Visitors to this year’s Philadelphia Auto Show, which runs from Jan. 31 through Feb. 8 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, will find more than cutting-edge cars on display.
Through its sponsorship of the two electric vehicle test tracks — and an on-site educational booth — PECO is using the high-profile event as a hands-on classroom, showing attendees how smarter energy choices can translate into real savings at home and on the road. Led by Marlowe Smith, PECO’s Senior Legislative Specialist, the utility will educate customers about energy efficiency, electric vehicle savings, and the company’s long-term clean energy goals.
The sponsorship builds on years of work helping customers save both energy and money.
“For nearly two decades, we’ve focused on helping customers be more conscious of how and when they use electricity,” Smith said. “Events like the Auto Show give us a chance to meet people where they are and explain how small choices can add up.”
One of those choices is timing. Smith noted that electricity demand peaks between 2 and 6 PM, when families return home, appliances turn on, and energy use surges across the region. During those hours, electricity costs more. Overnight, particularly between midnight and 6 AM, demand drops, and so do rates for customers.
That difference is central to PECO’s message about electric vehicles.
At the show, PECO staff will walk attendees through its EV Toolkit using iPads. The toolkit allows visitors to compare the costs of gas and electric versions of the same vehicle. In one example, a gas Hyundai Kona averages about $100 per month in fuel costs, or roughly $1,200 per year. The electric version, when charged overnight at lower rates, can cut that cost in half.
“That’s money customers don’t have to spend on transportation,” Smith said. “And it’s often a surprise how quickly those savings add up.”
The EV focus also reflects PECO’s internal sustainability commitments under its Path to Clean initiative. The company has set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent from 2015 levels by 2030, with a longer-term target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
“We’re trying to walk the walk,” Smith said. “That means investing in cleaner vehicles, more efficient buildings, and smarter energy use across our operations, while also helping customers do the same.”
One of the EV ride-and-drive tracks PECO is sponsoring will feature vehicles from Toyota, Kia, Tesla, and Lucid, while another track will include Cadillac, Volvo, Polestar, and GMC models. Professional drivers will take attendees around the course, demonstrating acceleration, braking, and the quiet ride EVs are known for.
“People are often shocked by how smooth and fast they are,” Smith said. “There’s no shifting. You press the pedal, and you’re moving.”
Through its PECO Smart Driver Rebates program, PECO offers incentives for residential and business customers investing in new electric vehicle technology. Customers can earn $50 per car just for letting PECO know that they purchased an electric vehicle. The IRS also provides a federal tax credit up to $1,000 for installing EV charging equipment, effective through June 30, 2026.
Beyond consumer education, PECO is also leaning into workforce development and youth engagement. On Feb. 3, the company will host local students at the Auto Show, including students from Abraham Lincoln High School, for a special STEM-focused program featuring 22-year-old NASCAR driver Lavar Scott.
Scott, a South Jersey native and one of the youngest African-American NASCAR drivers, runs a nonprofit that supports students interested in automotive technology, engineering, and racing careers. During his visit, Scott will share his journey — from building cars with his family to competing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series — and speak with students about career paths that extend far beyond the local garage.
The timing coincides with the Auto Show’s student career day, which is expected to draw hundreds of young people interested in automotive technology and skilled trades.
“All of these vehicles, electric or gas, need trained technicians,” Smith said. “There’s a huge opportunity for the next generation, and we want students to see just how wide that world really is.”
Those who stop by PECO’s booth will have a chance to win free tickets to see Scott in the 42nd annual NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday, May 17 at Dover Motor Speedway. It marks the first time the storied event will be held at “The Monster Mile,” the nickname given to the speedway’s challenging, one-mile concrete oval, and its winner will take home a $1 million paycheck.
Purchase tickets to the Philadelphia Auto Show. Learn more about PECO and how it’s leading a shift toward a sustainable, lower-carbon energy future for everyone in southeastern Pennsylvania.
