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You might've heard of EVs, standing for electric vehicles, but one company is making EVVs, or electric vaccine vehicles.
Austin-based electric vehicle provider Ayro launched a new vaccine transportation service this month that allows vaccines to be stored in the freezing temperatures required while being distributed to optimal sites. The effort is in collaboration with Element Fleet Management, an automotive fleet manager; Club Car, a golf cart and commercial vehicle company; and Gallery, a manufacturer of mobile food, beverage and merchandising carts.
The vehicles, which release zero emissions, are equipped with an ultra-low temperature freezer and refrigeration units that allow the vehicles to transport vaccines to areas that would be otherwise difficult to reach such as gymnasiums and stadiums. Once set up as a vaccine station, the vehicle takes up no more than 100 square feet.
"COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution has become a serious logistical challenge, and our purpose-built EVs offer a potential solution," AYRO CEO Rod Keller said.
The vehicles are currently touring the nation. Find them at these locations:
- Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (March 22-25)
- San Jose, California (March 29 – 31)
- Irvine, California (April 1 – 2)
- Boston, Massachusetts (April 5-8)
While being used for vaccine distribution now, these vehicles can be repurposed for disaster relief, annual flu shot distribution, medical testing, food services and more in the future, according to Ayro's website.
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Popular
Austin-Travis County EMS responded to a major car wreck involving multiple vehicles and a semi-truck along I-35 Wednesday morning.
The crash occurred at 12100 North I-35 going south, according to ATCEMS, with a total of 12 people involved, including one minor. Four were transported to the hospital with three declared trauma alerts. Another four people refused EMS transport.
None of the transports are expected to have life-threatening injuries.
Major Traffic Collision at 12100 N Ih 35 Sb (08:26). #ATCEMS & @Austinfireinfo are on scene of a collision involving multiple vehicles & a semi truck. #ATCEMSMedics reporting 12 total patients w/ 5 needing transport, 2 have been declared Trauma Alerts. More info to follow. pic.twitter.com/voKNcLbTDW
— ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) June 29, 2022
At 9 a.m., I-35 was blocked off from Yager Lane to Braker Lane.
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.