Electric Avenue sparks up Big Boys Toys

The first Electric Avenue for electric vehicles proved a hit at the 20th Big Boys Toys Auckland.

And event director Dean Wilson is keen to see the EV aspect expanded at next year’s lifestyle show.

More than 33,000 visitors attended the November 16-18 event at the ASB Showgrounds, including a Chinese delegation wanting to feature the show in Shanghai in 2020.

An impressive 2518 people took up the chance to ride in or drive an EV at the Greenlane venue.

Feedback has been great and Wilson says he’s “ecstatic” about how well the Electric Avenue went.

“It shows people are wanting the EV experience,” he says, adding many also tested electric bikes.

Mercury’s electric 1957 Ford Fairlane “Evie” was popular, visitors able to view in virtual reality the making of Evie. The display won the show’s Electric Avenue large site award, while Electrify NZ’s electric bike stand gained the small site award.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff, who drives an electric Hyundai Ioniq, showed keen interest in the Electric Avenue displays, particularly the Evoke electric motorcycle, Wilson says.

Highlights for visitors included Eva Hakansson’s land-speed record setting KillaJoule three-wheeler electric streamliner motorcycle. “It got plenty of attention,” Wilson says. “They loved it.”

Wilson says he’s already started planning for next year’s Electric Avenue with ChargeNet NZ.

“It’s exciting what’s happening in the automotive market next year and we want to keep it growing and get more EV manufacturers on board.”