OCEAN CITY- A parade of modern-day technology in Tesla cars will make a presence in Ocean City next month.
This week, Tesla Road Trip came before the Mayor and City Council requesting approval of a new private event, Tesla Road Trip 2015 – Reach the Beach, to take place on Saturday, April 18, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Tesla Motors, Inc. is an American company that designs, manufactures, and sells electric cars and electric vehicle powertrain components.
“Our group is a group of Tesla electric car fans,” Lanny Hartmann of Tesla Road Trip said. “The Tesla is a car that is manufactured in California that is all electric, and can go about 250 miles before they need to be recharged.”
Hartmann explained for Tesla car owners from the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area they have enough power to make it to Ocean City but would have to recharge before the trip home.
“In Ocean City, there are not any public recharging stations, so it has been a challenge to get here and back home but in November, Tesla installed a half dozen of what they call Supercharger stations at the mall in Salisbury, and that will enable us to make the trip just fine. They just top off at the mall, continue on to Ocean City, spend a few days driving around town, and if they need to they top off again on the way home,” Hartmann said. “Our idea is to demonstrate to the Tesla owners that live in Baltimore and Washington D.C. that they can reach the beach. Once they learn they can bring their cars here we hope that they return this summer to have their family vacation.”
Tesla Road Trip 2015 – Reach the Beach event will consist of a photo taken of all participating vehicles, an information session, Boardwalk recreation for participants, and ending with a Boardwalk parade.
According to Private Events Coordinator Lisa Mitchell, originally the applicant requested to use the northernmost section of the Inlet Parking Lot. However, due to another private event, Komen Race for the Cure, setup city staff offered the applicant an alternative portion of the Inlet Parking Lot. The parking revenue lost will be reimbursed to the town by the event.
When the event was first presented to the Recreation and Parks Commission last week, the commission considered potential pedestrian traffic on the Boardwalk at that time and it was decided the parade should begin south on the concrete tram lane and continue north around the pier to either North Division St. or 4th St., where the parade would enter onto the Boardwalk and continue north, exiting on 27th St. In conjunction with the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD), Mitchell will have final approval on which street is used to make the changeover.
Also, in case of unusually large crowds on the Boardwalk at the time of the parade, the parade portion of the event may be cancelled by Mitchell in conjunction with the OCPD. This will only occur if city staff feels the parade may be too hazardous for Boardwalk pedestrians.
The estimated fiscal impact is the Town will generate $450 in revenue from Private Event Fees, as well as about $660 in revenue generated from Asset and Support Fees.
“It is really cool. The only place I have seen a Tesla is on Two and a Half Men, so it is going to really fun to see one in person,” Council Secretary Mary Knight said, as she made a motion to approve the private event request.
The council voted 5-0 to approve with council members Wayne Hartman and Matthew James absent.