The Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas Announces Florida Expo to Give U.S. Consumers First Test Drive of Electric Vehicles
6 November 1997
The Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas Announces Florida Expo to Give U.S. Consumers First Test Drive of Electric VehiclesORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 6 -- What type of vehicle gets a lot of publicity before most people have even driven one? If you guessed electric vehicles (EVs), you are correct. But, when the 14th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS-14) comes to The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel in December, everyone will have a chance to take a spin in vehicles powered by electricity. These will include battery powered EVs, hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell EVs. "If you have never driven an electric vehicle, you cannot imagine the sensation of quietly beating every car next to you off the start line," says John Wallace, EVS-14 chair and Ford Motor Company director of Alternative Fuel Vehicles. "Electric vehicles are clean, high performance vehicles but best of all, they're fun to drive." Largest public EV ride and drive ever For the first time in North America, public admission to EVS-14 will allow average consumers to test drive more than 30 state-of-the-art EVs. Cars, trucks, motorcycles and more will be available for visitors to indulge their curiosity. Among the companies showing EVs will be BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Toyota. "We consider this a market research opportunity for automakers," says Mark Amstock, EVAA board member and Toyota Motor Company's manager of electric vehicle programs. "People will get the thrill of driving an electric vehicle and we will get the feedback from their experience with it." The public ride and drive takes place Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. and from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 14, from 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m., at The Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel. Epcot Center EV parade to showcase new electric vehicles EVS-14 will kick-off December llth with a colorful EV parade on the streets of Epcot Center. More than 20 electric vehicles from major automakers around the world will participate in a parade that begins at Epcot's China Pavilion, Thursday, December 11 at 1 p.m. Surrounded in true Disney excitement, the vehicles will travel a course around Epcot Center. Following the EV parade, the vehicles will remain on display for park visitors at Epcot until 5 p.m. Admission to the parade is free with the purchase of a park ticket. "The parade will be a fun, festive family event with an international flair that reflects Epcot Center's technology theme," says Bob Hayden, executive director of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas, host of EVS-14. "We encourage families to come to Orlando in December so they and their children can see firsthand the future of automotive technology." EVS-14 will bring together more than 2,000 top EV experts from around the world to discuss automotive design and technology advancements, infrastructure development and solutions to commercialization issues. In addition to the three-day symposium, the EV parade and public days, the event will include a media day on December 12. SOURCE The Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas