Plug In America invites you to submit a nomination for the 2025 Drive Electric Awards. These awards are given annually to individuals, public entities, private companies, and academic pioneers who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the electric vehicle (EV) movement. Your nomination is an opportunity to recognize a leader, innovator, or advocate whose efforts and dedication have significantly advanced EV adoption and awareness. Help us recognize and celebrate the hard work and achievements of those leading the EV movement.
Submitting a nomination | Submission process | Timelines & deadlines | Submission tips | Award descriptions & key criteria
Submitting a nomination is easy
We know submitting a thorough nomination takes time and we appreciate the effort you put into helping to identify outstanding nominees. Our two-phase nomination process is designed to minimize your workload while maximizing the impact of your nomination.
Phase one – Initial nomination
- Complete the nomination form with basic information about the nominee and why you believe they deserve a Drive Electric Award. This phase is straightforward and only requires a brief overview of the nominee’s qualifications and achievements.
- By simplifying the initial nomination, we aim to make it easy for everyone to participate. Your input in this phase helps us identify candidates who demonstrate exceptional promise and potential.
Phase two – Finalist nomination
- If your nominee advances to the finalist round, you will be asked to answer additional questions, share supplementary details, and/or provide supporting materials.
- By splitting the process into two phases, we ensure your time and effort are invested where it matters most. Supported by the information you provide in the finalist nomination, finalists undergo a more thorough evaluation allowing us to make well-informed decisions about the ultimate recipients of the award.
We believe this approach strikes a balance between simplicity and thoroughness, empowering you to nominate deserving candidates without overwhelming demands on your time.
Submission process
- Anyone may submit nominations for the Drive Electric Awards. Self-nominations are welcome.
- We encourage nominators to preview the questions in the nomination form and prepare your responses in advance. Feel free to draft your answers in a separate document and then copy/paste them into the form when you’re ready.
- Upon submission, you will receive a confirmation email.
Submission timeline and deadlines
- Drive Electric Award Nominations are submitted through this form. The initial nomination form submission deadline has been extended to Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
- Nominators will be notified if their nominee is selected to advance to the finalist round by Friday, August 22, 2025. A link to the finalist nomination form will be provided at that time.
- Finalist nomination submissions will be open from Friday, August 22, through Wednesday, September 3. The finalist nomination form submission deadline is Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
- The Plug In America Drive Electric Awards announcement will take place this year as an Instagram Live event on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Save the date – more information coming soon!
Pro tips for excellent submissions
Initial nomination:
- Ensure your nominee aligns well with the award category you select to submit them for.
- Submit concise, informative answers.
- Bullet point statements highlighting the nominee’s qualifications, achievements, and the impact of their work are welcome.
- Present compelling evidence that showcases why the nominee stands out in their field and should be advanced as a finalist.
- Don’t get wrapped up in the formalities of submitting a perfectly written narrative. We’re not judging your writing skills; we’re assessing your nominee’s impact on EV adoption and advocacy.
Finalist nomination:
- Repeating information submitted in your initial nomination is welcome, however we advise providing additional details. This may include expanding answers to mention specific examples, anecdotes, and/or further evidence of impact, such as statistics, testimonials, or case studies that underscore the nominee’s achievements.
- You are welcome to identify a co-nominator to complete the second phase of the nomination process. This phase focuses on gathering more in-depth information about the finalist and we welcome you to collaborate with anyone who can speak in-depth about the nominee’s work. As self-nominations are welcome, you may also consult directly with the person you have nominated at this stage.
Award descriptions and key criteria
Business Leadership Award
Recognizes a for-profit business that has advanced the EV industry through innovation, strategic investment, or market transformation. This may include product development, technology breakthroughs, infrastructure deployment, or business models that expand EV accessibility or accelerate adoption.
Key Criteria:
- Market impact and innovation
- Contribution to EV infrastructure, adoption, or awareness
- Leadership in sustainability and corporate responsibility
- Potential for scaling and industry influence
**Marketing-only efforts should be submitted under the EV Storytelling & Marketing Award. Individual staff or volunteers should be submitted under the Advocate or Community Changemaker Awards.
Community Changemaker Award
Recognizes an individual making a meaningful difference in their community by championing EV education, outreach, or awareness. This award honors grassroots leaders who are helping others understand the benefits of going electric—whether through public events, school programs, peer engagement, or other local initiatives.
Key Criteria:
- Local or regional impact
- Hands-on EV outreach, education, or engagement
- Community trust and inclusiveness
- Long-term or consistent involvement
**Individuals with broader influence or policy impact should be submitted under the Advocate Award.
Emerging Leader Award
Recognizes a student or early-career professional whose contributions are already making a mark in the EV movement. Nominees may be involved in research, education, organizing, storytelling, or advocacy that advances EV adoption and shows strong potential for future leadership.
Key Criteria:
- Nominee is a student or within 5 years of starting their career
- Demonstrated initiative and leadership
- Measurable or promising impact
- Strong potential for continued EV leadership
**Nominees must be full-time students or within the first five years of their career.
Event Organizer Award
Recognizes an outstanding organizer of National Drive Electric Month, Drive Electric Earth Month, or another impactful EV-focused event. Nominees demonstrate excellence in planning, community engagement, innovation, and hands-on experiences such as ride-and-drives.
Key Criteria:
- Event quality, creativity, scale, and impact
- Years of service or multiple events
- Ride-and-drive execution and engagement
**Individuals whose event work is one part of broader advocacy may be a better fit for the Advocate or Community Changemaker Awards.
EV Advocate Award
Recognizes an individual who has made a powerful impact in advancing electric vehicle adoption through advocacy. This may include organizing campaigns, coalition-building, media outreach, community mobilization, or influencing policy. Nominees use their voice and leadership to elevate the EV movement and drive change at the local, state, or national level.
This award celebrates a person whose leadership and voice have made a meaningful impact in moving the EV movement forward—whether through shaping opinion, rallying support, or influencing decisions.
Key Criteria:
- Public-facing leadership (e.g., organizing, media, policy)
- Impact at the local, state, or national level
- Ability to influence communities, public discourse, or decision-makers
**Individuals focused on shaping local/grassroots impact should be nominated for the Community Changemaker Award.
Government Leadership Award
Recognizes a government entity (city, state, tribal nation, or agency) that has shown exceptional leadership in supporting EV adoption. This award celebrates public sector innovation at any level—highlighting impactful programs, policies, or partnerships that support widespread EV adoption, access, and equity.
Key Criteria:
- Demonstrated public investment in EV access (infrastructure, education, policy)
- Strong emphasis on innovation and replicability
- May highlight one department or initiative within the agency
**Nominees should be a government body or agency.
Linda Nicholes Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognizes an outstanding leader in the EV movement. This award celebrates an individual with at least 15 years of influential work furthering EV adoption through policy, technology, advocacy, or outreach. Named in honor of EV pioneer Linda Nicholes, this award recognizes enduring leadership and transformative impact across decades of dedication.
Key Criteria:
- Minimum 15 years of involvement
- Long-term leadership and consistency
- Lasting contributions to the EV movement
- Influence on systems, communities, or the field as a whole
**This award is for career or lifetime contributions, not emerging work.
Nonprofit Leadership Award
Recognizes a nonprofit organization contributing significantly to the EV movement through programs, advocacy, education, or outreach.
This award highlights mission-driven organizations whose work helps expand EV access or awareness locally or nationally.
Key Criteria:
- Mission-aligned EV work
- Demonstrated impact on EV adoption or education
- Program innovation or scale
**Individual staff or volunteers should be submitted under the Advocate or Community Changemaker Awards
Partnership Award
Recognizes an outstanding partnership or organization that frequently collaborates to accelerate EV adoption or awareness. This could include city–nonprofit coalitions, business–community initiatives, or a partner who has worked closely with Plug In America to create high-impact programs or events.
Key Criteria:
- Collaboration between two or more partners
- Measurable shared outcomes or impact
- Innovation or coordination across sectors
- Strong alignment with EV adoption goals
Public Sector Champion Award
Recognizes an individual working in government—at the local, state, tribal, or federal level—who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in advancing EV adoption. This award recognizes city staff, elected officials, or public agency leaders who have spearheaded meaningful EV initiatives within their role. Their work may include developing programs, enacting policy, building coalitions, or bringing EV infrastructure to their community.
Key Criteria:
- Demonstrated initiative in policy, infrastructure, or outreach
- Cross-department or cross-sector collaboration encouraged
- Impact can be local, regional, or national in scope
**Nominees should be government employees or elected officials.
Storytelling & Marketing Award
Recognizes outstanding achievement in increasing awareness of EVs through compelling communications and creative outreach. This includes professionally or independently produced work such as advertising campaigns, influencer content, social media initiatives, videos, websites, or music.
Key Criteria:
- Message clarity and creativity
- Reach and engagement
- Effectiveness in promoting and building interest in EVs through marketing and storytelling
**Nominations may recognize an individual’s work or a specific marketing campaign/project.
Submitting a nomination | Submission process | Timelines & deadlines | Submission tips | Award descriptions & key criteria
