Casteyanqui.com | Electric Vehicles | Drive Electric Earth Zion 2026

Peak Experience
(Click to enlarge)

Drive Electric
Chalk and Earth Festival
in Springdale and
Zion National Park
April 18, 2026

Mark D Larsen

Several weeks ago I checked the web to see if Springdale and Zion National Park would hold an Earth Day celebration, like the one last year where I displayed my electric vehicle. I was pleased to see that they were indeed planning such a festival, albeit in a different location. I immediately contacted the organizers to ask if they would be willing to again allow me to participate —and they kindly agreed to reserve a space for me. One week later, the Drive Electric Earth Month Committee wrote and encouraged me to register the event on their site. I was happy to do so, and they sent me several handouts and pens to give to attendees. Below is my usual annotated album of the celebration.

NOTE: You can click on the following photos to enlarge them and the movies to play them.

I set Rocinante to charge to 100%, as I planned to use my V2L port at the event and wanted to make sure I would have enough in the battery.

Moxie and I left to drive to Springdale at around 7:00 AM, because the festival wanted participants to start setting up their displays at around 8:00 AM.

I set the navigation to plot a route to Springdale.

It predicted that we would still have 77% in the battery when we got there. Obviously charging to 100% was unnecessary.

Shortly after we left, I recorded my usual introductory video.

As we drove past St. George, I spotted a hot air balloon rising in the distance.

Here is a photo as we got closer to our destination.

Another video en route as we approach the town of Virgin, where we spotted Moxie's "mortal enemies"… a few horses.

I saw these impressive peaks letting us know that we were getting closer to Zion.

More jagged mountains were visible beyond this canyon.

We arrived at the outskirts of Springdale and I pulled over to take this photo of Rocinante with the canyon walls as a backdrop.

We arrived with 83% still in the battery.

We'd driven 49.8 miles for an hour and 18 minutes, with an average of 3.5 miles-per-kWh.

The map of the venue that the organizers had sent me indicated that my spot would be on a baseball diamond, but in reality it had since been turned into just a grass-covered field.

I began to set up my display, but decided to forego using my canopy because the winds were too strong.

I brought ice water and had already popped popcorn for attendees, like I had done two weeks ago at the Las Vegas celebration, but was prepared to pop more using my V2L outlet.

Moxie was glad to get out, stretch her legs, and settle into her camping chair.

I took this photo looking down the row of other participants’ canopies toward my setup at the far end.

The National Park had a booth, of course. Alas, I never had a chance to ask them exactly what that bicycle contraption was for…?

Right across from me was a booth by the La Verkin Animal Control, and they had brought an adolescent German Shephard with them that was smitten with Moxie.

The Bureau of Land Management also had a booth with a pretend camping spot behind it.

In a nearby spot the Utah Clean Cities Coalition had set up a booth highlighting the Charge West alliance by western states.

I thought mine would be the only EV at the festival, but… I was wrong! The Executive Director or Utah Clean Cities, Tammie Bostick, had brought Zion’s spanking new Ford EV passenger shuttle capable of service through the Mr. Carmel tunnel in the National Park.

It was an impressive EV, which boasted a folding ramp for handicapped passengers.

The interior was customizable to shuttle large groups of passengers, as well as several wheelchairs.

The front seats were thoughtfully designed, with a large array of controls, including several digitized rear view mirrors.

Here is the rear of the EV shuttle with the peaks of Zion as a backdrop.

As the sun moved overhead, I set up Moxie's chair to keep her cooler in the shade.

I took this panoramic video of the venue while the musicians at the far end were starting to perform.

I took this selfie of me and Moxie shortly before it was time to take down the display and head home.

After packing up our paraphernalia, we strolled over to see what the chalk artists were creating. Their artistic skill were incredible.

I have a hard time imagining how one could use chalk to illustrate such lifelike features.

When we got in the car, I could see that Rocinante's V2L had drawn 3% from the battery to 80% over the 8 hours we were there.

The "guess-o-meter" now displayed 257 miles to get home.

I set the navigation to take us there.

It predicted that we'd arrive with 63% still in the battery.

We said goodbye the the peaks and mountains.

I recorded this video shortly after leaving Springdale.

I always have to chuckle at this silly tourist trap near Virgin that someone had built to resemble at Old West town.

The battery prediction had risen to 67% when we were almost home.

And when we arrived, it still had 68%. We had driven 49.7 miles in an hour and 21 minutes with an outstanding 5.4 miles-per-kWh. Regenerative braking had really boosted our efficiency thanks to the drop in elevation.

The entire round trip was 99.7 miles, taking 2 hours and 51 minutes, and achieving an average of 4.3 miles-per-kWh. Can't beat that!

We arrived home truly exhausted, but pleased to have participated in the festival. I have no idea how many attendees showed up at the celebration, but I did keep track of how many stopped by my display to learn more about electric vehicles: a total of 28, by my count. Some of them were particularly interested in my Ioniq 5; others were curious about all other EVs; a few wanted to ask me about my own personal experience with range, where to charge on roadtrips, charging time, costs, the usual FUD issues that they’d heard from petrolganda in the media. I think many of them were actually surprised —if not impressed— to hear the factual answers from a long-time EV owner. I just hope a few of those visitors will now seriously consider getting rid of their tailpipes for the sake of the planet.

I set Rocinante to charge to 100%, as I planned to use my V2L port at the event and wanted to make sure I would have enough in the battery.	Moxie and I left to drive to Springdale at around 7:00 AM, because the festival wanted participants to start setting up their displays at around 8:00 AM.
I set the navigation to plot a route to Springdale.	It predicted that we would still have 77% in the battery when we got there. Obviously charging to 100% was unnecessary.
Shortly after we left, I recorded my usual introductory video.
As we drove past St. George, I spotted a hot air balloon rising in the distance.	Here is a photo as we got closer to our destination.
Another video en route as we approach the town of Virgin, where we spotted Moxie's "mortal enemies"… a few horses.
I saw these impressive peaks letting us know that we were getting closer to Zion.	More jagged mountains were visible beyond this canyon.
We arrived at the outskirts of Springdale and I pulled over to take this photo of Rocinante with the canyon walls as a backdrop.	We arrived with 83% still in the battery.
We'd driven 49.8 miles for an hour and 18 minutes, with an average of 3.5 miles-per-kWh.	The map of the venue that the organizers had sent me indicated that my spot would be on a baseball diamond, but in reality it had since been turned into just a grass-covered field.
I began to set up my display, but decided to forego using my canopy because the winds were too strong.	I brought ice water and had already popped popcorn for attendees, like I had done two weeks ago at the Las Vegas celebration, but was prepared to pop more using my V2L outlet.
Moxie was glad to get out, stretch her legs, and settle into her camping chair.	I took this photo looking down the row of other participants’ canopies toward my setup at the far end.
The National Park had a booth, of course. Alas, I never had a chance to ask them exactly what that bicycle contraption was for…?	Right across from me was a booth by the La Verkin Animal Control, and they had brought an adolescent German Shephard with them that was smitten with Moxie.
The Bureau of Land Management also had a booth with a pretend camping spot behind it.	In a nearby spot the Utah Clean Cities Coalition had set up a booth highlighting the Charge West alliance by western states.
I thought mine would be the only EV at the festival, but… I was wrong! The Executive Director or Utah Clean Cities, Tammie Bostick, had brought Zion’s spanking new Ford EV passenger shuttle capable of service through the Mr. Carmel tunnel in the National Park.	It was an impressive EV, which boasted a folding ramp for handicapped passengers.
The interior was customizable to shuttle large groups of passengers, as well as several wheelchairs.	The front seats were thoughtfully designed, with a large array of controls, including several digitized rear view mirrors.
Here is the rear of the EV shuttle with the peaks of Zion as a backdrop.	As the sun moved overhead, I set up Moxie's chair to keep her cooler in the shade.
I took this panoramic video of the venue while the musicians at the far end were starting to perform.
I took this selfie of me and Moxie shortly before it was time to take down the display and head home.	After packing up our paraphernalia, we strolled over to see what the chalk artists were creating. Their artistic skill were incredible.
I have a hard time imagining how one could use chalk to illustrate such lifelike features.	When we got in the car, I could see that Rocinante's V2L had drawn 3% from the battery to 80% over the 8 hours we were there.
The "guess-o-meter" now displayed 257 miles to get home.	I set the navigation to take us there.
It predicted that we'd arrive with 63% still in the battery.	We said goodbye the the peaks and mountains.
I recorded this video shortly after leaving Springdale.
I always have to chuckle at this silly tourist trap near Virgin that someone had built to resemble at Old West town.	The battery prediction had risen to 67% when we were almost home.
And when we arrived, it still had 68%. We had driven 49.7 miles in an hour and 21 minutes with an outstanding 5.4 miles-per-kWh. Regenerative braking had really boosted our efficiency thanks to the drop in elevation.	The entire round trip was 99.7 miles, taking 2 hours and 51 minutes, and achieving an average of 4.3 miles-per-kWh. Can't beat that!