Schenectady Hosts Annual National Drive Electric Event

NY Capital District Drive Electric & Sustainability Fair will be held on Sunday, October 5^th on Liberty Street. On track to be largest event in the country for fourth year in a row.

Schenectady – Mayor Gary McCarthy announced the annual NY Capital District Drive Electric & Sustainability Fair will be held on Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside Schenectady City Hall on Liberty Street during National Drive Electric Month. The event is co-hosted in partnership with the NY Capital District Electric Vehicle Association, Lynkwell, and Schenectady Greenmarket. The event was the largest in the country for the last three years – 2022, 2023 and 2024 – and on track to be the largest again this year for number of attendees and electric vehicles displayed.

“I am pleased for the city to host this successful annual event along with our critical partners to spotlight Schenectady’s history as the Electric City and robust efforts in recent years to support electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure,” Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy said. “We are proud that Schenectady’s event has been the largest in the country for three years in a row, a testament to our commitment in reducing emissions, investing in clean energy alternatives, promoting sustainability, and improving the overall environment and quality of life for residents of our city.”

This year’s event will feature more than 60 personally owned electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles along with ride and drive opportunities presented by Matthews Kia, McGovern Volvo Cars Albany, Metro Ford, and Tesla. Individuals who test drive an EV will be entered into a raffle to win various prizes, including tokens redeemable at Schenectady Greenmarket. New this year will be electric school bus rides courtesy of New York Bus Sales from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with Schenectady County Historian Bill Buell speaking to the history and innovation of the Electric City.

Participating vendors at the event will include dozens of state agencies and representatives, various businesses, non-profit organizations, and local school districts. WEQX 102.7 FM will broadcast again live on site using electric power from a Ford F-150 Lightning, and Liv and Patrick, “The Electric Duo,” will serve as special guests and be on hand for meet-and-greet opportunities throughout the event. The event is held during Schenectady Greenmarket, the weekly local farmers market located on Jay, Franklin and Clinton streets during the outdoor season. Both events foster and help promote climate action and sustainability for a cleaner, greener and healthier environment for residents.

“Over the years, Lynkwell has expanded into one of the nation’s largest EV networks, but our roots will always be in Schenectady,” said Jason Zarillo, president of Lynkwell. “Having our team manufacturing EV charging stations and developing state-of-the-art software in this great city continues to translate into a level of passion and quality for this industry that is simply unmatched. This is why we love partnering on the Drive Electric event each year, it is a celebration of the drive and innovation that is the hallmark of both Lynkwell and this great community.”

“Education remains key to unlocking the benefits of electric vehicles—not just for drivers, but for businesses, schools, and communities,” said Kate Kruk, President of NY Capital District EVA, Vice President of National Electric Vehicle Association, and Event Chair. “This event provides a unique opportunity to meet people who have already integrated EV technology into their daily lives and operations. Studies show that just one ride in an EV makes someone three times more likely to consider it for their next vehicle—and that’s the kind of experience that drives lasting change. I am grateful to our sponsors, partners, and the amazing committee that brings this opportunity to life every year.”

“We at Schenectady Greenmarket are thrilled to participate in the NY Capital District Drive Electric and Sustainability Fair, as this event aligns perfectly with our market’s objectives,” said Ariel White, Schenectady Greenmarket Market Manager. “Schenectady Greenmarket demonstrates its commitment to sustainability weekly through our partnership with Vermicompost for food waste collections. Additionally, we host a small-scale electronics waste drive monthly throughout our outdoor season to support the healthy disposal of e-waste. We look forward to our continued partnership with the City of Schenectady, NY Capital District Electric Vehicle Association and Lynkwell in supporting the community and a sustainable, healthy environment.” 

At the start of this year’s event at 10 a.m., U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko will be accepting the National Electric Vehicle Association’s Legislative Ambassador of the Year Award for 2025. The EVA awards is a celebration of excellence and leadership within the electric vehicle community to accelerate the transition to a cleaner and more electrified future.

Please note that street closures during the event will start at 9 a.m. and run until 2:30 p.m. on Liberty Street from the intersection of Jay Street by the Post Office to the intersection of Lafayette Street by Schenectady Police headquarters. Cars will not be permitted to park on that section of Liberty Street during that time.

“As both an EV owner and a proud advocate for the expansion of EV infrastructure, I’m excited to see the Electric City once again hosting this important National Drive Electric Month event — the largest such event in the nation,” said U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko. “Schenectady has a proud legacy of innovation, from developing storied technologies of the past to driving advancements for the future. Today, the city is recognized as a national leader in the EV industry, earning multiple awards for its pioneering work.”

Tonko continued, “I’m also deeply honored to accept the National Electric Vehicle Association’s Legislative Ambassador of the Year Award — a profound reflection of the progress we’ve made together in advancing clean transportation. I’ve been proud to partner with Mayor McCarthy and the City of Schenectady on this work, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to expand EV adoption and strengthen EV infrastructure here in the Capital Region and across the country.”

Schenectady held the largest attended National Drive Electric event in the United States for the last three years. Register for the event, both as an attendee and/or if you would like to display your electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, to help ensure Schenectady is once again number one in the country: https://driveelectricmonth.org/event?eventid=4716&fbclid=IwY2xjawMZie5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmlCPTP_k1riJ9O_WALCFLZu-_AzLqB0JzetQUSkpko7hu4ZxuQjI_-fcRE4_aem__4h1XvTAA1woDj43FOc2mw.

Special thanks to event sponsors, The Daily Gazette (gold sponsor), National Grid (silver sponsor), McGovern Volvo (bronze sponsor), and premium vendors including Mission Electric/Clean Communities of Western NY and First NY Credit Union.

“The National Grid EV team is proud to support the NY Capital District Drive Electric & Sustainability Fair in Schenectady as part of National Drive Electric Month. We’re always excited to participate in the nation’s top-ranked EV driver event and appreciate the vibrant atmosphere created by the City of Schenectady and the event co-hosts,” said Renee Devine, Manager of NY EV Program Implementation, National Grid, Albany, NY. “At National Grid, many of our team members are EV drivers, and we understand firsthand the importance of reliable and affordable charging access. Through our program offerings, we’ve helped enable the installation of more than 6,000 Level 2 and 600 DCFC charging ports at locations across Upstate New York. We also support affordable at-home charging for residential customers through our EV Charge Smart Program. These efforts, alongside the state’s initiatives, will help ensure access to dependable charging across our service territory and promote the cost benefits associated with EV ownership. We’re excited about the road ahead and invite everyone to join us on this journey toward a cleaner, electrified future.”

The City of Schenectady was previously recognized as a winner of Plug In America’s Drive Electric Award for 2024. The EV City Award recognizes a city that has been a leader in the EV movement and has taken significant action to increase EV adoption. The City of Schenectady was also named EV City of the Year in 2022 by the Electric Vehicle Association.

National Drive Electric Month encourages electric vehicle drivers and enthusiasts to attend and register for events happening across the country during the month of September 12-October 12, 2025. The goal is to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles, and more.

About Electric Vehicle Association

The Electric Vehicle Association is North America’s leading nonprofit that accelerates the adoption of electric vehicles by supporting its 100 chapters and thousands of members as they educate their communities about the benefits of driving electric. The NY Capital District EVA is comprised of over 100 volunteer EV drivers, enthusiasts, advocates, and allies who share their passion for electric mobility through participation in and coordination of community events, activities, and educational sessions.

About Lynkwell

Lynkwell is a leading energy infrastructure development company focused on connecting renewable generation, battery storage, utilities, and microgrids with next-generation fueling technologies. Ranked as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States for the last three years, Lynkwell’s leadership is bolstered by its top 10 nationwide cloud-based EV charging software platform, which hosts dozens of EV charging networks and manages 10,000 assets. With a curated catalog of more than 500 products from leading global OEMs plus its own XLynk™ charger, Lynkwell’s unique combination of full deployment solutions and energy integrations gives all clean energy stakeholders the power to thrive. Since 2016, the company has been instrumental in establishing private and public charging solutions and supporting infrastructure to empower America’s growing clean energy revolution.

About Schenectady Greenmarket

Since 2008, Schenectady Greenmarket has been the place to buy fresh local produce and artisan goods in a festive community atmosphere. Schenectady Greenmarket is a year-round weekly farmers market in downtown Schenectady held every Sunday from 10am-2pm outside City Hall and inside Proctors with more than 70 vendors. Visit www.schenectadygreenmarket.com for more information

Read the original press release: City of Schenectady