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 EV owners to join in to bring the local EV community together. This started with the All-EVs Picnic at Tigard's Summerlake Park (July 11th, 2024), Group Drive to Hood River Taqueria and the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (July 27th, 2024), and Group Drive and Picnic at Wildwood Recreation Site (August 17th, 2024). We'll hold similar EV community events in 2025. This year the Summerlake picnic will be on Thursday July 10th, 2025.

We hold General Meetings on the second Thursday of every month, at 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 and are open to the public. The OEVA Board meets at 6:30 PM, immediately before the General Meeting, and board meetings are open to all OEVA members. General Meetings begin at 7 PM with food and socializing. The informational program begins at 7:30 and runs about an hour, followed by more informal conversation. Festivities conclude by 9 PM.

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

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

Sunday April 27th, 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://driveelectricearthmonth.org/event?eventid=4623

Test Drive A Broad Range of EVs

Test drive a broad range of EVs, from economy EVs to luxury and performance models from many brands. We'll publish the vehicles here when we get confirmations closer to the event. There's no better way to get the EV experience than actually driving the vehicles that you are considering from the different manufacturers on the same route and on the same day. 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. 

The Oregon Electric Vehicle Association puts on 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 help you find the best EV for you.

New Vehicle Display

Adjacent to the Test Drive area, local dealers display 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.

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. We've got a great line-up of presentations at this event.

Beginners should particularly check out EV Lingo That Matters, EV Charging Tips & Best Practices, Should You Buy or Lease a New EV?, and Used EV Purchase Experience, and everyone considering buying an EV would get important purchase information by attending those last two presentations.

If you're an EV enthusiast and interested in the hardware or technology, Tesla Cybercab: Rethink Everything, V2L V2H V2G Technology, Fiat 600 Gas to EV Conversion, and Rebuilding a Wrecked Ionic 5 might appeal to you.

And for the latest look at what's going on in the largest EV market in the world, hear the latest news at China's EVs: Unstoppable?, from Brian White, just back from Shanghai.

Presentations Preliminary Schedule (check the Program at the event for changes)

 Time     Subject                               Presenter                                  
 11:00    EV Lingo That Matters                 Danny Brasuk, OEVA Member
 11:30    China's EVs: Unstoppable?             Brian White, FutureAZA YouTube Channel
 12:00    EV Charging Tips & Best Practices     Rob Grove, President of EV Charge PDX
 12:30    Tesla Cybercab: Rethink Everything    Brian White, FutureAZA YouTube Channel
  1:00    Should You Buy or Lease a New EV?     Ken Cornelison, Gen Mgr Kia of Portland
  1:30    V2L, V2H, V2G Technology              Casey Workman, Co-Owner Milwaukie Electric
  2:00    Used EV Purchase Experience           Carey Booth, OEVA Member
  2:30    Fiat 600 Gas to EV Conversion         Summer Schneider, OEVA Member
  3:00    Rebuilding a Wrecked Ioniq 5          Patrick Sughrue, OEVA Member

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.

Antique Electric Vehicles

It looks like this time around our friends at the WAAAM museum probably won't be able to bring their 1914 Detroit Electric to the event, but OEVA member Myles T. will display his 1910 Milburn Light Electric. It's remarkable how long electric cars have been around, and amazing how far the technology has come in 115 years!

Freightliner eCascadia and eM2

See the huge and hugely impressive eCascadia and eM2 at their native home. Our deepest thanks to Daimler Truck North America for hosting the Test Drive & Information Expo and Diego Quevedo for his support of the event at DTNA.

Food Truck Details! Discount Coupons!

We have two great on-site food carts for the event, Getta Gyro and Richi's Tacos. As a special Thank-You for attending the event, the OEVA will give up to 400 guests a $10 discount coupon for purchasing food from the on-site food trucks. 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!