The Electric Showcase will be held on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall.

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Electric vehicles, electric bikes, electric lawn equipment, and information on electric heat pumps will be displayed during West Hartford’s Electric Showcase on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, coinciding with the 14th annual National Drive Electric Week.

The event will take place behind Town Hall in the Town Hall Parking Lot at 50 South Main Street from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The popular Blue Back Farmer’s Market will occur simultaneously beside the Town Hall.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from owners and dealers of electric vehicles, bikes, and lawn equipment and ask questions about owning and operating the technology. The Town of West Hartford’s Ford E-Transit Van will be on display, as will a 24-foot Lion electric school bus on loan from CTEC, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System.

A LION electric school bus on display at West Hartford Town Hall in 2020. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Four e-bikes, courtesy of Berkshire Bike & Board and Ethan Frankel of Bike West Hartford, will also be available for fun, guided test rides in the Town Hall Parking lot. Jay Stange, representing the Center for Latino Progress’ BiCi Co bike shop in West Hartford, will also be available to support test rides and discuss the state’s bike voucher system.  

Electrification is a key strategy to decarbonize the transportation system, buildings, and other sectors in the United States. It is pivotal as the planet breaks heat records to transition to all-electric options. The Inflation Reduction Act also provides rebates for electric vehicles among its many sweeping climate investments. 

“This year’s West Hartford Electric Showcase is a great opportunity to learn from owners and dealers of various all-electric technologies, including electric vehicles, e-bikes, and electric lawn care,” said Samantha Dynowski, State Director of Sierra Club Connecticut. “There are so many reasons owners are switching to electric, whether saving money, protecting the climate, convenience, or simply the fun of these great technologies.” 

Catherine Diviney, Town of West Hartford Energy Specialist, noted, “Electrification is a key strategy identified in the Town’s Energy Plan towards a sustainable, clean energy future. We are lucky to have so many dedicated volunteers organizing community events like this one, which provides a fantastic, fun forum for education and peer learning so residents can get the information they need to make informed choices.”

“We’re excited to work with local retailers and West Hartford e-bike owners to provide e-bikes for test rides at this event,” said Jay Stange with the Center for Latino Progress, which runs the BiCi Co. community bike shop in West Hartford. “People feel like superheroes when they ride an e-bike, and they immediately understand the potential to reduce car trips.”

In the event of inclement weather, the rain date is Sunday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the same location.

The following public awareness videos were created by Kingswood Oxford students.

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