What is the OEVA?
What is the OEVA?
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The Oregon Electric Vehicle Association (OEVA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Electric Vehicle education. We're an all volunteer group of EV Enthusiasts and EV Owners of all makes and models, and an independent chapter of the national Electric Vehicle Association.
If you like EVs, would like to know more about them, and would like to share expertise with other EV owners and the public, we're your club.
The Tesla Model Y L is Here!
The Tesla Model Y L is Here!
See It at Our September Meeting at Tesla Tigard
See It at Our September Meeting at Tesla Tigard
Thursday September 10th, 7 to 9 PM, OEVA Board Meeting 6:30 PM
10069 SW Cascade Avenue, Tigard, OR 97223
Thursday September 10th, 7 to 9 PM, OEVA Board Meeting 6:30 PM
10069 SW Cascade Avenue, Tigard, OR 97223
Tesla's New 3-Row SUV with many premium enhancements
Tesla's New 3-Row SUV with many premium enhancements
It's been over two years since we've been at Tesla. Over that time they've introduced the New Model Y, and just last week the Tesla Tigard showroom received the latest version, the Launch Edition of the Model Y L. This stretched version of the Model Y features enhanced 2nd row seating, and two 3rd row seats. Will two adults fit back there? Is it possible for a 6 foot graybeard to scramble back in there? Maybe. Come to the meeting and check it out yourself.
Yes, you can seat two adults back there. There is lots of headroom. And, yes, you can fit a large fellow in the 3rd row with adequate headroom. Two tips for that last point, won through experience: Move the 2nd row seats forward a good bit before heading back, and fold down one of the 2nd row seats for easier access while clambering in. The 2nd row is much more comfortable for people of my size and flexibility. I'd recommend the 3rd row for the young and lithe.
The MYL has many new features and enhancements. One thing that I've always wanted is the ability to power 120 volt devices directly from the Tesla. The MYL can send 120 volt 20 amp power out the charge port, through a Gen 3 Mobile Connector to any device you can power from a regular wall outlet. It's about time, as KIA and Hyundai have had that feature in their EVs for years! I hope they make this capability available in all new Teslas.
The front seats add a powered thigh extension, to size the seat for your preference. The second row captains chairs have electrically raised arm rests, and like the front seats are ventilated with both heating and cooling. There are additional air vents in the pillars for 2nd and 3rd row passenger comfort.
For people who want a very efficient and technically advanced SUV for their family, and the regular Model Y isn't quite big enough, the Model Y L is certainly worth looking into.
I've been using the automated driving features in Teslas since 2019's Enhanced Autopilot (basic freeway driving and navigation), observing with great interest as each new version improved, to today's 2026 Version 14 software of Supervised Full Self Driving, which is truly amazing. I seldom touch the controls from when the car shifts out of park until it parks at my destination. By far my most common intervention is taking over to enforce my parking preferences. Particularly, I take over when I get home in order to back into my driveway because the car prefers to park nose-in. Though I hear that remembering preferences like that is coming soon. When they get preferences handled, interventions will become much more rare.
At our September 10th monthly General Meeting at Tesla Tigard, 10069 SW Cascade Avenue, Tigard, OR, we'll hear all about the MYL features and such from Tesla. And as a special treat, Brian White of YouTube channel FutureAZA, just back from his trip to the auto show in Kathmandu, Nepal, may share some interesting tidbits about the unique EV models he saw and exploding EV sales in emerging markets. And perhaps he will have some juicy information about what Tesla is up to that the employees are not at liberty to reveal. It should be an interesting program.
The OEVA will provide sandwich platters and sparkling water for the evening. You're encouraged to bring something nice to share: a side, salad, veggies, fruit, chips, cookies or other desserts, snacks, and so on. If your food item requires a serving utensil, please bring one as Tesla probably doesn't have one for us to use.
It's the same schedule as all of our General Meetings. We'll start with a board meeting at 6:30, which OEVA members are welcome to attend. The General Meeting, open to the public, starts at 7 PM with food, socializing, and looking at the cars. At 7:30 we'll start the program with announcements, followed by presentations by Tesla and Brian White. Around 8:30~8:45 we'll break for more socializing, and discussing any remaining questions. We'll head home by 9 PM.
Our thanks to Tesla Store Leader Emma Elliott, and to Brian White of FutureAZA, for their support of this event.
Beaverton Downtown Association Car Show
Beaverton Downtown Association Car Show
"Traffic Jam on Broadway" Car Show & Party
"Traffic Jam on Broadway" Car Show & Party
Sunday September 13th, 10 AM to 2 PM (show cars arrive at 9 AM)
Fresh Start Detail & Ceramic Coating Co., 12130 SW Broadway St, Beaverton
Sunday September 13th, 10 AM to 2 PM (show cars arrive at 9 AM)
Fresh Start Detail & Ceramic Coating Co., 12130 SW Broadway St, Beaverton
There's a car show coming up quite soon in Beaverton, hosted by Fresh Start Detail. They would like to help raise awareness about EVs, and have invited us to participate. They only have space for a few EVs, and are most interested in clean, unique, customized, or otherwise interesting EVs to participate in the show. It sounds like a great opportunity to reach out to a different car enthusiast group. And each participating owner gets free food, a free beer, and is entered into raffles to win free detailing and ceramic coating services from Fresh Start.
If you are interested in participating contact the organizer Jason Barker directly at 503 348-7093, or email him at jason@freshstartdetail.com. It's coming up soon and it has limited space, so if you would like to show off your beautiful EV call right away to see if you can get a spot.
After you participate, pop an email to me at Web@oeva.org, and let me know how it went. We're always looking for new places to talk with folks about the benefits of EVs.
National Drive Electric Month Event
National Drive Electric Month Event
Lake Oswego Clean Energy and EV Fair
Lake Oswego Clean Energy and EV Fair
Saturday September 19th, 10 AM to 2 PM
Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, 1855 South Shore Blvd, Lake Oswego
Saturday September 19th, 10 AM to 2 PM
Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, 1855 South Shore Blvd, Lake Oswego
We've had to cancel our September National Drive Electric Month event (more about that below), but there are still opportunities to show your EV and talk with folks about your EV ownership experience. Our friends at the Lake Oswego Sustainability Network put on a great EV and clean energy event every fall. They have EV test drives sponsored by PGE and provided by local EV dealers, many exhibitors related to clean energy, presentations, and EV owners showing their cars and answering questions. The OEVA will be there with our EV Spec Poster tent and EV literature.
You can register to display your EV on the National Drive Electric Month website at https://driveelectricmonth.org/event?eventid=5300. There is also more information available on the LOSN website here.
National Drive Electric Month Event
National Drive Electric Month Event
Milwaukie Sustainability Fair
Milwaukie Sustainability Fair
PGE Ride and Drive, Saturday September 19th, 10 AM to 3 PM
EV Ride & Drive located at Electric Avenue lot, behind B-Side Records
Located at 10834 SE McLoughlin, Milwaukie 97222
PGE Ride and Drive, Saturday September 19th, 10 AM to 3 PM
EV Ride & Drive located at Electric Avenue lot, behind B-Side Records
Located at 10834 SE McLoughlin, Milwaukie 97222
Another PGE sponsored Ride & Drive event, being held in association with the Milwaukie Sustainability Fair. No owner EVs, so we're not involved. But it might be a convenient place for you or your friends to test drive an EV. Check out the event on the PGE website here. It's also on the Drive Electric Month website here.
Group Drive: The Covered Bridges of Marion & Linn counties
Group Drive: The Covered Bridges of Marion & Linn counties
Saturday September 26th, 9:30 AM meet in Salem for coffee and donuts by the
Tesla Superchargers at Target, 3790 Center Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
Saturday September 26th, 9:30 AM meet in Salem for coffee and donuts by the
Tesla Superchargers at Target, 3790 Center Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
We depart at 10 AM for the Covered Bridge Tour Route
Optional: Afterwards gather for Lunch at The Barn at Hickory Station
Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/UAAQVyr
We depart at 10 AM for the Covered Bridge Tour Route
Optional: Afterwards gather for Lunch at The Barn at Hickory Station
Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/UAAQVyr
In Marion, Linn, and Lane counties you can find a surprising number of historic covered bridges, and Group Drives Volunteer John Hinshaw has planned a tour that will take us on a scenic country drive to see five among the finest of them. Our thanks to John for planning and running this event. He has prepared a twelve page Google Doc with details about the drive, which you can access here.
We'll meet in Salem at 9:30 for coffee and donuts by the Tesla Superchargers in the Target parking lot, 3790 Center Street NE, Salem, OR 97301. We'll depart at 10 AM on the route in the map below. You can get to the map on Google Maps using this link. After the tour concludes about 12:30 you're invited to join us for lunch at The Barn at Hickory Station, or you can skedaddle if you have pressing things to do. Please sign up here: https://signup.com/go/UAAQVyr so we know how many donuts to bring!
Our next group drive will be in October, the famous Fruit Loop, exploring the fruit stands in the Hood River valley. Details next month.
OEVA Board Election is at the October 8th General Meeting
OEVA Board Election is at the October 8th General Meeting
We're all volunteers here, and everyone is invited to participate at some level:
Attend events, help out at events, volunteer for projects, join the board.
We're all volunteers here, and everyone is invited to participate at some level:
Attend events, help out at events, volunteer for projects, join the board.
Talk with a board member about what you would like to contribute.
Talk with a board member about what you would like to contribute.
Everyone would rather go to a good party, than a drab one. What makes a party good is not the canapes served, it's the enthusiasm the participants bring to the party. At the OEVA, we're all volunteers coming together over our interest in and enjoyment of EVs. Everyone can help out a little bit, and some of us can help out more.
If you attend a General Meeting, you may notice that someone didn't open up the container of the food they brought to share. Take a moment to open the package so it's ready to serve. Before you go home, help clear off the food table. We leave nothing behind. See someone new, go over and say hello to welcome them. Look for the little opportunities to help out.
Volunteer to help put on events, to show your EV, or to share your EV experience. This month's Lake Oswego Clean Energy and EV Fair is a great opportunity. Events where we share our experience with EVs are at the heart of the OEVA.
There are many tasks that help the club, and when a volunteer steps forward to take on that role the OEVA gets better. It needn't be a big time commitment, but it is a big help having someone step up so that task gets handled. What sort of tasks or roles? John Hinshaw organizing group drives. Paul Albertson taking care of OEVA polo shirts and name badges. Sham Datta handling technical issues. Perhaps there is something that you could take on that fits with your interests and time available?
If the success of the transition to EVs is important to you, if it is how you feel drawn to make your contribution to make the world better, consider joining the OEVA leadership team. Board members take on an area of leadership, and step up to make club activities happen from planning to execution. We meet once a month over Google Meet to discuss plans and set the direction for the club.
The world makes demands on us all, but those not yet retired have been particularly hard hit of late. This year all our board members who have full time jobs have had to step back from their service to the club, caught between the rock of job demands and the hard place of family and health issues. The board adjusted for the reduced resources by cancelling our fall National Drive Electric Month event. We'd all like to see the OEVA do more things, not fewer. If you have the time, and along that line particularly to those of us who are retired, consider joining the OEVA board and making a positive contribution to the world.
However you would like to contribute to the success of the club, every effort is welcome. Talk to a board member, Me (Ron Jackson), Morris Green, Bill Meyer, Paul Burkey, and let us know what you would like to do for the club. If you're willing to be someone we can call when we're looking for a volunteer for a one-time task, Bill Meyer is compiling an email list.
If we all put in some effort, the OEVA will grow as a fun, active club.
IMPORTANT NEWS
Oregon DEQ reopens Clean Vehicle Rebate Program for 2026
FREE MONEY!
Oregon DEQ reopens Clean Vehicle Rebate Program for 2026
FREE MONEY!
The New Charge Ahead Rebate is $7,500 on Eligible EV Purchase or Lease.
Hurry, vehicle must be purchased from August 25th to November 4th, 2026.
The New Charge Ahead Rebate is $7,500 on Eligible EV Purchase or Lease.
Hurry, vehicle must be purchased from August 25th to November 4th, 2026.
With the end of the Federal EV rebate program, it seemed like EV incentives are dead. But with the Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program, income qualifying Oregonians can get a rebate of $7,500 on a new EV or $4,000 on a used EV. Higher income individuals can get a $2,000 rebate on a new EV. The maximum income threshold is actually reasonably high, so lots of people will qualify for the larger rebate. The biggest catch is that this rebate only applies on vehicles purchased in a very narrow time window, from August 25th to November 4th, 2026.
All the details of the program are on the DEQ website at this link. If you've been thinking about maybe buying or leasing an EV, check into the program. Lots of EVs are on the Eligible Car List.
We're Losing Level 2 Public chargers
We're Losing Level 2 Public chargers
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield alerts us to the continuing need for them
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield alerts us to the continuing need for them
During the OEVA Group Drive to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum I spoke with Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield of the YouTube channel Transport Evolved. She was driving a new Lightning Mk.II electric motorcycle from HMP. This is a street-legal, DOT-approved combination electric scooter and motorcycle priced starting at $3,999. Range is rather limited, particularly at higher speeds, but as neighborhood or around town transportation (a small town perhaps) this could be a really practical and inexpensive commuter and errand vehicle for some people.
Nikki reminded me that there are not just these new low cost sub-100 mile range EVs in use, but that there are still many early day EVs around that don't have a huge amount of range. Consider that many early Leafs are still essential transportation for some folks, with limited range a problem for their commutes, particularly in winter. Much of the public Level 2 charging infrastructure hasn't been well maintained, and often these chargers are essential for lower range vehicles to get their owners home.
What can we do about this? Let's help get the word out to places that haven't maintained their Level 2 chargers that these chargers are beneficial to many folks, and encourage them to get their chargers working again. If the charger owners hear from folks that these chargers have value, they are a lot more likely to have them repaired. If we just shrug our shoulders and drive off in search of another charger, it just gets worse. Let people know that EV charging is important to us.
Portland E-BIKE Rebate Program
Portland E-BIKE Rebate Program
Low cost electric mobility for modest income Portlanders!
Low cost electric mobility for modest income Portlanders!
Long-time OEVA Member Christopher Holmquist told me about the Portland E-Bike Rebate Program, and this is such a generous deal that I'm sharing the information with you here. The City of Portland rebates range from $1,600 for a standard e-bike, $2,350 for a cargo e-bike, to $8,500 for an adaptive e-bike. Plus up to $300 for accessories.
Requirements include living in the city of Portland, 18 or older, income at or below $52,140 (for households of 1, higher incomes for larger households and adaptive e-bike recipients), other requirements, and purchasing through a participating Portland retailer.
The program provides a purchase voucher, so you are not out the cash for the bicycle while you wait to receive the rebate.
If an electric car is out of reach, but you can get by with an electric bike (and live in the city of Portland), this might be the program for you. Check it out at https://portlandebikerebate.com/
The program is funded with $20 million, and the program will issue rebates several times a year for the next several years.
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