Benefits of Electric Vehicles Celebrated as City Council Proclaims “Drive Electric Week” in Tulsa

(TULSA, Okla.) Tulsa’s City Council will sign a proclamation Wednesday declaring September 25th through October 3rd as “Drive Electric Week” in Tulsa in recognition of the eleventh annual National Drive Electric Week, a coast-to-coast celebration to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, lawn equipment, and more.  

The proclamation will highlight the work of Tulsans already working in transportation electrification, and the prospect of thousands of added jobs in Oklahoma as EV manufacturers and related supply chains work to meet automakers’ ambitious plans to increase the availability of EVs for consumers in the coming years. Growth of the EV industry in Oklahoma seems a natural continuation of the state’s history in energy leadership, as electric vehicles running on fuel created by and for Oklahomans reduce the state’s dependence on foreign fuels and support a prosperous environment and economy.  

District 4 Councilor KJ McKee will present the proclamation to Clark Wheeler, General Counsel & Chief of Staff at Francis Energy, a Tulsa-based company supporting the development of transportation electrification and EV industry in Oklahoma and across the heartland, with hundreds of Francis charging stations installed across the state.   

“With the support of the State of Oklahoma and the City of Tulsa, Francis was able to build the 4th largest public fast charging network in the country. Now, we are a leader in the EV charging space and hope to continue growing our business and to replicate the Oklahoma model throughout the heartland, providing meaningful access to public EV charging for all communities,” Wheeler explained.  

“In the last century, Tulsa thrived as the ‘Oil Capital of the World,’" Councilor McKee said. "In this century, technology, energy, and environmental needs have changed, but what hasn’t changed is the many brilliant Tulsans doing great work for the energy economy. I am signing this council proclamation to honor those Tulsans who are leading on the electrification of transportation. Francis Energy, headquartered in Tulsa, has built one of the best EV charging networks in the country, starting with Oklahoma. Tulsans are building electric school buses here at the Navistar/International Bus plant near the airport. In the next few years, Canoo will hire 2,000 people from Northeast Oklahoma to build EVs at their new facility in Pryor, and of course PSO employs hundreds of Oklahomans and supplies the power to run these vehicles with Oklahoma wind and natural gas. When it comes to energy, Tulsans are inspired by the past and leading the way to the future.”

The following events are planned in Tulsa for National Drive Electric Week:  

Oasis Fresh Market Pop-Up Display 

Chat with Tulsa Clean Cities and check out a stationary display of 2 EVs alongside plug-in electric bikes from This Machine.  

Location: Oasis Fresh Market, 1725 N Peoria Ave, Tulsa, OK 74106 

Date/Time: Saturday, September 25; 3-6pm 

Wheels & Reels Electric Vehicle Meet-Up 

A meet-up for EV owners and EV-interested Tulsans to meet and discuss electric vehicles, followed by a showing of Back to the Future.  

Location: Admiral Twin, 7355 East Easton Street, Tulsa, OK 74115 

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 29. Gates open for the meet-up at 6:30pm and the show will begin at sundown (approximately 7:30pm). 

Meadow Gold Ride & Drive (Main Event) 

Come out to this EV Ride-and-Drive event to test drive some of today's top-performing EVs, learn about the EV experience from Tulsa owners, and hear about clean energy and sustainability initiatives from local organizations. This event will coincide with Shop 66 Saturday, so come see the Meadow Gold District and check out open art studios, shops, and food after your test drive! Register to attend, volunteer, or show your EV at our Meadow Gold Ride & Drive event on DriveElectricWeek.org. 

Location: Meadow Gold Sign, 1324 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK 74120 

Date/Time: Saturday, October 2; 10am-1pm