Millbrook EV showcase lets drivers compare savings and charging

Free electric vehicle showcases will give Millbrook-area drivers a practical look at whether an EV fits their budget and daily routine. The River Region Drive Electric Alabama EV Showcase - Millbrook Mayfest is set for Saturday, May 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Village Green Park, 3160 Park Circle in Millbrook.

The point of the event is not just to show off new models. Drive Electric Alabama says real EV owners will be on hand to talk through the questions that matter most to families in Autauga County and across the River Region: range anxiety, battery life, hauling capacity, maintenance costs and everyday use. That makes the showcase less of a sales pitch than a chance to compare what ownership actually looks like against the assumptions many drivers still carry about plugging in, charging up and getting around town.

Drive Electric Alabama is also pushing the savings side of the equation. On its website, the group says drivers can save up to $1,000 a year in fueling costs and $6,000 to $10,000 over the life of a vehicle in maintenance. The group also points to Consumer Reports’ finding that EVs cost 50% less on average to maintain than gas-powered vehicles. For buyers watching household expenses, those numbers are likely to be part of the conversation as much as sticker price.

Charging access is another piece of the picture. Drive Electric Alabama is coordinated by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, and ADECA says Alabama’s NEVI program can provide up to 80% federal funding for eligible EV charging projects, with a minimum 20% non-federal match. The next NEVI Round 3 application deadline is June 4 at 11:59 p.m. Central, a sign that the state is still building out the charging network that makes EV ownership easier for more drivers.

The Millbrook event is part of a broader statewide outreach effort. Drive Electric Alabama is also holding a showcase in Mobile the same day, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In its materials, the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition links EV promotion to jobs, charging stations and cleaner air, while noting that median EV range has increased fourfold since 2011 and was more than 250 miles in 2020. For drivers weighing a first EV purchase, that is the central question: whether the range, charging and savings now line up with daily life in the River Region.