City of Indianapolis to be recognized as "E-Visionary"

BARCELONA, Spain--Nov. 20, 2013: The City of Indianapolis will be honored today as an "E-Visionary" in recognition of Mayor Gregory Ballard's work to expand electric mobility and reduce the U.S. dependence on gasoline. The award will be presented during the closing session of the 27th Annual Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition (EVS27) in Barcelona, Spain.

"Mayor Ballard is working tirelessly to free Indianapolis, and our nation, from a crippling dependence on a monopoly fuel. He is pioneering innovative solutions for his city's transportation needs, and it is a tremendous honor for me to present Indianapolis with this E-Visionary award during EVS27," said Brian Wynne, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association.

The E-Visionary Award is presented by the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA) to cities and regions across the globe for initiatives to promote electric vehicles as a sustainable mode of transportation, and for making electric mobility a reality in the lives of their inhabitants. The Electric Drive Transportation Association represents the North American branch of WEVA.

Last year, Mayor Ballard signed an executive order to require that Indianapolis replace its nearly 500 non-police sedans with electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, and sought partnership with automakers to develop a plug-in hybrid police car. Additionally, the City of Indianapolis and the Bolloré Group last year signed a contract to develop the nation's largest all-electric car share program. Expected to launch in 2014, the program will comprise 500 electric vehicles, 200 rental points and 1,200 charging stations.

Wynne continued, "EVS27 is an annual event where leaders from across the world gather to exchange blueprints for success with electric drive. This is a perfect stage to spotlight how Indy is changing the way we move our cities, and for global leaders to take notes from Mayor Ballard's playbook."