DRIVE Electric Arizona

What DRIVE Electric Arizona does

DRIVE Electric Arizona is a statewide nonprofit organization (fiscally-sponsored by TAPAZ, a 501(c)(3) incorporated in Arizona) that accelerates electric vehicle adoption through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Phoenix, the organization serves Arizona residents considering EV ownership, current EV owners seeking community connection, and underserved segments including Native American communities (22 federally recognized tribes) and rural residents. Its core offerings are organized around four regional chapters (Route 66 Kingman, Tucson, Three Rivers Tribes/Native Nations, and Valley of the Sun) and six working groups (Charging Infrastructure, Dealer Engagement, Fleet Engagement, Native Communities, Rural Interests, and State and Local Government). Primary programs include hands-on Ride & Drive events, the Spirit of Arizona bilingual ambassador project, the Trusted EV Dealership certification program, an EV Charger Installer Directory, and educational content delivered via website, blog, and monthly newsletter.

The organization operates without any proprietary technology platform; it is a delivery and community-building entity, not a software or hardware vendor. Its value is generated through volunteer-powered in-person events and stakeholder coordination. Business model: DRIVE Electric Arizona is funded through individual donations (collected via Fundrazr), corporate sponsorships from utilities and dealerships (SRP, APS, TEP, San Tan Ford, etc.), and in-kind support. All services — events, education, advocacy, and resources — are provided free of charge to participants. The organization had 7 employees and a small volunteer leadership team as of the data, and was recognized by DRIVE Electric USA as a model state-based program for national replication. Its strategic position rests on its network of multi-stakeholder partnerships rather than any technical differentiation.

Name

DRIVE Electric Arizona

Legal name

DRIVE Electric Arizona

Website

https://driveelectricaz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DRIVE Electric Arizona is a statewide nonprofit (fiscally-sponsored by TAPAZ) that accelerates EV adoption across Arizona through volunteer-powered Ride & Drive events, regional chapters, the Trusted EV Dealership Program, and specialized outreach to tribal and rural communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Vehicle Advocacy and Education Services

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

EV Charging Infrastructure & Management (EDALAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Managed EV Charging Software (Residential, Fleet, Workplace) (EUAFAMAA)

Keywords

• Electric vehicle education
• EV community outreach
• Ride and Drive events
• Clean transportation advocacy
• EV adoption programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization accepts donations through Fundrazr and other platforms to support operations, event hosting, and EV education initiatives.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors (utilities, dealerships, and businesses) provide financial and in-kind support in exchange for visibility and partnership with the EV advocacy community.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

DRIVE Electric Arizona is a statewide nonprofit organization that accelerates electric vehicle adoption in Arizona through free community education, advocacy, and hands-on events. Its core offerings include public Ride & Drive test-drive events, regional volunteer chapters, specialized working groups (fleets, charging infrastructure, dealerships, tribal communities, rural areas, and government), a Trusted EV Dealership certification program, an EV Charger Installer Directory, a Spirit of Arizona bilingual outreach project, and online educational resources, all provided at no charge to participants.

Product overview

DRIVE Electric Arizona is a statewide nonprofit organization (fiscally-sponsored by TAPAZ) that functions as a community-based platform rather than a single product. The organization's core offerings center on accelerating EV adoption through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Its primary services include Ride & Drive Events (hands-on test drive experiences), the Spirit of Arizona ambassador project (bilingual outreach to underserved communities), an EV Information Resource center, a Chapter Program (local volunteer-driven groups), specialized Working Groups (addressing infrastructure, fleets, tribal communities, rural interests, and government policy), a Trusted EV Dealership Program (certification for quality EV retailers), an EV Charger Installer Directory, and regular newsletters/news updates. These interconnected services work together to provide end-to-end support for Arizona residents considering EV adoption, from initial education through vehicle purchase and charging infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ride & Drive Events Hands-on community events that allow attendees to test drive a variety of electric vehicle models, speak with current EV owners, and learn about charging, incentives, and real-world ownership experiences in a low-pressure educational setting. Free and open to the public, hosted throughout Arizona.
• Spirit of Arizona A rolling ambassador project that brings EV education directly to communities using visual storytelling, QR codes, and bilingual resources to make EV benefits tangible for tribal and underserved communities.
• EV Information Resources Comprehensive educational resources covering EV basics, charging infrastructure, cost comparisons, incentives and rebates, dealership information, and Arizona-specific EV guidance accessible to consumers online.
• Chapter Program Volunteer-driven local groups organized by region (Route 66 Kingman, Native Nations, Tucson, Valley of the Sun) that focus on community engagement, policy advocacy, and stakeholder collaboration to promote EV adoption in specific Arizona areas.
• Trusted EV Dealership Program A certification program recognizing Arizona dealerships that demonstrate excellence in EV sales and service, meeting standards for reliability, education, assurance, engagement, accuracy, and verification.
• EV Charger Installer Directory A curated directory of Arizona-based EV charging station installation companies serving residential and commercial customers across different regions of the state.
• Working Groups Program Specialized committees addressing specific EV adoption barriers including Charging Infrastructure, Dealer Engagement, Fleet Engagement, Native Communities, Rural Interests, and State and Local Government advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fuel cost savings of $3-5 per 100 miles for typical off-peak home charging vs. ~$13 per 100 miles for gasoline at 24.4 mpg and $3.27/gallon in Arizona.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, flagship and minor.

• TAPAZ (Technical Assistance Partnership of Arizona)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRIVE Electric Arizona is a fiscally-sponsored project of TAPAZ, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in Arizona. TAPAZ provides administrative and fiduciary oversight as the parent organization.
• DRIVE Electric USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDRIVE Electric Arizona is the leading state-based program for DRIVE Electric USA initiative, which is developing state-based programs across the United States. DRIVE Electric Arizona serves as a model for other states.
• American Lung AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'State of the Air: Burden Report' initiative. DRIVE Electric Arizona is a participating partner in distributing free PurpleAir air quality monitors to Arizona residents as part of efforts to track and combat air pollution.
• Historic Electric Vehicle FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Route 66 Kingman Chapter, which aims to remove barriers to EV adoption across Mohave County while honoring Kingman's Route 66 heritage. The chapter launched at the Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation EV Museum.
• Valley of the Sun Electric Vehicle Association (VOTSEVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOTSEVA is the founding chapter of DRIVE Electric Arizona and continues as a key partner. VOTSEVA celebrated its 4th anniversary and co-sponsors events with DRIVE Electric Arizona throughout the state.
• Salt River Project (SRP)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSRP is a key sponsor and partner, providing vehicles for static displays (Ford F-150 Lightning) and co-hosting events including Earth Day celebrations and public ride and drives. SRP offers EV-specific programs and rebates.
• San Tan FordflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Trusted EV Dealership that hosts DRIVE Electric Arizona events and provides generous support including Ford Mustang e-Bike raffle giveaways. San Tan Ford's dealer principal Tim Hovik has been interviewed about EV sales strategies.
• Arizona Public Service (APS)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Arizona utility providing EV-specific rate plans and rebates. DRIVE Electric Arizona links to APS resources for EV owners including time-of-use charging plans with off-peak rates as low as 3-8 cents per kWh.
• Tucson Electric Power (TEP)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerTucson-area utility partner offering EV rebates up to $500 on residential Level-2 chargers and $4,000-$20,500 for commercial and fast-charging installations. Co-hosts Ride & Drive events in the Tucson area.
• Plug In AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational EV advocacy organization. Hans Klose, Chair of DRIVE Electric Arizona's Native Communities working group and Tribal Nations Chapter President, serves on the board of Plug In America.
• City of PhoenixmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of Phoenix Ride & Drive events. City partnership demonstrates municipal support for EV adoption and clean transportation initiatives.
• City of TucsonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerImplemented EV readiness ordinance requiring charging infrastructure in all new commercial, multi-family, office, and single-family homes since December 2022. Partnership supports DRIVE Electric Tucson chapter launch.
• Valley of the Sun Clean Cities CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohn Martinson, Co-Founder and President of DRIVE Electric Arizona, was elected to the Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition Board, strengthening ties between the organizations.
• Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerADOT is implementing the NEVI program for EV charging infrastructure across Arizona highways with $76.5M in federal funding. DRIVE Electric Arizona engages with ADOT on charging infrastructure working group advocacy.
• Arizona Impact for GoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization listed on the website's charging station locator page, indicating collaborative relationship for EV resources.
• Electrify ExpominorGTM or Marketing PartnerDRIVE Electric Arizona volunteers tabled at Electrify Expo Phoenix, speaking to nearly 400 people at the event that draws 25,000+ spectators. Partnership provides access to large-scale EV showcase events.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Veloz: California-based EV-advocacy nonprofit that runs statewide consumer-awareness campaigns ('Electric for All') and brings together utilities, automakers, and clean-transportation stakeholders — directly comparable model to DRIVE Electric Arizona, but focused on California.
• Valley of the Sun Clean Cities Coalition: DOE-designated Clean Cities Coalition serving the Phoenix metro whose co-hosting with DRIVE Electric Arizona on Ride & Drive events and whose board seats DRIVE Electric Arizona leadership. Closest functional peer in Arizona for fleet electrification and public EV education.
• Forth: Oregon-based mobility-advocacy nonprofit advancing electric car, bike, and transit adoption through public engagement, policy advocacy, and ride-and-drive programming — same community-based EV-adoption model operating in another Western state.
• Plug In America: National nonprofit EV-advocacy organization that educates consumers, shapes policy, and supports EV adoption — the same core mission as DRIVE Electric Arizona but at multi-state scale. Notably, DRIVE Electric Arizona's Tribal Nations chair Hans Klose serves on Plug In America's board, evidencing direct organizational overlap.
• Electric Vehicle Association (EVA): National umbrella body that supports local chapters, including VOTSEVA (DRIVE Electric Arizona's founding chapter), and publishes educational resources. EVA's EV Student of the Year award was given to DRIVE Electric Arizona-affiliated volunteer Nathan Culin, evidencing the organizations' close integration.

Broad incumbents

• Atlas Public Policy: Policy-research firm tracking state EV adoption, charging infrastructure, and utility programs — operates adjacent to DRIVE Electric Arizona's advocacy and infrastructure working groups and produces comparable Arizona-focused data the organization cites.
• Electrification Coalition: National business-led nonprofit promoting fleet and consumer electrification through policy and deployment work — broader scale than DRIVE Electric Arizona but operates comparable state-level EV-adoption programming.

Emerging players

• Coltura: Nonprofit focused specifically on accelerating EV adoption in rural America — directly comparable mission to DRIVE Electric Arizona's Rural Interests working group, with a stronger national rural-curriculum specialization.

Others

• American Lung Association (Air Quality & EV Programs): National health nonprofit partnered with DRIVE Electric Arizona on State of the Air and PurpleAir distribution — comparable as a mission-aligned funder/partner rather than a direct competitor, but operates adjacent EV-advocacy programming through state chapters.

Regional players

• Drive Electric Colorado: State-level sibling organization under the DRIVE Electric USA umbrella operating in Colorado — directly analogous model in a neighboring state, with which DRIVE Electric Arizona's Tucson chapter leader previously volunteered.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drive-electric-arizona

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DRIVE Electric Arizona