A beautiful Arizona morning set the stage for DRIVE Electric Arizona’s February EV Rally, as 18 electric vehicles and 25 participants gathered in Wickenburg to explore new charging infrastructure and connect with fellow EV drivers.

The group met at the newly opened Tesla Supercharger in Wickenburg, where drivers had the opportunity to try out the new chargers, check out the site, and catch up with other members of Arizona’s growing EV community. Conversations ranged from road trip planning and charging strategies to new vehicle experiences and the rapidly expanding fast-charging network across the state.

At 11:00 AM, the group made the short drive into downtown Wickenburg for lunch at Anita’s Cocina, where most of the attendees continued the conversation over great food. Conveniently located next to the Rivian Adventure Network chargers, the stop also gave participants a chance to see Rivian’s fast-charging site up close.

The Rivian charging station now includes two NACS plugs in addition to four CCS plugs. This is an early example of how non-Tesla charging networks are beginning to adopt the NACS charging standard, reflecting the broader industry shift toward a more unified charging connector for electric vehicles.

These new Tesla and Rivian charging installations represent an important step forward for EV travel in Arizona. Both sites are accessible to all EV makes with the appropriate adapters, dramatically improving the charging corridor between the Phoenix area, Wickenburg, and Kingman.

Beyond the meetup itself, the rally served as a preview of the upcoming Historic Route 66 Fun Run taking place in May. With new charging options now available in Wickenburg, the route from the Valley to Kingman is becoming increasingly EV-friendly, opening the door for more drivers to experience Arizona’s historic Route 66 in an electric vehicle.

Events like this highlight what makes the EV community special: a welcoming group of drivers sharing real-world experiences, exploring new infrastructure together, and helping make electric transportation more accessible across Arizona.

Valley of the Sun Electric Vehicle Association and DRIVE Electric Arizona extend a sincere thank you to everyone who came out, helping make the February rally a relaxed and enjoyable gathering and another step forward for EV travel in our state.

Photo credit: Rachel Culin