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Electrical vehicles on display during Drive Electric event

It took Mark Vick just one test drive to go from an electric car skeptic to a believer and owner.
Vick has owned his 2015 Tesla Model S for about a year and a half now.
“I went on a test drive, and about two seconds in after tromping on the pedal, I had to have one,” Vick said.
Vick traveled from Overland Park to Concordia on Thursday to showcase and give rides in his Tesla during the National Drive Electric Week event at Cloud County Community College.
The college had two electric vehicles available for test ride-and-drives along with electric vehicle chargers and other products on display from Monday through Thursday as part of the event.
National Drive Electric Week is a nationwide celebration designed to heighten awareness of today's widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, motorcycles and more.
The event hosted by Cloud County was one of more than 280 across the country to promote the advantages of electric vehicles.
Vick said he often complained to his mechanic about the cost of vehicle maintenance.
The mechanic told Vick he should think about getting an electric vehicle.
After doing research, Vick purchased his Tesla, which has a range of 245 miles on a full charge.
The 2019 Tesla has a range of 370 miles.
Vick said there is virtually no maintenance required on his Tesla. He will need to rotate and replace tires, but that is about it other than wiper blades and washer fluid.
“I am glad that mechanic suggested to me to do it,” Vick said of buying the Tesla.
It took Vick about four and a half hours to drive from Overland Park to Concordia, and that included stopping in Salina to charge the Tesla because he knew he would be giving test rides.
The 2015 Tesla Model S, which is a five-person sedan, will go from zero to 60-miles per hour in 2.8 seconds.
Andrew Clark, a renewable energy instructor at Cloud County Community College, was in charge of the Drive Electric event, and had his Nissan Leaf available for test rides.
Clark said he would like to get a charging station placed near the college along College Drive.
There are no charging stations along U.S. Highway 81 from Salina to York, Neb.
“So I think Concordia would be the ideal location,” Clark said.

 

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