Tesla, Ford + 150 Leading Brands Are Megastars Of Electrify Expo In Long Beach, CA This Weekend.

Electrify Expo, North America's largest electric vehicle (EV) festival, is hosting an action-packed weekend in Long Beach today and tomorrow, May 20-21 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Top brands from around the world exhibit and attend Electrify Expo's events to meet consumers at all stages on their path to electrification.

A modified VW.

It's kid central as one walks around - kids of all ages, that is. People climb on, climb in, snap selfies and ask questions as they ride, drive and demo the world's top electric cars and trucks alongside electric motorcycles, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and more. There are over 150+ participating brands including Tesla, Ford, Toyota, Volvo, Kia, Lexus, BMW, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Cake, GIANT, Stacyc, Onewheel and many others.

It's a mini-Disneyland, minus the lines.

A young man circles a track in an electric go-kart.

But BJ Birtwell, founder, means business.

"People come to Electrify Expo to answer three questions," he says. "How long is it going to take me to charge? Where can I charge? And how far is this car gonna go? So they need to come to a place like this and have the experience and then to get their questions answered so they know how that this is working. You can't get the experience seeing the vehicles go by you on the highway. This is direct and immediate, and we’re growing every year."

An electric skateboard.

There are, of course, still many hurdles, one of them being the still-novel perception of electric conveyances.

Birtwell says: "The EV industry is still quite new, compared to how long ICE (Internal Combustion Vehicles) have been around. When the combustion vehicle was introduced in America, people had to go to a hardware store to get gasoline, or have it delivered to their homes. As a car guy and as somebody who's spent the last 20, 25 years customizing cars and being in the auto industry before becoming immersed in the electric world, I’ve seen an active change as the technology. Charging methods have improved and will continue to improve. We’re seeing the culmination of bringing car culture into Electrify. It's not going to happen overnight. But we’re not going anywhere, that's for sure."

A partial list of automakers at the event includes:

BMW: i7, iX xDrive50, iX M60, i4 eDrive 35, i4 eDrive 40, i4 M50

Chrysler: Pacifica Hybrid

Ford: Mach E, F150 Lightning

Kia: EV9 and EV6

Mitsubishi: Outlander PHEV

Tesla: Models S, 3, X, Y

Toyota: Rav4 Prime, Prius, Tundra Hybrid, bZrx, Mirai

Volvo: All-electric XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge; Plug-in Hybrid XC60 Recharge and XC90 Recharge

Volkswagen: ID.4

An electric vehicle.

The issue of convenient, fast charging, then as now, is still at the forefront of people's minds.

"If I could charge as easily as I gas up, this would be a no-brainer," says attendee Joan Rezac, there with daughter Ambrosia. "I don't want to have to buy two cars to go on a trip that's over 200 miles, not knowing if I’m going to be able to charge. I have a kid to think about."

Birtwell, whose daily driver is a Porsche Taycan electric, acknowledges people's charging concerns. "50% of the people can charge home," he says. "That's great for those people who have that opportunity, but there's another 50% who need mobile charging out there. So this infrastructure needs to get rolled out as quickly as possible. And it's happening. Things are coming around fast. I mean, the days of waiting hours and hours and hours to recharge your vehicle are pretty much coming to an end."

Sea bob electric water vehicle

One segment Birtwell sees coming around to electrics are the staunch truck guys from his home state.

"I live in Texas, right?" he says. "So I'm in oil and gas country. A lot of my friends are oil and gas guys. These guys have a perception about electrics. But they’ve never driven an EV. The whole point of Electrify Expo is to bring these people here so that they can experience EVs for the very first time, which is what's happening. And it's creating those light bulb moments."

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21, tickets can be purchased online and in person.

Questions, and answers, for attendees:

Can I ride my e-bike / e-scooter around the event?

No personal devices are permitted inside the event. There will be complimentary valet bike, scooter, etc parking near the main entrance and box office. This is a secure area with attendants watching at all times.

Can I bring food and water into the event?

Food is not permitted, but water is.

Do kids get in free?

Children 5 and under are complimentary with a ticketed adult.

Are dogs / pets permitted?

Pets are not permitted at the Expo.

What do I need to do to participate in demos and activities?

All guests will be required to review, agree to, and sign an Electrify Expo event liability waiver upon arrival at the box office. Some auto manufacturers and micromobility exhibitors may also require a waiver of their own to participate in their demonstrations and activities. Keep your digital ticket accessible as you will be scanning it throughout the day.

For EV Test Drives, do I need a license?

Some exhibitors and demonstrations may require a valid driver's license for participation, be sure to bring yours. Participation age varies per exhibitor.

What can kids do?

Every Electrify Expo has a kids zone where they can demo the latest electc toys like e-karts, e-scooters, e-bikes and more. Some adult demos are available to minors with parent/guardian consent.

Should I bring my own helmet or are they provided?

Safety gear is provided by the brands doing demos. But you can bring your own helmet if you want.

Can you purchase a vehicle you like at the event?

Yes - some exhibitors have items for sale.