EV driving experiences, and participated in 50 static display events (with an average of 13 EVs showcased per event) that collectively attracted about 360,000 attendees. These efforts provided thousands of Arizona residents with their first up-close look at electric vehicles, building awareness and interest across the state.
EV Adoption Influence
• Conversion from Test Drives to EV Purchases: Industry research shows that well-run EV test drive events can achieve roughly a 10% conversion rate of participants eventually purchasing an EV. This means exposure works – consumers are “overwhelmingly more likely to buy” an electric car after even a single test drive. Applying this benchmark to DRIVE Electric AZ’s 700 Ride & Drive participants in 2024 suggests that 70 new EV buyers could result from these events. In fact, program evaluations by other EV outreach groups have found that participants’ likelihood of purchasing an EV increased significantly after a test drive, with local dealerships reporting noticeable sales bumps following Ride & Drive events. Even those who don’t buy immediately are more likely to consider an EV for their next vehicle, boosting future adoption.
• Influence of Static Display Events: Static EV displays – where attendees could see a variety of EVs and talk with volunteer owners – served to educate a far larger audience (≈360,000 people) in 2024. While the conversion rate from casual observers is naturally lower than for test drivers, the sheer scale means even a small impact yields results. Seeing and learning about EVs in person demystifies the technology and can plant the seed for a future purchase. Surveys have found that a person’s willingness to buy an EV increases as they (or someone close to them) sees, rides in, or drives an EV. Even without a test drive, static displays allow attendees to ask questions, sit in vehicles, and hear real ownership experiences – all which chip away at misconceptions (about range, cost, etc.) and add EVs to the consideration list of potential buyers. If only 5% of the 360k attendees left with a decision to seriously consider an EV, that’s 18,000 new EV-intenders influenced by these events. Thus, the static displays likely had a sizable cumulative effect on consumer attitudes and future purchasing decisions across Arizona.
• Long-Term Experiential Impact on EV Adoption: Perhaps the greatest value of these Ride & Drives and displays is their long-term effect on Arizona’s EV adoption rate. Car purchases have long cycles; someone who test-drove an EV in 2024 might not buy a new car for a year or more, but the positive EV experience will linger. This experiential education helps convert curiosity into confidence. Over time, such grassroots efforts contribute to measurable shifts in the market. Arizona’s EV adoption is already accelerating – the state now has over 65,000 electric vehicles (about 1% of all registered vehicles) on the road, and the market is “on the rise.” Each person who gains first-hand EV exposure through DRIVE Electric Arizona’s events becomes more likely to choose electric when the time comes (and some have already made the switch). These educated consumers also help spread adoption via word-of-mouth. In essence, 2024’s engagements created EV ambassadors: participants who will share their enthusiasm with friends, family, and colleagues, seeding further adoption beyond what one organization can directly reach.
Public Awareness & Outreach Impact
• Depth of Engagement: Out of the 360,000 event attendees in 2024, a substantial subset had meaningful interactions with EV advocates and vehicles. At Ride & Drives, almost 700 individuals were deeply engaged (each getting 5–10 minutes behind the wheel and personal coaching). At static events, many tens of thousands likely stopped by the EV booths, asked questions, or took informational materials. These are the actively engaged attendees – people who didn’t just pass by but showed interest. While it’s impossible to engage all 360k passersby, even those who only saw an EV exhibit gained some awareness. Every level of exposure counts, given that prior to such outreach many Arizonans had never even seen an EV up close. (Nationwide, 35% of Americans had no exposure to an EV as of a recent survey.) By this measure, DRIVE Electric Arizona’s 2024 efforts made a considerable dent in the “EV unfamiliarity” problem.
• Urban vs. Rural Reach: DRIVE Electric Arizona’s events spanned various communities, amplifying their regional impact. Major urban areas like Phoenix likely accounted for the largest crowds. For instance, events at city auto shows or festivals would attract thousands of attendees, reinforcing growing interest in EVs in the metro region. Importantly, the organization also brought EV outreach to smaller cities and rural areas, where awareness is typically lower. These engagements in places outside Phoenix/Tucson have an outsized benefit: they introduce EVs to audiences that rarely encounter them. Research indicates EV adoption has lagged in rural and underserved areas largely due to lack of exposure and access. By literally driving electric vehicles into new locales, the program helped bridge that gap. A person in rural Arizona who sees neighbors showcasing EVs at the county fair, for example, can more easily envision an EV fitting into their life. Thus, the geographic breadth of 2024’s outreach ensured a more uniform rise in awareness statewide, rather than just deepening knowledge in EV-savvy cities.
• Social and Community Influence: The ripple effects of these events extend beyond the attendees. Every participant who took a test drive or had a great conversation about EVs becomes a potential messenger in their community. Many likely shared their experiences – telling friends and family about “the EV I drove today” or posting on social media about the cool electric car they saw. This kind of secondary exposure is powerful. Studies show that if someone close to you has direct EV experience, it can boost your willingness to consider an EV. So, the 700 test drivers and thousands of curious booth visitors in 2024 could influence many more people in their networks. Additionally, these public events often draw local media coverage (news stories, local bloggers), further multiplying awareness. In short, DRIVE Electric Arizona’s outreach created a community-wide dialogue about EVs. The events didn’t just inform individual attendees – they sparked conversations across Arizona, normalizing the idea of driving electric and building social momentum toward broader acceptance.
Projections for 2025
• Expanded Ride & Drive Impact: In 2025, DRIVE Electric Arizona is ramping up to at least 16 Ride & Drive events – a major increase from 9 the year prior. This expansion will dramatically scale the program’s influence. If each event in 2025 draws a turnout like (or better than) 2024’s, we can expect roughly 1,300–1,500 Arizonans to take EV test drives (16 events × ~80–100 drivers per event). That hands-on exposure is invaluable. Using the same industry conversion benchmark (~10%), those 16 events could directly catalyze 130+ new EV purchases in the state in 2025. Even more participants will move from curiosity to serious consideration of EVs. With a larger number of events, DRIVE Electric Arizona can also cover more territory and appear at more varied venues – from big-city gatherings to regional fairs – maximizing the diversity of people reached. The compounding effect of nearly three times as many test-drive opportunities means 2025 could see roughly triple the consumer adoption impact compared to 2024.
• Growth in Public Outreach & Awareness: The coming year should also see an expanded outreach footprint beyond just the test drives. Based on past trends, the organization’s involvement in community events is likely to grow. We might anticipate an increase in static display events or deeper engagement at high-traffic festivals, conferences, and educational workshops. Even if the number of static events in 2025 remains around the 50+ mark, the team can apply lessons learned to engage attendees more effectively (e.g. improved booth setups, more volunteer EV owners to answer questions). It’s reasonable to project that total public interactions will rise – perhaps reaching well over half a million Arizonans. Each successive year often brings more partnerships and invitations. For example, a successful 2024 appearance might lead to more groups requesting EV exhibits at their 2025 events. Moreover, the quality of engagement may deepen as public familiarity grows – returning attendees might come with more detailed questions or even testimonials of “I decided to get an EV after talking with you last year.” In summary, 2025’s outreach is poised to both broaden and deepen, reaching new audiences while reinforcing the message among those already touched.
• Contributing to Arizona’s EV Adoption Strategy: All these efforts in 2025 will feed into Arizona’s broader strategy of accelerating electric vehicle adoption. The state has ambitious goals (for instance, aiming for a substantial increase in EV ownership by 2030) and is investing in charging infrastructure and incentives. DRIVE Electric Arizona’s grassroots engagements complement these top-down measures by cultivating consumer demand and readiness. Greater public awareness and enthusiasm make state initiatives more effective. For example, newly curious drivers will take advantage of EV purchase rebates or the expanding charging network. By the end of 2025, the influence of these events should be evident in Arizona’s EV metrics: expect the percentage of new car sales that are electric to continue its upward trend (nationally it was already ~9% as of late 2024, and Arizona is likely following suit). The hundreds of new EV owners and thousands of educated consumers fostered by DRIVE Electric Arizona in 2025 will help push EVs closer to the tipping point of mainstream adoption in the state. In effect, these community-based efforts are building the human foundation for Arizona’s electric mobility future – turning abstract state goals into on-the-ground reality by persuading one driver at a time.
Conclusion
DRIVE Electric Arizona’s first year engagement efforts in 2024 made a notable impact in both spurring EV adoption and elevating public awareness. The combination of personal test-drive experiences and widespread event outreach has influenced consumer perceptions across Arizona, converting a share of attendees into EV drivers and educating many more. Looking ahead, the planned scale-up in 2025 (with an estimated16 Ride & Drives and expanded outreach) is set to amplify this influence significantly. We can project a substantial uptick in Arizonans embracing EVs as a direct and indirect result of these activities – from dozens of immediate new purchases to tens of thousands of new EV enthusiasts who will drive demand in coming years. By continuing to provide hands-on experiences and community conversations, DRIVE Electric Arizona is poised to remain a key catalyst in the state’s EV adoption journey, accelerating progress toward cleaner transportation and a more informed, EV-ready public.
Notes
Recent EV consumer behavior studies and outreach program evaluations were used to benchmark impact (e.g. test drive conversion rates and awareness effects). These include findings that test drives strongly boost purchase intent (Griggs et al., 2024; Reach Strategies, 2017) and that repeated exposure (seeing or riding in EVs) raises willingness to buy (Griggs et al., 2024). Arizona EV market trends and statistics (from the DOE and industry reports) provide context on adoption rates (Nasdaq, 2025) and growth trajectory, aligning with the increased outreach planned for 2025. The analysis leverages these data points to estimate DRIVE Electric Arizona’s impact and inform projections.
Copyright © 2025 DRIVE Electric Arizona
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