Electric Company: Beverly, Salem Join Forces In Showcase Event

BEVERLY, MA — North Shore residents are invited to catch a jolt of excitement in checking out more than a dozen electric trucks, cars, bikes and scooters at the "Beverly & Salem Drive (and Ride) Electric!" event set for Saturday.

The cities will co-host the event at Beverly High School from noon to 3 p.m. which is designed to familiarize the public with the facts and benefits of electric vehicles and equipment as the cities move toward fully electrifying their municipal fleets.

Residents can engage with EV owners, dealers and advocates. There is no pressure to buy but, instead, an opportunity to learn how EVs improve air quality and public health by producing no emissions and leaving a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional gas-powered vehicles and lawn equipment.

One of Beverly's electric school buses and the Salem Police Department's electric F-150 will be part of the event.

"We're electrifying our municipal fleet with ten all-electric vehicles and dozens of hybrid vehicles currently in regular use," Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill said. "At this weekend's event, we're helping residents learn about options for EVs and connect directly with their neighbors to share their experience."

More than 1,200 EVs are registered in Beverly (3.9 percent of vehicles) and in Salem (4.2 percent of vehicles).

"Reducing our carbon footprint is of critical importance," Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said. "In just the last three months our planet has seen the hottest day ever, the hottest June, the hottest July, devastating storms, and a warming and rising sea. Reducing our impact by driving electric is one more step we each can individually consider to move us toward a more sustainable future."

Go here to register for the event or to volunteer to learn more and promote the advancement of EVs on the North Shore.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)