EVs Roll Into Calgary: Plug’n Drive and The City of Calgary Bring Free Test Drives to Southcentre Mall

From April 24 to May 18, local drivers can get behind the wheel of six different electric vehicles, ask questions of EV owners, and explore charging support programs like ChargeYYC

CALGARY, AB –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– The Cityof Calgary and Plug’n Drive will bring a fleet of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles for test drives as well as key information direct to consumers from April 24 to May 18 for MEET Calgary at the Southcentre Mall, at 100 Anderson Rd SE, Calgary, AB T2J 3V1.

This will be the second stop of the Western leg of Plug’n Drive’s EVs are for EVeryone Cross Canada Tour, a groundbreaking initiative bringing electric vehicle (EV) education and test drives to communities across the country, brought to the Calgary area in part by Tour National Champion, RBC.

With The City of Calgary as Local Presenting Sponsor of MEET Calgary at the Southcentre Mall as well as at two other EV Roadshows in the city, there will be multiple opportunities for local drivers to sample a variety of EVs, and ask any questions of the local EV Ambassadors – many of whom are EV owners themselves.

“Electric vehicles are a growing part of the automotive landscape, and we are excited to partner with Plug’n Drive to bring free EV test drives directly to Calgarians,” said Jordan Carrier, Public Program Coordinator for The City of Calgary. “Promoting low-carbon transportation is key to fostering healthier communities.”

The City of Calgary will be highlighting its ChargeYYC program, a pilot program that aims to help multi-unit residential buildings install EV chargers, with up to $4,000 in public funding potentially available.

“Electric vehicles are a great way to reduce your fuel bills and emissions, but it can be challenging for drivers who don’t have a garage or driveway to charge overnight,” said Grace Brown, Corporate Environmental Specialist in Electric Mobility for The City of Calgary. “The ChargeYYC program aims to help multi-residential building owners and condo boards start planning the best EV charging solutions for their residents.”  

Experience EV Test Drives with Plug’n Drive

There will be a selection of EVs available to test drive, from these leading EV brands: Chevrolet, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and Volvo.

Organizing the test drives and answering EV questions will be EV Ambassadors from Canadian non-profit Plug’n Drive, which is taking a fleet of EVs to communities across the country during this National Tour.

“Our goal is to make EVs feel more familiar and accessible to everyone,” said Edmund Ong, onsite Team Leader for MEET Calgary. “These test drive events give people a chance to get behind the wheel in a relaxed setting and ask all the questions they’ve been curious about—whether it’s about range, charging, or how EVs handle Alberta winters.”

List of EVs Available for Test Drives

• 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
• 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
• 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 Crossover
• 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Sedan
• 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
• 2024 Volvo XC60 AWD Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)

Interested drivers at the Southcentre Mall can book test drives in advance, though drop-ins will be welcome as well. Test drivers must be 21 with a valid full/unrestricted Class 5 driver’s license.

Hours for MEET Calgary Test Drives

• Thursday April 24 to Sunday April 27, 2025, 10:00 am – 5 pm
• Thursday May 1 to Sunday May 4, 2025, 10:00 am – 5 pm
• Thursday May 8 to Sunday May 11, 2025, 10:00 am – 5 pm
• Thursday May 15 to Sunday May 18, 2025, 10:00 am – 5 pm

Other EV Test Drive Locations

Branching out from MEET Calgary, EV Roadshows will also bring EV test drives and EV education to four other locations in or near Calgary during those four weeks. These include:

EV Roadshow: City of Calgary and L.A.D.’s Auto
April 28 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
NAPA AUTOPRO – L.A.D.’s AUTO | Map
3826 16 St. S.E.
Calgary, AB  T2G 3R7
Co-presented by The City of Calgary

EV Roadshow: City of Calgary and Kraken Auto
April 29 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
NAPA AUTOPRO NexDrive Certified – Kraken Auto & Tireland | Map
2201 Kensington Rd. N.W.
Calgary, AB  T2N 3R9
Co-presented by The City of Calgary

EV Roadshow: Airdrie
May 5-7 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
NAPA AUTOPRO NexDrive Certified – My Garage Auto & Tire | Map
93 Gateway Dr. N.E., #1006
Airdrie, AB  T4B 0J6

EV Roadshow: Lethbridge
May 13-14 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
NAPA AUTOPRO – Subway Automotive Service | Map
136 N. Mayor Magrath Dr. N.
Lethbridge, AB  T1H 3P5

“As Tour Site Sponsor, our network is very excited to be able to bring these many EV Roadshows to the communities where we operate,” said Yves Racette, Program Development Director at NAPA Canada. “It gives our customers a chance to explore EVs firsthand while showing how NexDrive is ready to support their shift to electric with expert service across Canada.”

Media and Public Invited to Engage with Plug’n Drive

Plug’n Drive representatives will be available to both media and the public throughout the duration of MEET Calgary, and are encouraged to contact Plug’n Drive for more information.

“Test driving an EV for the first time is often a memorable experience, with many drivers surprised at their luxurious feel and quick responses,” said Tracy Walden, Vice President of Engagement at Plug’n Drive. “Even with lower gas prices seen recently, there are still cost, emissions and performance benefits in driving an EV.”

For more information about MEET Calgary, or any of the EV Roadshows, visit the event’s official website.

In summer, Plug’n Drive will return to Calgary, so look for MEET Calgary at Plug’n Drive’s EVs are for EVeryone Cross Canada Tour from July 24 to August 17, 2025.

Anticipated Tour Schedule

MEET Western Canada 2025

• April 3-20 MEET Kelowna BC
• Apr 24-May 18 MEET Calgary AB
• May 22 – Jun 8 MEET Saskatoon SK
• Jun 12-29 MEET Winnipeg MB
• Jul 3-20 MEET Regina SK
• Jul 24-Aug 17 MEET Calgary AB
• Aug 21-Sep 7 MEET Edmonton AB
• Sep 11-28 MEET Banff AB
• Oct 2-19 MEET Canmore AB
• Oct 23-Nov 10 MEET Vancouver Island BC

MEET Eastern Canada 2025

• Apr 10-27 MEET St. Thomas ON
• May 1-18 MEET Orangeville ON
• May 22-Jun 8 MEET Sudbury ON
• Jun 12-22 MEET Gatineau QC
• Jun 26-Jul 13 MEET L’Ancienne-Lorette QC
• Jul 17-Aug 3 MEET Grand Falls NB
• Aug 7-24 MEET Halifax/Dartmouth NS
• Aug 28-Sep 14 MEET Moncton NB
• Sep 18-Oct 5 MEET Rimouski QC
• Oct 9-26 MEET Trois Rivière QC
• Oct 30-Nov 16 MEET St-Jérôme QC

Learn about Plug’n Drive’s EVs are for Everyone Cross-Canada Tour. 

About Plug’n Drive

Plug’n Drive is a not-for-profit organization accelerating EV adoption in Canada to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of an electrified transportation sector. Our vision is to help Canada achieve its goal of 100% electric vehicle sales by 2035 or earlier. Since 2011, we have made incredible strides in our mission through a variety of consumer education programs, including the launch of the world’s first Electric Vehicle Discovery Centre (EVDC) in Toronto, the Electric Vehicle Roadshow event series as well as the Mobile EV Education Trailer (MEET). Our corporate partnerships include EV auto manufacturers, utilities, EV charger manufacturers, and others. For more information about Plug’n Drive’s programs, services, and events, visit plugndrive.ca and sign up for our newsletter. Join our community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Alan Downward, Communications Advisor
Plug’n Drive
alan@plugndrive.ca
(647) 449-9715