Free Electric-Car Test Drives Offered at Peninsula Community Festivals

Free test drives of electric vehicles will be offered in August and September at four community festivals on the Peninsula.

Peninsula Clean Energy is sponsoring the events in Burlingame, Menlo Park, Foster City and Redwood City as part of a program aimed to reduce vehicle emissions.

"Electric vehicles are affordable and save drivers over $1,200 a year on maintenance and fuel costs compared to an average gas-powered car," said CEO Jan Pepper of the clean energy agency, which is San Mateo County's officials electricity provider.

The clean energy agency provides incentives for buying or leasing a new EV, subsidies for low-income purchasers of used electric vehicles and supports installation of new local electric vehicle charging stations.

Anyone with a valid driver's license can test an EV at the events: Facebook Festival on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Facebook HQ, 1 Hacker Way in Menlo Park.

Burlingame on the Ave on Sunday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in downtown Burlingame, on the corner of Burlingame Ave and Lorton Avenue.

Foster City Summer Days on Saturday Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Leo J. Ryan Memorial Park Downtown Redwood City on Tuesday, Sept. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the corner of Winslow Street and Hamilton Street.