Electric transportation arrives at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre – come and try it out!

This autumn’s electric vehicle event provides visitors with the opportunity to experience the benefits of electrically-powered transports for real. The electrically-assisted bicycles on display allow you to experience how effortless cycling can be at its best, while a swift ride on the back of an electric scooter will demonstrate how enjoyable the road can be without engine noise. Or you can step on a Segway personal transporter for an electrically-powered driving experience for the modern age. These vehicles are available at the Motor Show’s test drive track from 10 am daily.

Many guests will also experience one of the high points of their visit when they set their eyes on the US-made Tesla Roadster sports car. Tesla is one of the few manufacturers to actually get a finished electric car on the market. No less than two samples of this American eye-candy will be on display at the Electric Motor Show. In addition to the Roadster, at least the following electric cars will be exhibited at the fair: Mega eCity, Mega Multitruck, E-Z-GO RXV (golf cart), Sanifer L7e, Sanifer L6e, Toyota Prius (Plug-in and Flexible-fuel technology models) and ZEV Seven. The Finnish public will for the first time get to see the Think City electric car, which will go into manufacture at the Valmet Automotive factory in Uusikaupunki.

First unveiling of the eCorolla to the general public
 
Companies that specialise in modifying regular automobiles into electric cars will be presenting their wares in the Electric Motor Show’s conversion block. The makers of these cars will be present to tell visitors about the different conversion stages. The eCars Now! consumer movement will exhibit its eCorolla electric car conversion project at the fair. It represents the first step in the manufacture of conversion kits that can be replicated in large numbers. So-called open source thinking was applied to the eCorolla design, which converts an old-technology internal combustion engine car into a modern electric vehicle.

In addition to the eCorolla, the conversion block contains electrically-powered VW Golf, eYaris and Audi A8 cars as well as the Secma Fun Buggy electric kei car. Also on display will be various electric car conversions in different stages of completion.

Debate heating up over electric cars

The Electric Motor Show’s four different discussion forums will take electric cars and the associated technological challenges and possibilities into thorough deliberation. Fortum and Helsinki Energy will also participate in the debate. Both of these energy utilities are exhibiting their electric car charging systems at the fair.

The panel debates will focus comprehensively on topical issues associated with electric transports. Is electric motoring reality? Will the capacity of the electricity distribution network be sufficient and what are available charging opportunities like in practice? What is the role of power companies in the promotion of electric transports? The opportunities offered by electric cars as an environmental technology export for Finland will also be examined during the debate.

Participants will also take a stand on questions associated with the power unit technologies and energy-efficiency of electric cars as well as on how far the development of electric car technology has actually progressed. Visitors can also hear about practical experiences on the suitability of lithium battery technology to electric cars and thoughts about quick charging and the operating range of electric cars.

The Electric Motor Show’s exhibitor information can be viewed on the event website

The event is being organised by the Finnish Fair Corporation in cooperation with shift2e, an organisation that promotes electrically-powered transportation.

 ---
 
The Electric Motor Show, an exhibition of electric cars and scooters as well as electrically-powered mopeds and kei cars, takes place at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre on 6-8 November 2009. The fair is open from 9 am to 7 pm on Friday and from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The Electric Motor Show is being arranged concurrently with four other events:

The Helsinki Food & Countryside Show , The Helsinki Forest Show , Arts & Crafts Fair and The Event for Home Renovators and Handymen.
 
Gain admission to five separate events with a single exhibition ticket.
Tickets: adults €13, 7–15-yo children, pensioners, students and conscripts €9. Family ticket €28. Children under 7 years of age free of charge.
 
Further information:
shift2e, Jyrki Mattila, tel. +358 40 7472 698, jyrki@shift2e.com (exhibition and programme)
 
Finnish Fair Corporation, Communications Officer Petra Samppa, tel. +358 9 150 9380, petra.samppa@finnexpo.fi www.electricmotorshow.fi