The Electric Vehicle Association of the Americas Announces Florida Expo to Give U.S. Consumers First Test Drive of Electric Vehicles

6 November 1997

    ORLANDO, 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