A record number of spectators, estimated at around 500 by event organizers, took advantage of sunny skies and warm temperatures to visit the sixth Sechelt Electric Vehicle (EV) Festival held Sept. 25.
Hosted by the Sunshine Coast Electric Vehicle Association, this year’s event featured several firsts, including the initial visit of a Pole Star vehicle to the Coast, and displays of the recently released Chevrolet Bolt EUV (electric utility vehicle) and a Porsche Taycan.
Also featured were two EVs that had completed cross-country trips. One, a Bolt EV owned by Coast resident Buddy Boyd, took 11 days to cross Canada in 2017. The second, an Audi e-tron owned by Harvey Soicher, completed a similar trek this year in under five days. Event spokesperson John Henderson said that change is a testament to improvements in vehicle models and charging technology as well as the increased charging infrastructure that has become available countrywide.
The event promotes awareness of electric-powered transportation in a variety of forms and helps build camaraderie among EV owners.
“Electric vehicles are mainstream now. B.C. has the highest EV adoption rate in Canada and the Sunshine Coast has the highest adoption rate in B.C.,” said Henderson.
The gathering also featured displays of e-bikes, an electric motorcycle, Segways, mobility scooters and a remote-control vehicle station which the organizers said was a big hit with the younger segment of the audience.
The annual festival returned to the field at the Sechelt Learning Centre after a one-year hiatus. In 2020, the event was cancelled in respect of community efforts to curb the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
