October 12th Meeting at EVDrive on Swan Island

Did you see the amazing EV conversion BMW 3-series Bob Simpson brought to the OEVA meeting at BMW Portland on August 10th? If not you missed something, as it was a beautiful, meticulously converted vehicle.

Sadly, about a week ago in Lake Oswego, a car crossed the center line and hit Bob in the BMW, resulting in a total loss of the vehicle. Most importantly, Bob is OK (if a bit banged up), but the beautiful one-of-a-kind car is not to be seen again. See what you miss out on when you don't show up for an OEVA meeting!

Our meeting this week, Thursday October 12th, 2023, is at Bob's company, EVDrive, at 4865 N Lagoon Ave, on Swan Island in Portland. These guys build all kinds of high performance electric drive products and systems. They provide custom engineered electric drive systems, off the shelf products, and vehicles from record breaking cars to industrial mine equipment. Sounds like a fascinating place. And they are opening their shop with a tour for us! This should be a fascinating look into unique systems engineered to drive in the most demanding conditions.

As usual, the OEVA board meets from 6:30 to 7 PM. OEVA members are welcome to attend the board meeting. The general meeting is from 7 to 9 PM, and is open to everyone, members and the public. EVDrive is on the south end of the building. There is some parking there, but if parking there is full there is more parking in front of the building on the north end. We've been doing really well with snacks the past few meetings. Please remember to bring a snack to share and your beverage.

Don't miss out on this inside look at this beautiful technology.

Test Drive the Latest Electric Cars

The Oregon Electric Vehicle Association's 2023 Electric Vehicle Test Drive and Information Expo is our most comprehensive electric vehicle event yet! This free event features test drives (bring your license and proof of insurance) from an extremely broad range of EV dealers, with about 26 different EV models covering almost all EVs available in the US. As of the time of writing we have confirmed the following test drive vehicles: Audi Q4 Etron, Audi Q8 Etron, BMW i4, BMW iX, Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Bolt, Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford E-Transit van, Hyundai Ioniq5, Hyundai Ioniq6, Hyundai Kona EV, Kia EV6, Mercedes EQE sedan, Mercedes EQE SUV, Mini Electric, Nissan Ariya, Nissan Leaf, Polestar 2, Subaru Solterra, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model Y, Toyota BZ4X, and Volkswagen ID.4. Unconfirmed at this time but possibly participating: Chevy Blazer, Ford Mach-E.

Electric Cars and their Informative Owners

There will be dozens of Electric Vehicles on display. The EV owners displaying their vehicles will be on hand to answer questions about their ownership experience with their cars. The core strength of the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association is its members, who in many cases have years and tens of thousands of miles of experience with electric vehicles. We're all delighted to share our experience, both because it is fun to talk about our cars, and because we want to help dispel some of the myths that are holding back EV acceptance. The motto of the OEVA is: Real Owners. Real Experience. Real Answers.

If you're new to electric cars, or if you are considering buying a car from a different manufacturer, talking with an owner of the type of car you are considering can make your experience so much better. Don't miss out on this opportunity.

Visit the Expo Room
The Information Central of the Event

Go through the large roll up door on the Tesla building to check out the Expo Room, the Information Central of the event. This is the first time we've had the space for this feature. The idea is to have a space where you can see exhibits, gather information, and meet with representatives of companies and other EV experts.

In addition to the Western Antique Airplane and Automobile Museum (highlighted above), we'll have companies that serve the EV community, companies like Greenlots and Platt Auto Group. At the OEVA table we'll also have materials from other organizations like vehicle information sheets from manufacturers. Details are still being settled at this time.

After giving their prepared presentations (see below), sometimes there are more questions than time allows. Presenters are encouraged to move from the adjacent Presentation Lounge and continue the discussion in the spacious Expo Room, allowing the next presentation to start on schedule.

Attend Live Presentations in the Lounge

Attend free live prepared presentations on a variety of topics, with a new presentation at the hour and half-hour starting at 11 am and the last presentation ending before the event closes at 4 pm. 

Our lead presenter is EV Expert Brian White, host of the My Tesla Weekend YouTube channel. He will give 3 presentations: How much better can batteries get? Juice Up your EV for cheap (or free)! Will EVs KILL or SAVE the grid? Brian is extremely well informed, with many inside sources in the industry, and provides some of the most accurate predictions and insightful commentary available on the EV industry. If you want to know the inside scoop about EV manufacturers from one of the hardest working YouTubers, Brian is the person to talk with.

Hannah Morrison, Planner with the Policy, Planning & Projects Group of the Portland Bureau of Transportation, will present on City of Portland Electric Vehicle Policy. She will cover City climate policy and transportation electrification, talk about the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s EV Charging in the Public Right-of-Way Code Project, and give a preview of a recently awarded $3.5M grant from the US Department of Energy focused on public charging. If you have an EV and live in the city of Portland, or visit the city in your EV, you'll want to hear Hannah's talk. She will be at the event for a few hours before and after her presentation to engage with you. Look for her in the Expo Room, or talk with her as she walks around the event.

And we'll have talks from knowledgeable members of the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association. OEVA Past President Gary Exner will talk about EV Incentives. If you are buying or leasing, new or used, there may be incentives available that can save you thousands of dollars. But you need to know about them, and what are the restrictions to qualify. Given the importance of this topic to everyone getting an EV, we'll try to get Gary to repeat this presentation so more people have the opportunity to attend.

OEVA Member Michael Johnston is a retired Intel senior software engineer, with a subsequent career as a bagpipe player and instructor. He travels to gigs throughout the Northwest in his Kia Niro. You may have heard that long distance travel is difficult in non-Tesla EVs, due to limited vehicle range and the unreliability of non-Tesla charging networks. Michael shares his techniques to make long distance travel a breeze in his Kia. If you want to do long road trips and don't drive a Tesla, don't miss this talk. And as a bonus Michael will explain how he powered the critical systems in his house from his Kia Niro during a power outage.

OEVA Web Administrator Ron Jackson will give a lively and (hopefully) humorous talk about surprising EV Myths and Realities. Many myths have a grain of truth, but what makes them myths is you're not getting the whole story. Are road trips in an EV really problematic, or more convenient than in a gas car? Do EVs actually get their advertised range? Is range anxiety the bane of EV ownership, or a completely solved problem? Does EV ownership cost more than owning a gas car? Do you really need an expensive EV charger at home? Ron will tackle these questions and others, based on his years of EV experience. Ron and his wife Karla own two Teslas, a 2018 Model 3 (which they've road-tripped 4,500 miles to northern Minnesota and back), and a 2023 Model Y. Ron has been driving Tesla's Full Self-Driving beta release software for over a year, and has an informed opinion about the future of autonomous driving.

The presentation schedule will be posted at the Registration Tent and at the Presentation Lounge.  Check there for any schedule changes.

See the eCascadia Fully Electric Semi

Did you know about the engineering of a fully electric semi done right here in Portland? And not just any vehicle, the Class 8, Max GCW 82,000 lb, up to 230 mile range Daimler Freightliner eCascadia! Electric drive is not only for passenger cars. The lower cost of electric power and simplified maintenance compared with diesel also makes the future of commercial trucking electric. You'll be impressed by the massive size of the eCascadia.

Electric Vehicle Conversions

See several electric conversions of gas cars, including the amazing White Zombie, the Original Fastest EV in the World, which does 0 to 60 in 1.3 seconds. Talk with Sham Datta, retired Intel engineer and our OEVA Information Technologist, and see how he converted his gas Toyota 4-Runner to electric propulsion. John Wayland will show his 400 mile range, full battery electric converted Honda Insight. And we expect to see Bob Simpson of EV Drive with his fully electric BMW 325i. There is even an EV Corvair conversion by Summer Schneider. Ah, the Corvair, now that brings back childhood memories for me! As of now we have five very different conversions confirmed for the event.

On-Site Mad Greek Deli Food Cart

Registered test drivers, display EV owners, and event volunteers, will receive an $8 discount coupon for food at the on-site Mad Greek Deli food cart!

Register Now!

Register to attend, to present your EV, or to volunteer to help put on the the event, at the National Drive Electric Week website, using the link https://driveelectricweek.org/event?eventid=3915.

Have questions? Contact the event's organizer, OEVA Vice President Peter Hoeckel, at Ask@oeva.org.

Myles Twete, driving his 1920 Milburn, led the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association's contingent in the 82nd Avenue of Roses Parade. It was inspiring seeing the progress of electric cars over a century from the Milburn to the "computer on wheels" Tesla Model 3. This Portland Rose Festival tradition resumed on Saturday April 29th after being on hiatus for 3 years. KATU live streamed the event, which is archived on their website. If you want to skip ahead in the video, we show up at time 30:10 in the stream. 

Enjoy the photo carousel above, captured from KATU's live stream, which shows our participants. Look closely and see if you can spot the Toyota SUV BEV conversion by OEVA Information Technologist and Intel Encore Fellow, Sham Datta. Just for fun and as a special challenge for you, your tricky Web Administrator has slipped a photo of a non-electric vehicle into the mix. See if your keen eye and knowledge of EV models can discern the non-EV parade vehicle!

Many thanks to Paul Burkey for organizing our participation in this community event, to Morris Green for getting the cool magnetic Oregon Electric Vehicle Association logo signs, and to the OEVA members who paraded their vehicles!

Electric Avenue is the first thing you see as you descend to the main floor of the Oregon Convention Center for the Portland International Auto Show. The auto show is a huge event, with participation from major auto manufacturers and local auto dealers. Electric Vehicles are a growing part of the auto show, and the OEVA is the heart of the electric Electric Avenue. On your right as you proceed down Electric Avenue is the massive Wall of All EV and Plug In Hybrid Vehicle Datasheets, created through a whirlwind effort by Gary Exner with help from OEVA members who researched many vehicle's data. Those EV datasheets are available on our Cars page.

At the far end of the Avenue, which is lined with EVs from many manufacturers, is the OEVA's exhibit space, and right in front of the popular "Vote for Your Favorite EV" display is the Belle of the Ball, the most popular and exciting vehicle at the Portland International Auto Show (by most accounts), the rare (for now) Rivian R1S, brought to the the show by outgoing OEVA president Gary Exner. And close by the R1S is a Tesla Model Y performance, brought to the show by OEVA Web Admin Ron Jackson. Being the only Rivian and Tesla at the show, they receive almost constant attention, with Gary and Ron busy answering questions and demonstrating the amazing features of their state of the art EVs from the rapidly growing new electric-only auto manufacturers.

Thanks go out to all the Electric Avenue volunteers at the auto show. Special recognition to Peter Hoeckel who was there essentially all hours all days, from before show opening to close. Gary Exner, Ron Jackson, Morris Green, and Karl Boekelheide were also long-hours volunteers for the whole run of the show. Apologies to any other long-hours volunteers I missed as I didn't frequent all areas of Electric Avenue. Special thanks to Chaz Smith who brought in delicious home baked cookies to the volunteer's break room (now there's a guy who spreads happiness wherever he goes, along with cookie crumbs), and to all the many OEVA members who volunteered their time to share their valuable EV experience with the public.

The 2023 Portland International Auto Show has taken up residence in the memories of those of us who volunteered and the people who attended. If you have photos from the Auto Show, please send them to your tireless Web Admin and he'll add them to the photo carousel above. And if you have photos from other OEVA events, or striking or funny pictures of your EV in a scenic location, please send those in too as we're always on the lookout for the right image to enhance our rapidly expanding website. Email photos or share a Google Drive album with Web@oeva.org.

Not only is there the 2024 Auto Show to look forward to, there are more events coming in 2023 for the OEVA and more opportunities for you to share your love of all things EV. Get more involved, its more fun that way!