The Rural Reimagined Project provides free two to six week electric vehicle (EV) test drives to businesses and local governments across the rural Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia, allowing rural residents of these states to build a foundational knowledge in electric transportation methods through firsthand experience. A Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Bolt EUV are available for local governments.
In addition to distribution of valuable information concerning operation and maintenance of electric vehicles, the Rural Reimagined Project further addresses EV charging infrastructure development, delivery/instrumentation of EVs, workforce training, economic development, general outreach activities, data collection and analysis of data.
With EV charging infrastructure across rural areas being limited and 41.62% of counties within the Appalachian Region holding the label of economically “distressed” or “at-risk,” the Rural Reimagined program in conjunction with its partners aim to address these barriers through rural EV exposure, growth of infrastructure, EV adoption and increased awareness of green employment opportunities. Utilizing public outreach, training and education of rural communities on the benefits of a thriving EV ecosystem, the Rural Reimagined project will facilitate growth of low-cost, sustainable transportation methods.
Main Components
The project proposal is split into three phases over the course of 39 months (10/01/2021 to 12/31/2024) covering everything EV related, including:
- Management and Planning
- Charging Network Development
- Delivery & Instrumentation of Plug-in EVs (PEVs)
- Go/No-Go Decision Points
- EV Demonstrations
- Data Collection & Analysis
- Outreach & Education
- Training & Economic Development
Project Links
For more information about the Rural Reimagined program, click below.
If you’re a local government in Virginia, click below for the opportunity to borrow an EV.
In addition to the vehicle loaner part of this project, we will also be aiming to develop a broad EV charging station network.
Project Partners
Additional Information:
To learn more about the project, visit the Rural Reimagined Project website here. If you’re a local government, you can also sign up here for the opportunity to borrow and test drive an EV. For any other questions, please email mwade@vacleancities.org.