Our EV Test Drive & Information Expos are our largest events each year, held in April for Drive Electric Earth Month and in September for National Drive Electric Month. Experience test drives from among a wide range of EV models provided by local dealers, see local EV owner's vehicles on display and get real answers from the lived experience of real owners, watch half-hour presentations for beginners to experienced owners, and meet local companies offering helpful EV services. Get lunch at the on-site food carts with discounts for registered guests. There are gas to electric conversions, antique EVs, and more. It's a fun day!

We volunteer to help other organizations with EV education, the largest being the Drive Electric featured exhibit at the Oregon International Auto Show where our many OEVA volunteers share their EV experience with the visitors. And we help out at smaller events too, like the Lake Oswego Home & Vehicle Electrification Fair, and at EV events put on by PGE and Pacific Power. For fun and to let more people hear about the OEVA, we participate in Community Events like the 82nd Avenue of the Roses parade, and the Hillsboro Rotary 4th of July parade. 

In the summer of 2024, we added several Special Events where we invite all local EV clubs and all EV owners and enthusiasts to join in to bring the local EV community together. This summer our 2nd Annual All-EVs Picnic at Tigard's Summerlake Park is Thursday, July 10th, 2025, 6:30-9PM. Group Drive to The Dalles: Bargeway Pub and the National Neon Sign Museum was June 14th, 2024.

We hold General Meetings on the second Thursday of every month, hosted by various EV business in the Portland area. We'll post details below early in the month. Our General Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month. The OEVA Board meets at 6:30 PM, immediately before the General Meeting, and board meetings are open to all OEVA members. General Meetings are open to the public and begin at 7 PM with food and socializing. The informational program begins at 7:30 and runs about an hour, followed by more informal socializing. Festivities conclude by 9 PM.

To keep up with all our activities, subscribe to our email announcements here.

2025 National Drive Electric Month  Oregon Electric Vehicle Association
Test Drive & Information Expo

Saturday September 13th, 2025, Setup 9 - 9:30 AM, Public Hours 10 AM to 4 PM

Guest Parking: 4085 N Anchor St., Event Site: 4555 N Channel Ave.

Register Now at https://driveelectricmonth.org/event?eventid=4852

The Oregon Electric Vehicle Association presents Test Drive & Information Expo events twice a year, celebrating Drive Electric Earth Month in the spring and National Drive Electric Month in the fall, to not only help you find the best EV for you, but also to provide information to help you have your best experience after you get your EV.

Test Drive A Broad Range of EVs

We invite many local EV dealers to bring their EVs for you to test drive. There's no better way to compare vehicles than actually driving the cars that you are considering from the different manufacturers on the same route and on the same day, one after another. We encourage dealers to bring their full range of electric vehicles. On weekends there is very little traffic in the Swan Island industrial area, which helps you focus on experiencing the vehicles on your test drives.

See a Wide Range of Electric Vehicles

Come see the widest range of EVs, all in one place. Adjacent to the Test Drive area, local dealers display their new vehicles for your inspection. Complementing the test drives, which give you the driving experience, the new vehicles on static display give you the opportunity to look them over in detail. Take your time to check out them out and ask the dealer representatives questions. They can answer questions on specs and availability and pricing. But to really know what it is like to own and use the vehicle on a daily basis, you need to talk to real owners. Take your time looking over static display models. Then walk over to the Owner Display Vehicles and talk with real owners and get their insights from daily use for years of those models.

Owner Display Vehicles: Real Owners, Real Experience, Real Answers

Ah, the heart and soul of the OEVA! Owners showing their personal cars, answering guest questions from their real lived experience. We encourage our guests to talk with owners of the cars you are considering. From our volunteer-owners you can learn what it's like to live with that EV as a daily driver and for cross-country road trips. Ask nicely and they're generally happy to invite you sit in their vehicle while they describe and show you everything you want to know from their perspective of living with that EV. And for owners, every OEVA event is a great opportunity to share in the camaraderie of the EV community, inclusive of all Makes and Models.

Keynote Presentations from EV Experts

The Daimler Headquarters building, south of the outdoor event space, has state of the art multimedia meeting spaces, and we're making use of them for presentations on topics for people new to EVs, as well as for experienced EV owners looking to learn more. Some things are best experienced, so we have test drives. Some things are best shown in the vehicle by a patient owner who has real world experience with the EV, so we many EV owner volunteers displaying their vehicles and answering your questions. But some topics are best explained in a presentation with photos and graphics.

If you drive an EV in Portland, you'll want to know about the Portland Bureau of Transportation's (PBOT) electrification plans for the city. Come to the talk by Hannah Morrison, Transportation Planner in PBOT's Mobility Innovations Section.

Do you have a home and an EV? Long time OEVA member, Patrick Conner, reveals synergies that will make a real difference for you in his presentation, The Fantastic 4 of Home Energy: Solar, EVs, Batteries, and the Grid.

Did you know that the first practical Electric Cars date back to the 1880's? No, not 1980's, it was a century before. OEVA member Larry Paul will reveal the fascinating history of the EV that you've never heard, from their invention through the early 2000s. 

Brian White, OEVA member, EV analyst, and host of the FutureAZA YouTube channel, has driven just about every EV you can get in the US (and many that you can only get in China). He will share his wide range of experience in his talk, The Best EVs You Can Get (That Aren't Named Tesla).

Presentations Schedule (for times check back or see the Event Program at Registration)

 Time     Subject                               Presenter                                  
          Portland's Electrification Plans      Hannah Morrison, PBOT
          The Fantastic 4 of Home Energy        Patrick Connor
          The Fascinating History of the EV     Larry Paul
          The Best EVs (That Aren't a Tesla)    Brian White
 

Gas to EV Conversions

These labors of love are magnificent one-of-a-kind creations, starting with a gas vehicle and transforming it for the fuel of the 21st Century. Curious about what it takes, or are you looking to create your own special vehicle? People who have done it are there to answer all your questions, and show you the meticulous work they've done. And if you're interested in Gas to EV conversions, don't miss Summer Schneider's presentation about converting his gas Fiat 600 to electric drive.

Helpful Local EV-Related Companies

We're putting extra effort into expanding exhibitor participation, giving you the opportunity to meet with local companies providing EV-related products and services. If you're looking for an EV charger or installation, repair options, or other EV needs, check out the local business tents.

On-Site Food Truck! Discount Coupons!

As a special Thank-You for attending the event, the OEVA will give up to 400 registered guests a $10 discount coupon for purchasing food from the on-site food truck, Getta Gyro, returning again with their delicious Mediterranean food. And for the people who help put on the event an even better deal: The EV owners who display their vehicle and answer questions in the Owner Display Vehicles and Conversion Vehicles areas, the volunteers whose efforts make the event go smoothly, Keynote presenters, and dealer staff, the OEVA will provide coupons to comp selected meals including a drink. Such a deal!