Hillsborough County has first driver’s education program in Florida – and one of the first in the country -- to include electric cars
The first electric vehicle to support Driver’s Education in Florida was delivered to one Hillsborough County high school this week, thanks to a new program from Tampa Electric.
Bloomingdale High School in Valrico is the first school to have a plug-in electric Nissan LEAF as part of its Driver’s Education fleet. In coming weeks, additional LEAFs will be delivered to Sickles and King high schools in Tampa. Students will begin behind-the-wheel training in the electric vehicles next month.
Tampa Electric is the first electric utility in Florida to offer the Electric Vehicle and Energy Education program, an innovative program focused on teaching students about electric vehicle technology. It is one of the first programs of its kind in the country.
“Tampa Electric is proud to work with Hillsborough County Public Schools to launch this exciting program,” said Nancy Tower, president and Chief Executive Officer of Tampa Electric. “This will give students hands-on experience that will help them make informed decisions when they’re ready to purchase their own vehicle.”
Electric vehicles produce less than half the carbon emissions of a traditional gasoline-powered car per year.
The energy experts at Tampa Electric worked closely with the Tampa Bay Clean Cities Coalition and the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) to develop the program’s curriculum and student handbook. Tampa Electric also:
- Funded the chargers and installation at each school.
- Contributes to the monthly lease of the electric vehicles.
The Electric Vehicle and Energy Education program is an extension of Tampa Electric’s popular Energy Education, Awareness and Agency Outreach program. That program offers customers the chance to have an energy expert from Tampa Electric present valuable energy-saving tips and program information at various events.
Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 765,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
