Drive Electric Alabama, a statewide initiative to promote electric vehicles sponsored by the University of Alabama, is taking to the roads this Monday for its inaugural EV test drive.
The free event, scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m., will take place at the Hoover Met, giving Alabamians a chance to get behind the wheel of electric trucks, sedans, sports cars and more.
“This is the event EV-curious drivers have been waiting for,” said Michael Staley, president of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group and partner with Drive Electric Alabama. “Most Alabamians have never had the chance to drive an electric vehicle… nothing compares to putting your foot on the accelerator and experiencing that instant torque for yourself.”
The coalition behind Drive Electric Alabama includes the University’s Alabama Transportation Institute, a research and advocacy group for transportation across Alabama. The ATI has brought in $210 million in external funding and estimates that its products have been used 1.2 billion times across the state.
The Alabama Transportation Institute, in addition to its sponsorship of Drive Electric Alabama, also has a partnership with the Alabama Mobility and Power Center, a research group dedicated to improving battery and power transfer technology for a more electrified world. The AMP Center has been a part of vehicle electrification and EV infrastructure projects across campus, including the recent electrification of part of the Crimson Ride bus fleet.
While the University continues to contribute to EV technology and invest in research efforts, the Drive Electric Alabama program is more focused on convincing individuals to make the switch. The program’s website focuses on the consumer-facing perks of EVs like government incentives and cost savings. “Your old gas budget isn’t the only place you’ll save money,” the website says, listing lower maintenance requirements, vehicle longevity and rebates from Alabama Power among the lifetime savings for making a switch to electric.
Still, Alabama’s population has proved hesitant to make the change. In 2025, Staley told WSFA 12 there were only 15,000 electric vehicles registered in the state, although that number is on the rise.
Monday’s event at the Hoover Met is Drive Electric Alabama’s first attempt at a public test drive, but it has been holding EV advocacy events for years, including showcases of different EV models. The Hoover event will also feature a showcase, held at Brock’s Gap Brewing Company, and a live outdoor concert with country band Deputy 5.
Drive Electric Alabama hopes that hands-on experience with electric vehicles will convince more people to consider purchasing one for themselves.
“Once you drive one, you’ll understand why so many people are making the switch,” Staley said.
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