Buzz Smith

Interim Executive Director

Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance (TxETRA)

Richard D. “Buzz” Smith is the Executive Director of the Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance, or TxETRA (https://www.txev.org). TxETRA is an EV policy group that works with Texas’ state and local governments regarding electric vehicle policies on incentives, taxation, infrastructure, etc.
Buzz is also known as “The EV-angelist” and spends his time spreading the “good news” of electric vehicles, via public speaking, his YouTube channel and his blog: https://www.TheEV-angelist.com.
In 2012, Buzz’s life was changed by a car accident. His car was totaled. Gasoline was expensive, so he leased a Chevy Volt. His wife got one 60 says later. He loved electric driving so much, he started a blog called, “My Electric Vehicle Journey.” Buzz’s household has owned or leased seven PHEVs and a BEV. In 2013, his dealership hired him as a salesperson, focusing on plug-in vehicles. Over his six year auto sales career, Buzz was awarded with GM’s “Mark of Excellence” every year and was the #1 plug-in vehicle salesperson for the entire state of Texas, with 35% of his sales comprised of plug-in vehicles.