Electrify Expo offers surprising options

SEATTLE — The Electrify Expo welcomed thousands of visitors at the University of Washington’s campus. Vendors offering everything from battery-operated scooters for children and adults to motorcycles and full-sized electric vehicles showed a wide range of products on the market. 

Given announcements from REC Silicon over the last couple of weeks, that could bode well for industry in Eastern Washington. REC announced its first shipment of silane gas – a product used in making solar cells and EV batteries – Sept. 13. Just days later, on Sept. 18, the company announced an agreement with Sila Nanotechnologies, also located in Moses Lake, to provide Sila with silane gas as the companies look to strengthen their U.S. footprints.  

Randy Acree and his wife Rhiannon attended the expo, having time to do so between Randy’s shifts on the picket line waiting for Boeing and his union to line up a new contract. Randy had test-driven the Ford F150 Lightning EV pickup while Rhiannon had given the Nissan Ariya, a fully electric EV similar to the Nissan Rogue, a try.  

“I like it,” Randy said. “I’ve been looking into the Lighting for probably since before it came out on the market. It has a lot of nice features.”  

Randy said the EV truck had good acceleration and handling and the displays – all digital – were easy to read and understand.  

Rhiannon said she was impressed with the Ariya as well.  

“I love the Ariya,” she said. “It’s very spacious. It’s gorgeous inside; it drives so smoothly. It’s got a really good turn radius; it was overall a really nice ride.”  

Speaking with the various vendors at the event, the majority of them said the biggest challenge in selling EVs is getting people to understand how much the technology has come along. Looking at the Ariya, in standard driving conditions, it has a range of more than 300 miles before needing a charge, according to Nissan representatives.  

At the Ford booth, Fabrice Radebach said the Lightning has a roughly 300-mile range and he’s spoken with ranchers who said the vehicle is their go-to vehicle. The motor is powerful, and the Lightning has 110 volt hookups that allow farmers and ranchers to hook up power tools and utilize them out on the remote parts of their properties. Arc welders, drills and other electric items all have a power source right off the truck.  

Among the biggest concerns expressed by consumers at the expo was the convenience of charging. Radebach said the options for charging have come a long way, though there is still work to be done. 

Radebach said consumers have multiple options for home charger installation that vary on price based on who installs the charger and factors such as the age of the wiring in the home and whether the main circuit breaker for the home will need to be upgraded to accommodate the charging unit. Costs vary depending on the region the buyer resides in.  

Generally, the options are to go with whomever the dealer’s contracted provider is, which may save money in some instances. However, local electricians can install chargers as well and may be less expensive.  

Charging on the road is getting easier as well, Radebach said. Ford has recently worked with Tesla to obtain licensing to use Tesla’s charging stations. Vehicles come with an adapter that allows the Tesla plug to charge into a Ford vehicle port.  

According to statements from Nissan, the company’s 2025 EVs will utilize the same connector as Tesla and earlier models may use an adapter.  

Most other manufacturers either offer an adapter that will work or are changing over to be compatible with Tesla. 

While public charging stations aren’t yet prevalent in Eastern Washington, plugging in at home will usually see consumers through day-to-day use. 

Variety isn’t a problem for consumers when it comes to EVs. All major automotive brands offer them, and smaller manufacturers do as well. Motorcycles are even available in a wide range of options with an adult, electric motorcycle available for less than $2,000 for someone needing something in an urban area. For others, there are full-sized motorcycles offering lots of options.  

BMW dealer Dave Daniell said he’d seen a lot of interest in the options his team brought to Electrify. The main challenge in selling them has been awareness. 

“I’ve had so many people come into the booth and say, ‘I didn’t know BMW made an electric bike’ and all of that. So, we’ve talked to a lot of people and raising awareness has been fantastic,” Daniell said.  

He added that the options on an EV motorcycle are just as luxurious as those on a fuel motorcycle. The display allows for GPS to be easily viewed, Bluetooth enabled helmets allow calling and music while riding and devices can be plugged into the bike. There’s even added storage.  

While the EV motorcycles don’t yet have the range of a traditional gas engine, the BMW CE 04 does manage about 80 miles per day on a full charge and can be recharged using a standard 110 outlet, Daniell said.  

The technology is coming along when it comes to EVs, and battery manufacturers are working to continually improve the power sources for EVs. They may not be a fit for everyone, but they might fit more people than realize it.  

As for the Acrees, Randy said that, once he’s back on the job full time, there’ll be a change in his garage. 

“When the contract is final and the strike is over with, one of the first things we’re going to work on is trading our Nissan Leaf in for an Ariya,” he said.

    Horsepower was once a concern for EVs, but Ford made it a point to show that the times have changed. A closed course at the Electrify Expo had professional drivers taking consumers for a literal spin at high speeds in a pair of speedy Ford Mustang Mach Es. According to Ford, the vehicle’s most powerful trim offers 480 hp and can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.
 R. Hans Miller/BasinBusiness Journal   

    Drivers had a chance to test drive several EVs on closed tracks, including the Tesla Cybertruck. Reactions were mixed on the Cybertruck itself. While consumers said they enjoyed the comfort, power and handling, several said the unique appearance was off-putting.
 R. Hans Miller/BasinBusiness Journal   

    One of the main concerns expressed by consumers is convenient charging of EVs.
 R. Hans Miller/BasinBusiness Journal