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ST. LOUIS — The IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection partnership, which has been instrumental in developing infrastructure to support electric vehicles, is supporting the Saint Louis Science Center’s annual Electric Vehicle Show. The family fun event will be held at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festivities will include free test drives of electric vehicles and activities and demonstrations to educate the public about electric vehicles. Tesla, Leaf and Volt models along with homemade conversion cars will be on display.

In 2011, the IBEW/NECA partnership undertook an effort to ensure the success of the electric vehicle market by developing quality, licensed contractors and electricians to install the necessary electric infrastructure to support the vehicles. Working with automakers, utility companies, charging station manufacturers and other stakeholders, IBEW/NECA began offering the first-ever Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP). The program ensures the reliability of fixed charging stations. The training is aligned with article 625 of the National Electrical Code, which covers electrical vehicle charging systems. To date, more than 300 IBEW apprentices and journey workers have completed the EVITP curriculum at the IBEW/NECA Electrical Industry Training Center in St. Louis.

“Our support of the Saint Louis Science Center’s efforts is most often encountered through its ‘Evie’ electric van, which is used to educate the public about electric vehicles,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president of the Electrical Connection. “That education includes the necessary infrastructure to support the industry. Without charging stations, there wouldn’t be electric vehicles.”

The weekend celebration of electric vehicles at the Saint Louis Science Center coincides with National Drive Electric Week. For more information on the event, visit www.slsc.org.

 

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The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Members of the Electrical Connection provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.