Garden City Center hosted the third annual Rhode Island Drive Electric Day on Saturday, Sept. 10. Electric vehicle drivers, enthusiasts, and intrigued local residents attended the show to learn about the benefits of electric cars as part of National Drive Electric Week.

The Rhode Island event is one of more than 224 across the country in which electric vehicle owners and their neighbors participate in electric car parades, “tailpipe-free” tailgate parties, recognition of leaders promoting electric vehicles, and launches of new public charging stations. There were also raffles and giveaways.

There are more than 400 electric vehicles registered in Rhode Island, and Garden City has two charging stations. Vehicles by Chevrolet, Nissan, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, and BMW were among those on hand for the event.

The electricity used at the event was matched with clean, New England wind power thanks to a collaboration with People’s Power & Light.

Ocean State Clean Cities, the URI Outreach Center, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, and Drive Electric-New England teamed up with National Drive Electric Week national organizers Plug-In America, the Sierra Club, and the Electric Auto Association to put on the event. Sponsors included Peoples Power and Light, National Grid, ChargePort, Speedcraft VW, BMW of Warwick, and Paul Masse.