Live Blog | Route Zero Relay Goes to Washington
Updated on July 17 | Stay up-to-date with all the clean air news and EV developments coming from the Route Zero Relay.
By Grant Gerke, Senior Writer, Electric Vehicle Association
The Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) and other organizations are taking part in the Route Zero Relay event traveling across Route 66 and other stops to highlight the need for robust clean air standards, which will culminate with a final stop in Washington D.C. The comment period for the current proposed clear air rule from the EPA is now open, so please submit your comments.
Participants and EV drivers in the Route Zero Relay are documenting on how you can eliminate tailpipe pollution by driving an EV across the country. The Route Zero Relay event started on April 27 in Santa Monica with an outstanding press event on clean air standards and proceeded to Flagstaff, AZ.
Keep coming back here so you can find out about upcoming events and browse this Live Blog post for all the recent news, announcements, and on-the-road developments related to Route Zero’s run to Washington D.C.
July 17 | Route Zero Relay - Washington D.C.
Thank You EVA Chapter Members and Volunteers
These images above are from the recent Route Zero Relay Washington D.C. event. This was the last official stop and we’d like to thank our EVA chapter members, friends, and organizations that made the Route Zero Relay campaign such as success. The list includes: Jacob Martinez, Scottsdale EVA chapter (& driver!), Patrick and Liv, from Mach-E Vlog, chargepozitive, Tanya Pierce (New Mexico/Board Member), Kuo Tye, Zack Rogers, Arthur Burton (Chicago/Board Member), the Northeast Ohio Chapter, Rap Hankis and the Dayton Chapter, Drive Electric, Bob Erdman, Ron Kaltenbaugh, Scott Wilson, and many more! Stay tuned for new events and campaigns.
July 7 | Route Zero Relay - With Ed Begley Jr.
‘This is Science’ Podcast with Jess Phoenix
The Route Zero Relay campaign is still going forward and the EVA will have more information about upcoming event. We are so proud to be part of this campaign and thankful to meet so many inspiring people on this “road.” This includes Jess Phoenix, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Ed Begley Jr. activist and great human. If you missed it, below is Jess and Ed’s conversation about pushing for clean air and what you can on a daily basis.
June 27 | Route Zero Relay - Washington D.C.
Over 130,000 Clean Air Comments!
Come out to the last stop on the Route Zero Relay or watch on EVA’s livestream feed at 10 AM EST. The Route Zero Relay and over 130,00 comments are being delivered to the EPA!
June 25 | Route Zero Relay - Baltimore
Clean Air Comments Coming to Washington D.C.
June 22 | Route Zero Relay - Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Embraces Clean Air Standards
Plenty of speakers came out for the Route Zero Relay event in Pittsburgh, including Dr. Stephanie Maximous, Univ. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, State Senator, Lindsay Williams, and PIttsburgh’s Mayor, Ed Gainey. Below are some highlights from the event:
“It’s critical, and it’s an emergency,” Maximous said. “Even just last week, we had day after day of severe air quality warnings. That was due to the wildfires coming from Canada, but we know even just that baseline, we have these ongoing risks that our patients endure.”
“Here in Pittsburgh, the city has announced it is electrifying its city bus fleet so that all of its 730 vehicles will be zero emissions by 2045,” said Patrick Campbell from the Group Against Smog Pollution (GASP).
“Forty percent of air pollution-related heart disease deaths in Allegheny County occur in environmental-justice communities, even though those communities represent 27 percent of the county’s total population,” said Chris Gassman from University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Sustainable Business.
June 21 | Route Zero Relay
Next Stop on the Route Zero Relay is Baltimore
Baltimore is next the next stop on the Route Zero Relay. Come join friends and discuss how #cleanair standards and EV adoption is a way to fight climate change. Details below:
>> If you are planning to attend, click here to RSVP!
The ninth stop for the Route Zero Relay will be in Baltimore, MD. Come by, meet EV experts from Consumer Reports, the Electric Vehicle Association, Union of Concerned Scientists, Sierra Club, and Hip Hop Caucus and ask them all your EV related questions, check out some EVs, take photos/videos, meet the drivers, and grab some swag! A picnic will be provided - just let us know you’re coming by RSVPing below!
Event Date: Sunday, June 25th, from 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET
Location: Canton Waterfront Park, 3001 Boston Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
June 14 | Route Zero Relay - Cleveland
Model PD Modifies Model Ys for Police Use
The Tesla police car, produced and modified by Model PD, made an appearance at the Route Zero Relay in Cleveland, watch below!
June 12 | Route Zero Relay - Detroit
June 7 | Route Zero Relay
Submitted by Scott Wilson, member of the EVA DC chapter.
Route Zero Sighting in Rockville, MD!
The EVA is advertising at Volta Charging stations across the country and this one is in Rockville, MD. #routezero #cleanair #goelectric
June 5, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
The EVA’s Route Zero Relay Contest!
We are promoting the relay as it rolls on to Detroit this week and eventually to Washington DC in late June, promoting our comments on strong clear air standards and rapid EV adoption.
We are asking local chapters to share Route Zero Relay messaging on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. We also have Route Zero Relay talking points to help promote, so reach out to grantgerke@myeva.org. Below are the contest rules, the last event is on June 27 or 28 in Washington D.C., so don’t wait to promote!
• $50 for each EVA chapter that posts to FB and/or Instagram
• $250 for the chapter with the post with the most likes
• $250 for the BEST post - by an individual, group or chapter
• $250 for the best video or reel (Instagram) post
• All posts must include #RouteZero and #electricvehicleassociation to be considered for prizes
June 5, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
You can also follow the Route Zero Relay on social media, visit our Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook channels, and via the hashtags, #routezero and #cleanair.
June 2, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
Next 4 Dates Are Set for the Route Zero Relay
The Route Zero Relay’s next stop is Detroit on June 9.
Detroit, MI - June 9, 2023 | Press
EVA is Livestreaming (see here)
10 AM EST, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.Cleveland, OH - June 11 | Speakers
EVA is Livestreaming (see here)
Cleveland Foundation Parking Lot, 1 pm. A Police Tesla vehicle will be on display.Pittsburgh, PA - June 12 | Speakers
10 AM EST. The Great Lawn on the North Shore.Baltimore, MD - June 26
Location and time coming soon!Washington D.C. - June 27 or 28
Location and time coming soon!
June 2, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
Find Us on Volta Charging Stations in Detroit
We’re out promoting our next event, Detroit!
June 1, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
Clean Car Standards and U.S. Industrial Policy
The Biden administration’s industrial policy is producing manufacturing and ‘green collar” jobs in the U.S. See below:
March 2023 | Ford Announces Project T3 (Electric Truck plant & 6K jobs)
March 2022 | Cadillac’s Launch of Spring Hill in Tennessee
Clean car standards create good jobs. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the last round of clean car standards spurred demand for advanced technology, and by 2030, will create an estimated 650,000 jobs throughout the U.S., including 50,000 in light-duty vehicle manufacturing jobs.
May 25, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
Update | Cleveland Route Zero Relay Event
We have an update on the Cleveland event, which includes a police Tesla appearance! The event will be held at the Cleveland Foundation Parking Lot on June 11, 2023 at 1 pm. Click on the flyer to download.
If you’d like to attend an event, please fill out this form so we have more information total attendance.
May 25, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
Route Zero Relay Participants
Below are the organizations involved in Route Zero Relay planning. We’re so happy to part of a large community supporting #cleanair standards and rapid #EV adoption!
Clean Energy for America, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Coltura, Electric Vehicle Association, Alliance of Nurses Healthy Environments, GreenLatinos, Plug in America, Public Citizen, Union of Concerned Scientists, Natural Resources Defence Council, National Religious Partnership for the Environment, Hip Hop Caucus, League of Conservation Voters, Consumer Reports, National Parks Conservation Association, Interfaith Power and Light, EV Hybrid Noire, CALSTART, Charge@Work, MCAF, CleanAirNow, Healthcare Without Harm, ZETA, ELPC.
Criss-crossing the country to promote clean air standards. #routezero #cleanair
May 24, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
The next stop on the route is Detroit!
The next stop is downtown Detroit on June 9th, at 10AM for the Route Zero Relay! #routezero #cleanair
May 22, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
The Upcoming Route Zero Relay Schedule
The Route Zero Relay’s last stop was on May 7th in Joliet and our next stop is Detroit on June 9.
Detroit, MI - June 9, 2023 | Speakers
10 AM, Downtown Detroit.
Cleveland, OH - June 11 | Speakers
Cleveland Foundation Parking Lot, 1 pm.
Police TeslaPittsburgh, PA - June 12 | Speakers
Great Lawn, North Shore.Baltimore, MD - June 26
Location and time coming soon!Washington D.C. - June 27 or 28
Location and time coming soon!
“More than $120 billion in investments and 143,000 new U.S. jobs have been created in the electric vehicle industry in the last eight years. More than 40% of these announcements have been made in the six months since the passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act. ”
May 15, 2023
The Historic Route 66 Fun Run
Route 66 is getting a lot of attention this Spring. Besides the Route Zero Relay, many EVA chapter members enjoyed a weekend of EV touring in the great state of Arizona, see below.
May 10, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
Images from the Joliet Route Zero Relay Stop
May 7, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
Joliet Route Zero Relay Coverage | EV Times
The EV Times covered our Joliet Event and talks to Bridget Sanderson as she arrives from Kansas City.
May 6, 2023 | The Route Zero Relay
2023 EV Trends
"Cox data indicated new-EV sales in the U.S. during Q1 '23 were 6.7% of the total market @ 240k vehicles, up 5% yr/yr. Prices also fell, with the #EV premium price compared to ICE autos of a similar type being 23% in the quarter, down from 37% in Q4 '22. (Source - WardsAuto.com); #routezero #cleanair
May 5, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
In Case You Missed It | The Route Zero Relay Kicks Off in Santa Monica
See images below and watch the kickoff press conference here.
May 3, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
Kansas City Press Conference | Route Zero Relay
The Route Zero Relay press conference included Mayor Quinton Lucas, Local Leaders and Activists Calling for Strong Clean Car Standards Putting Us On the Route to Zero Emissions. Click here to play the video. #routezero #cleanair
May 1, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
The Third Stop on the Route Zero Relay was beautiful Santa Fe, NM. Jacob Martinez, a member of the Scottsdale EVA chapter arrives at New Mexico’s legislative building. #routezero #cleanair
“Strong standards will benefit low-income families and save them money at the pump, especially during times of sky-rocketing gas prices like we saw last fall. Low-income households spend nearly 14% of their income on fueling their vehicles, while higher-income households spend just 4.1% of their income on fuel.”
April 30, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
The Route Zero Relay Map
April 28, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
First Leg of the Route Zero Relay | Flagstaff, AZ
Jess Phoenix, “Lava Connoisseur” drove from traffic-heavy Los Angeles and escaped to peaceful Flagstaff, AZ.
April 27, 2023 | Route Zero Relay
LIVE from Santa Monica | The Route Zero Relay Press Conference
The Route Zero Relay starts at the Santa Monica Pier and includes a press conference, with comments from community leaders, advocates, and EV enthusiasts, and Ed Begley Jr. Watch here.