Electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts and curious onlookers flocked to Alameda Point to attend Electrify Expo, one of North America’s largest EV showcases, at its Bay Area event on Alameda Point this past weekend, June 24 and June 25. Spanning over 1 million square feet of tents and test tracks, the family-friendly event offered visitors the opportunity to explore and test electric skateboards, scooters, bikes, and cars of a wide range of brands and models.
Jessica, an attendee in search of her next EV, saw the event as a chance to teach her 5-year-old son Lachlan about the future of transportation. “They’re powered by electricity, clean energy,” she explained, as Lachlan ran off to drive the electric go-karts in the Kids Zone.
Enthusiasts from around the Bay Area engaged with representatives from numerous manufacturers for a turn to try out sleek, zippy e-bikes around a meandering course. Experienced e-bike owners Paul and Wilma came from Saratoga and meticulously rotated among the Bosch-powered bikes to find an upgrade.
“We live 6 miles away from my work,” revealed Wilma, “but the company shuttle takes forever, over an hour. My e-bike takes 20 to 25 minutes!”
“It’s a game changer to getting people out of cars,” added Paul, noting that the family is now car-free. “[E-bikes] make American distances more doable.”
A black Riese & Müller caught my eye, and having never been on an e-bike before , I could not resist hopping on and taking it for a lap—actually two—around the course. The Class I bike had a top speed of 20 mph and the electric motor kicked in every time I pedaled. E-bikes of higher classes, less common at the Expo, feature electric throttles (Class II) and speeds up to 28 mph (Class III).
Despite expansive elements showcasing electric active mobility, the Expo was still very much car-centric. Nowhere was that more apparent than the Ford “Thrill Zone,” where visitors lined up to ride in the electric Ford Mustang Mach-E with a professional driver who performed drifts and donuts. The stunts sent thick, white smoke billowing regularly into the adjacent e-bike zone, leading most to cover their faces to avoid breathing in the stench of burning rubber.
“It’s toxic!” one attendee exclaimed to the Ford representatives in attendance.
The Ride + Drive EV Demo zone was much more docile. Tesla, BMW, Polestar, Kia, Toyota, and Mitsubishi were just a few of the manufacturers that allowed Expo-goers to climb in and take an EV for a spin. The test course, set up on a former Naval Air Station runaway, allowed drivers to maneuver hairpin turns and gun it down thrilling straightaways.
George and Tanya test drove a BMW i7 and a Ford Mach-E earlier in the day in the Thrill Zone. “It was fun!” George said. Tanya agreed: “I’m not used to them picking up so quickly!”
The Electrify Expo continues its seven-city nationwide tour in Washington, D.C. in July and Long Island in August.
Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. Contact him via [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der.
