Electric Avenue and Electrifying Conversations spark up BBT visitors

This story first appeared in the november issue of evtalk CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The success of the Big Boys Toys’ second Electric Avenue e-mobility showcase and the inaugural Electrifying Conversations Conference has fired up organisers and visitors alike.

Many of the more than 30,000 people who attended the 21st BBT at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland from November 1-3 were impressed with Electric Avenue, which returns for a third time next year, BBT events director Dean Wilson says.

“The feedback has been really good,” he says, adding people were impressed with the Audi e-tron and e-mobility forms like skateboards, e-bikes and e-scooters, while at least 3000 visitors tried EV rides and drives.

“We’re looking at what trends will be around for next year and expect Electric Avenue back even bigger and better, along with a DIY area and more in the outdoor zones.”

Wilson says electrics are the future and he’s pleased to see many more manufacturers on board and at BBT.

He’s expecting the popular Electrifying Conversations Conference back next year, the event held at BBT on November 1 and attracting more than 150 people including international guests.

Electrifying Conversations Conference organiser Dee West says it “exceeded every possible expectation” and she’s confident it will return as a standalone event at the BBT venue over the Thursday and Friday.

“We’ll aim to have a New Zealand focus with some invited international people as well.”

West also led a six-day Electrifying Conversations road trip immediately after BBT travelling in about 10 EVs from Auckland to Wellington with events along the way, but she doubts it will be continued next year.

The conference and road trip included Dynami battery entrepreneur Sergio Baron of Argentina and Philippe Vangeel of the European Association for Electromobility, among about 27 people on the trip.

The conference featured Dr Eva Hakansson talking about breaking land speed records and building green electric streamline motorbikes like Killajoule and its nearly completed successor Green Envy, all included in an Electric Avenue display as well.

The afternoon session also had panels on ‘Women Driving Sustainable Change’, and ‘Hardware’ with Tritium, Schneider, ABB and YHI Power representatives.

And the conference ended with EV advocate Sigurd Magnusson’s daughter Ella delivering an impassioned Greta Thunberg style speech titled ‘How Dare You’ to encourage “fundamental changes to transport, business and farming” to counter climate change.

“We have to tell the world change is coming, whether we like it or not.”