Hey Everyone,
At the October meeting we had during a downpour, only a hand full of
people showed up and we were huddled under the shelter at the splash pad of
Carl Cowan park. However, we had a productive discussion of where our
November meeting should be held.
I want to get peoples input on this plan and then we can finalize it and
get it out to everyone.
Our plan is for Saturday November 14th, for all of us to meetup at 10am at
the Brown's Creek Shopping Center (1625 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville,
TN 37801). We will meet up in that shopping center parking lot and then
drive up as a group i.e. rally to the Cades Cove Campground Store and Bike
Rental parking lot located at 10035 Campground Dr, Townsend, TN 37882.
Aiming to get to Cades Cove at 11am, we will just take over the back of the
parking lot and set up chairs beside our EVs. I plan to hold a regular
meeting there with us all spaced out, then we can just all hang out and
talk like we normally do. We can all bring a lunch and have a
picnic. However, I am hoping that we get the attention of people that are
there for the park but might like to find out more about our EVs. Everyone
should bring masks and stay distanced when talking to anyone!
Another aspect of this rally is that we were thinking that we could offer
people who haven't experienced an EV yet the ability to ride in one of our
EVs from Brown's Creek to Cades Cove. I am wary of this due to Covid
concerns but I will leave it up to the individual owners, if you don't have
a problem letting someone ride with you during these times, that's up to
you. I am not sure I feel right promoting this aspect of the rally during
covid, what do you all think?
After we are done hanging out, those that want to go around the cades cove
loop can. One of the thoughts being that a second rally point could be the
Cades Cove Visitor Center that's inside the loop. Those people that meet
up at that second rally point would take up some parking spots and hang out
next to their cars for another little show off point. There hasn't been
any talk of further rally points or anything like that.
So basically you could end the day after hanging out a few hours at the
campground parking lot or after the second rally point. I know range may
be a factor for some. There doesn't seem to be charging around cades cove.
There is a DC fast charger back in Maryville. And a Tesla destination
Charger in Townsend. Brown's Creek to Cades Cove lot is about 27 miles.
I just wanted to get this out there and get us talking about it.
What's everyone's thoughts? Who all would be interested in this?
Eric Cardwell
President Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association
Attachment:
cadescove.jpg
Description: JPEG image
Attachment:
browncreek.jpg
Description: JPEG image
