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North American Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Conference in Phoenix

23 November 1998

North American Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Conference and Exposition in Phoenix to Give Local Consumers Chance to Test Drive Electric Vehicles

    PHOENIX, Nov. 23 -- Want to drive the fastest car you never
heard?
    When the 1998 North American Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Conference
and Exposition (NAEVI 98) comes to The Phoenix Civic Plaza in December,
everyone will have a chance to take a spin in cool, clean, and quiet vehicles
powered by electricity.  These will include battery powered EVs and hybrid
electric vehicles.
    "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," said
John Wallace, Ford Motor Company director of Alternative Fuel Vehicles.
"Electric vehicles are clean, high performance vehicles but best of all,
they're fun to drive."
    Public admission to NAEVI 98 will allow average consumers to test drive
more than 20 state-of-the-art EVs.  Cars, trucks, neighborhood electric
vehicles and an electric bus will be available for visitors to indulge their
curiosity.  Companies showing EVs include Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan,
Toyota, and Bombardier.
    "We consider this a market research opportunity for automakers," said 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."
    Public Day at NAEVI 98 takes place Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m. at The Phoenix Civic Plaza at 225 East Adams in Phoenix, Arizona.
Admission is $5 for adults and free to senior citizen and children under 12.
    NAEVI 98 will bring together more than 400 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
two-day conference and Public Day, the event will include a media day on
December 3.