Chicago Drives Electric: MAMA Fall Drive

Chicago Drives Electric: MAMA Fall Drive

OVERVIEW: 

Join MAMA in partnership with the Chicago Automobile Trade Association as we plug into the first ever Chicago Drives Electric event for a comprehensive look at the vehicles and technology that’s driving the EV revolution.

Please join us on Thursday September 29th from 7:15 AM to 4:00 PM at CATA Headquarters where you’ll have the opportunity to drive and compare more than 30 EVs and PHEVs from a wide range of manufacturers including Alfa Romeo, Chevy, Chrysler, Ford, Jeep, Hyundai, Kia, VW, and Volvo. We’ll also have panel discussions on the state of EVs today and a deep dive into charging technologies and infrastructure with industry leaders from companies including Charge Enterprises, Cars.com, Escalent, Guidehouse Research, Powering Chicago, and others.

The event will feature keynote presentations and two panels with EV industry thought leaders. A breakfast presentation of the 2023 Alfa Romeo Tonale will kick off the event, followed by a panel addressing a macroeconomic view of the trends and challenges facing mass EV adoption, ranging from infrastructure shortcomings to cutting-edge battery tech. 

Following the panel, MAMA members will have the opportunity to drive electric vehicles on 20-minute drive routes before we break for lunch. A second panel follows on the microeconomic trends and challenges facing EV intenders and owners.  

The event will take place in alignment with National Drive Electric Week, and will kick off dealer and consumer days of Chicago Drives Electric onsite at CATA over the weekend. 

AGENDA:

7:15 a.m. – Registration opens

8 a.m. – Breakfast and Presentation by Alfa Romeo (atrium)

8:30 a.m. – State of the EV Revolution Presentation

Presenter: KC Boyce, Vice President/Sector Lead, Powertrain Innovation & Energy Transformation, Escalent Research

9-9:45 a.m. – The Electric Car Has Arrived: Now What?

Panelists:

Sam Abuelsamid, Principal Analyst leading Guidehouse Insights' E-Mobility Research Service 

Jennifer Newman, Cars.com Editor in Chief

Sylvia Garcia, Director, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity 

KC Boyce, Escalent Research

Moderator: Harvey Briggs, MAMA President and Author at Rides & Drives

10 a.m. – Test Drives

12:00 - Lunch and Presentation by Cars.com

12:45-1:45 p.m. – Your Electric Car Has Been Ordered: Now What? 

Panelists:

Nicole Antakli, Chief Business Officer, CHARGE Enterprises

Dave Thomas, Director of Content Marketing, CDK Global

Robert Hattier, Business Representative, Powering Chicago 

Melissa Washington, Senior VP Customer Operations, ComED

Moderator: Robert Duffer, MAMA Vice President and Senior Editor, The Car Connection

2-4 p.m. – Test Drives

4 p.m. – Event ends

WHERE:

Chicago Automobile Trade Association

18W200 Butterfield Rd.

Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

PARKING:

Please follow signs to park in the East Side of the Hyundai building lot adjacent to the event location. There will be no media parking on the CATA property.

WHEN: 

Thursday, Sept., 29, 7:15am-4:00pm

HASHTAGS:

#ChicagoDrivesElectric

#MAMA2022FR

#MAMAELECTRIC22