Poker Run for those with electric vehicles at Tahoe Truckee Earth Day

Drive an electric vehicle? All drivers are invited to celebrate Tahoe Truckee Earth Day with a poker run scenic cruise around Lake Tahoe on Saturday, April 21, 2018.

Tahoe Alternative Fuels is hosting the free activity from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the ease and accessibility of driving plug-in electric vehicles in the Tahoe-Truckee Region. Drivers of any electric vehicle are invited to participate in the poker run, enjoy food and drink specials, free charging, and compete for prizes in best hand, worst hand and best mileage/efficiency categories.

Registration and the first card of the poker run will take place at the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Celebration at the Village at Squaw Valley, in the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency booth at 11 a.m. Then it’s off to downtown Truckee for the second stop in the poker run at the train depot’s charging lot. Hosted by the Town of Truckee and Tahoe Donner Public Utility District, this stop offers free charging, give-aways, and plenty of nearby points of interest to visit.

After cruising through scenic mountain meadowscapes and alpine forests to North Lake Tahoe, poker run participants will traverse the East Shore of Lake Tahoe to their next stop: Coachman Hotel in South Lake Tahoe.

This third stop of the poker run will feature appetizers and wine tasting (for those who wish to imbibe) in the Coachman’s lobby, and a chance for drivers to stretch their legs or play some lawn games in their patio area. Free charging will also be available, courtesy of hotel.

Up next, the poker run’s fourth stop will be at one of Lake Tahoe’s newest fast-charge stations. This EVGO station is located in the Raley’s Shopping Center Aisle 1 gas station, at the intersection of US Highway 50 and 89 in South Lake Tahoe.

By now, participants’ poker hands will be shaping up, and a celebratory stop at nearby breweries or tap houses may be in order.

The last leg of the drive will take participants up the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, who can stop to enjoy some of the region’s most photographed areas, like Emerald Bay, before arriving at the Resort at Squaw Creek for the final card of the poker run. The event will conclude at the charging station adjacent to the property, and drivers can then head inside to present their poker hand for prizes and share stories from the road.

This event is made possible by funding from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and California Energy Commission. More information will be shared about the Earth Day Electric Vehicle Poker Run at TahoeAlternativeFuels.com/news-events.

The goal of Tahoe Alternative Fuels is to improve infrastructure to facilitate the use of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) and other zero emission vehicles (ZEV). ZEVs could transform the Tahoe-Truckee Region by dramatically reducing petroleum consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and noise; improving water quality/clarity; and increasing energy independence and transportation choices.