Electric vehicle (EV) enthusiasts and curious onlookers flocked to Alameda Point to attend Electrify Expo [1], 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.
[2]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.
[3]“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).
[4]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.
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[6]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!”
[7]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 [8]. Contact him via [email protected] [9]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der [10].