Electrify Expo Brings the Excitement of EVs to Alameda

North America’s biggest electric mobility festival once again made a stop at Alameda Point as part of a nationwide eight-city tour on August 24 and 25. Featuring electric cars, bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and more, the lineup for Electrify Expo was as diverse as the weekend weather, which ranged from rainy and cloudy to breezy and warm.

Similar to last year’s event , attendees had the opportunity to experience electric vehicles ( EVs ) firsthand, from zipping around on sleek electric bicycles and scooters on a dedicated track, to stepping into the driver’s seat of state-of-the-art electric cars manufactured by 13 of the largest automakers in the world. Also featured were tents where visitors could ask brands about their lineups and visit booths that offered a wide range of EV maintenance tips and solutions.

The most popular attraction, the EV Demo District, allowed drivers to take brand new EVs onto a test track delineated by orange cones on a former Naval Air Station runway. Drivers could choose between a winding course to explore the vehicle’s maneuverability or a heart-pounding “launch zone” straightaway to test the acceleration from 0 to 60 mph. Most opted to floor it.

On both days, long lines of eager test drivers waited their turn to operate the vehicle of their choice, whether the cars were from lesser-known brands such as Lucid or Vinfast, or more established automakers, such as BMW, Kia, Porsche, and Rivian.

No other manufacturer appeared to receive as much attention as Tesla. In addition to showcasing its Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y, the company also made the Cybertruck available for demos for the first time ever, exclusive to this Electrify Expo stop. Visitors who were curious about the unique, polarizing vehicle waited up to two-and-a-half hours for the chance to get behind the wheel.

“It was pretty neat! That truck drives pretty nice,” said Kristopher Krause from Modesto, fresh from taking a spin with his family. He currently drives a Ford F-150. “My next vehicle is definitely going to be electric—at this point, it’s probably going to be a Cybertruck.”

But young Myles was less enthusiastic.

“I like Rivians better!” he exclaimed, as his father, Ebube Anizor, chuckled. Anizor, who lives in Oakland, appreciates the convenience of charging his EV in the city. “But road trips can be inconvenient,” he added, noting that he once had to spend an hour longer on the road in order to accommodate charging time.

The cost of EV ownership and installing charging infrastructure may be reasons for hesitation for those who are not quite ready to give up traditional gasoline-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

With transportation emissions representing over 70% of Alameda’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) is offering financial incentives for the purchase of EVs, e-bikes, and chargers. It is part of a citywide effort to reduce GHG emissions by 50% by 2030, as codified in the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) . As part of Earth Month celebrations earlier this year, the City organized a Home Electrification Fair to offer not only alternatives for vehicle charging, but also to encourage the conversion of home appliances.

Electrify Expo’s national tour continues with stops in Seattle, New York, and Austin before the end of the year.

A roundup from Electrify Expo 2024 at Alameda Point. Video Adam Gillitt.

Ken Der is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post . Contact him via ken@alamedapost.com . His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Ken-Der .

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