Electrify Your Ride: CEC Gears Up For National Drive Electric Month with EV Incentives Resource Fair, Free EV Consultations, and More
SANTA BARBARA, Calif (September 4, 2025) – National Drive Electric Month is September 12 to October 12, 2025, and the Community Environmental Council (CEC) is raising awareness about the benefits of driving electric and the thousands of dollars individuals can save on a new or used electric vehicle (EV). The federal EV tax credit – worth up to $7,500 – expires on September 30, 2025. If you're curious about driving electric, there is no better time to come to a National Drive Electric Month event to talk with EV owners, check out popular models, and learn how to access EV incentives and rebates.
To kick off National Drive Electric Month, CEC will host a free EV Incentives Resource Fair 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 10, at CEC’s Environmental Hub (1219 State Street, Santa Barbara). This free community event will feature over a dozen Central Coast EV dealerships, e-bike shops, and incentive program representatives. Attendees will have the opportunity to peruse popular EV models and talk with owners at an EV showcase on State Street. CEC staff members will also be available for one-on-one consultations where anyone curious about EV affordability can learn which EV incentives they qualify for and how to access them. CEC will provide bilingual support, and food and refreshments will be served.
“There is a huge amount of funding available now for buying or leasing an electric vehicle,” said Sean McArthur, CEC Climate Projects Manager. "One of the biggest incentive programs — the IRS Clean Vehicle Tax Credit — expires September 30, so it’s a great time to explore the world of EVs for anyone entertaining the idea of driving electric. We hope people can come out to an event and see for themselves the benefits of driving electric and how affordable it is — and make the switch to cleaner transportation.”
In addition to the EV Incentives Resource Fair, CEC and its partners in the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5) will host a series of free community National Drive Electric Month events with EV incentive information, test drives, and showcases. The full schedule of events can be found below; find CEC for one-on-one consultations on EV incentives at the events marked with an *:
EV INCENTIVES RESOURCE FAIR (CEC-Hosted Event)*
Wednesday, September 10
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
CEC's Environmental Hub
1219 State Street, Santa Barbara
ELECTRIFY YOUR RIDE EV SHOWCASE AT SLO FARMERS MARKET
Thursday, September 25
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Downtown SLO Farmers' Market
Chorro & Higuera Streets, San Luis Obispo
EV SHOWCASE AT DOWNTOWN FRIDAYS SANTA MARIA*
Friday, September 26
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
345 Town Center E, Santa Maria
EV SHOWCASE AT THE PORT OF HUENEME BANANA FESTIVAL
Saturday, September 27
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Port of Hueneme
105 E Port Hueneme Road, Port Hueneme
EV EXPO AT THE MADONNA INN *
Saturday, September 27
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Madonna Inn
100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
VENTURA COUNTY EV SHOWCASE*
Sunday, October 5
12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Ventura Harbor
1591 Spinnaker Drive, Main Lawn, Ventura
THOUSAND OAKS ROTARY STREET FAIR & EV SHOWCASE *
Sunday, October 19
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
449 N Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks
Learn more about events here: cecsb.org/events
CEC provides no-cost, no-commitment, personalized electric vehicle and electrification assistance. They help:
Identify EV, EV charging, and E-Bike incentive programs you qualify for
Navigate applications and the EV or E-Bike purchase/lease process
Plan EV charging installations
Answer questions about EVs, EV charging, E-Bikes, solar panels, and more
Learn more about CEC’s services and sign up here cec.pub/NDEM-Electrify
About the Community Environmental Council (CEC)
CEC advances rapid and equitable solutions to the climate crisis – including ambitious zero carbon goals, drawdown of excess carbon, and protection against the impacts of climate change. CEC was recognized as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year and a City of Santa Barbara Climate Hero, and is led by CEO Sigrid Wright who was recently named 2022 Congressional Woman of the Year. CEC has worked since 1970 to incubate and innovate real life environmental solutions that directly affect the California Central Coast. Our programs lead to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems and reduction of single-use plastic. Learn more about the work of CEC and why it receives high ratings from both Charity Navigator and Guidestar at CECSB.org/impact.
Find CEC on the web at CECSB.org and on Facebook.com/CECSB, Instagram.com/CEC_SB, and Linkedin.com/company/cecsb/.
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