Travel Norfolk, Travel Electric event proves a success
In partnership with Let’s Experience Electric, Norfolk County Council recently hosted Travel Norfolk, Travel Electric at the Forum in Norwich.
The free event showcased the latest electric vehicles (EVs), including electric buses, bikes and cars, and offered an opportunity to explore and learn more about EV technology and sustainability.
In total, 29 cars from eight dealerships were on display, along with e-bikes and scooters from Beryl, Outspoken Cycles for the e-cargo bike library, and local e-bike retailer Smile Bikes. Enterprise Mobility also attended, with two electric hire vehicles on display, and a double decker Wrightbus from First Bus was situated on the forecourt and well visited throughout the day.
Business and members of the public were given the chance to talk to specialists in the EV industry, to hear from those leading the transition to greener energy use in Norfolk and the UK, and to learn more about local efforts to improve access to EV use.
People were also invited to test drive the cars and bikes to experience the technology first-hand, with the aim to reduce some of the misinformation around EVs and demonstrate their ease to use – over the course of the day, 65 test drives were completed by enthusiastic attendees.
Presentations aimed at providing information to businesses and the public were held on the day, and contributors included: the Energy Saving Trust and UK Power Networks, who gave viewpoints and expert information from statutory organisations; Norfolk County Council and the Broads Authority, who provided a local perspective on the importance of greener transport and their contributions towards it; and Gridserve and Blink Charging, who gave information on local projects and lessons learn from a commercial standpoint.
Cllr Graham Plant provided the keynote speech and addressed questions relevant to Norfolk County Council’s current policies.
Overall, the day provided valuable networking and an excellent opportunity to learn more about EV innovation and the benefits that choosing and adopting EVs as a form of greener travel can bring.
Over a hundred people registered for the event via the Eventbrite sign-up system and hundreds more attended on an ad hoc basis throughout the day.
Norfolk County Council shared the steps that they, and Norfolk as a whole, are taking to expand the EV infrastructure across the county, making it easier for people to move from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs, thereby reducing carbon emissions and the impact of climate change within Norfolk.
You can view photos of the event here
