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Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) held the first-ever Electric Vehicle & Next Generation Technologies for Outdoor Recreation Summit this week to convene discussion around the strategic deployment of electric vehicles and other green technologies into the outdoor recreation market and economy.

The event kicked off with remarks from Austin Brown, Senior Director of Transportation Emissions at the White House and included remarks from Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management Laura Daniel-Davis, and Kampgrounds of America, Inc. president and CEO Toby O'Rourke.

The event also featured a panel discussion moderated by Callie Hoyt, NMMA’s Director of Federal Government Relations, focused on the impacts of climate change to outdoor recreation’s growing contribution to the U.S. economy. While there is major momentum across the entire recreation industry – from boats, RVs, ATVs, and more – to develop sustainable electric models and incorporate “green” sources of energy, including more efficient fuel, solar power, and wind –these initiatives are proving to come with a unique set of challenges. Panelists discussed opportunities for electrifying recreation vehicles of all types, recreation’s ‘state of readiness,’ and the challenges of electric charging infrastructure near recreation assets.

“The cross-sector businesses and partners gathered today have an opportunity to lead the greening of outdoor recreation experiences, make significant impacts in reducing carbon emissions while helping to create jobs, and build local economies as we introduce next generation technologies to recreation consumers,” said Jessica Turner, President of ORR. “This event was extremely important because of the industry-wide thought-leadership on how we begin the transition to cleaner technologies and ensured we can be clear-eyed about the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

Speakers from Brunswick Corporation, QuietKat, THOR Industries/Airstream, Winnebago Industries, Zero Motorcycles, and more explored the many challenges and opportunities in this space, and how charging infrastructure for people recreating can be created and installed efficiently, sustainably and equitably.

“With so many of our favorite places facing severe climate threats, the outdoor recreation community has a compelling reason to lead the way in implementing climate solutions and accelerating our transition toward a clean energy-powered and electrified economy,” said U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich in remarks at the event. “A major part of that equation is going to be the adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure and other clean and carbon pollution-free technologies. This summit is a real testament to the recreation industry’s eagerness to take concrete actions that will allow us to pass on the outdoor places we all love to our children and future generations.”

ORR will hold a Hill briefing and release a white paper, based in large part from the discussions and information shared at this event, on next generation technology and the future of an increasingly resilient outdoor reaction economy in the coming weeks.