EVenture The Zero Emissions EVenture, held on 24 April 2022, aimed to highlight the importance of electrified travel in driving down greenhouse emissions, and other emissions which impact public health.  It was also intended to demonstrate that electric transport is here now, rather than only in the future.

The core part of the EVenture was a journey around central Canberra with the entrants travelling on five different modes of electric transport (see the map below).  In the late stages of planning, the event was extended to include a display of electric bicycles, with test rides (through a partnership arrangement with the SEE-Change E-bike Library) and a small display of electric motorbikes, supported by a new e-motorbike fact sheet. 

In all, 84 entrants participated in the EVenture journey, out of a possible total of 96.  The event ran smoothly with no significant problems.  Feedback from the entrants was universally positive.  We were also fortunate to experience good weather.

Members of AEVA ACT (supported by some members of the Tesla Owners Club) provided 35 volunteers, in the roles of marshals, electric car drivers and GoBoat drivers.

In terms of the various legs of the EVenture:

• entrants were welcomed at the start point at the AEVA marquee at the National Library, checked in and issued with numbered bibs to identify them to marshals and staff from supporting organisations.  Staff from Neuron Mobility were on hand to resolve any issues with the allocation of passes for the e-scooters which were used for the journey from the National Library to Kingston wharf, along the lake shore;
• staff from GoBoat Canberra assisted our entrants with embarkation and disembarkation for the short journey around East Basin;
• members of AEVA ACT drove our entrants in their own electric cars from the Kingston wharf to Parliament House (Federation Mall) via Brisbane Ave.;
• Yutong provided an e-12 electric bus and driver, to take our entrants from Parliament House to the City Bus Interchange, with the approval of Transport Canberra;
• Canberra Metro sponsored the journey of our entrants on the Light Rail from Alinga St. to Swinden St.; and
• members of AEVA ACT and of the Tesla Owners Club drove our entrants in their own electric cars from the Lyneham Park-and-Ride to the National Library, via Limestone Ave and Kings Ave.

The allocation of electric cars was organised so that every entrant rode in two different EV models during the EVenture.

Entrants accessed quiz questions along the route by scanning QR codes.

We received a great deal of positive feedback.  Here is an example from two entrants, Ross Dennis and Lucy Mao:

I just wanted to send a quick thank you to you and the rest of the support crew for this event.

It was really well organised, the support crew were informative and helpful and the event itself was a lot of fun to participate in. We came as a result of considering turning over our old car, and possibly going hybrid/electric, so the day was particularly useful for us. Lucy and I learned a lot from talking with the drivers of the e-cars etc. and from others in the group.

The test rides of e-bikes, supported by SEE-Change, were well patronised.  There was also strong take-up of our leaflets “Facts about EVs” and “Facts about electric motorbikes”.

A quick 'straw poll' by marshals as entrants returned to the National Library rated the first leg by e-scooter as the most popular, followed by Tesla rides in the final leg and then the GoBoat leg or electric bus as next most popular.

The closing function at the National Library was an opportunity to provide our entrants, marshals and drivers with a light lunch, to support networking between our volunteers and the entrants, and to acknowledge the contribution of all parties, not least the ACT Government for the Community Zero Emissions grant.

A range of efforts was made to publicise the event, with limited media take-up despite our best efforts.  One notable exception was this positive article in the RiotACT.

QUIZ QUESTIONS

The EVenture was intended to be informative as well as enjoyable.  To this end, entrants were invited to engage with QR codes at the conclusion of each of the first five legs of the event.  These QR codes linked the entrants' mobile devices to some multiple choice quiz questions about electric transport and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Scan the QR above or click here to see the response statistics to the five sets of questions.  

MAP OF THE ROUTE

The EVenture journey took about 2 hours. Start/stop locations [ ] and route numbers ( ) reference the map below. 

[1] The EVenture started in front of the National Library, where travel groups were briefed.  Groups will then mounted Neuron e-scooters and journeyed east along the lakeside path to the next location. In some cases, entrants opted to travel this leg on their own scooters or bicycles, or by courtesy car.  Route (A)

[2] Trevillian Quay South.  Travel groups boarded two GoBoats for a twelve minute return journey within East Basin of Lake Burley Griffin.  Route (B)

[3] Trevillian Quay North.  Each group was met by EV drivers, who drove them to the next location. Route (C)

[4] Parliament House bus stop.  An electric bus (a Yutong e-12) was waiting at the bus stop in Federation Mall to take travel groups to the next location.  A promotional banner (“Go Electric Now”) was highly visible. Route (D)

[5] Civic Interchange.  Groups departed the bus at Platform 7 and walked to join the Light Rail at the Alinga Street station.  Route (E)

[6] Lyneham Park and Ride.  Teams departed the Light Rail at Swinden Street station and were met by EV drivers, who drove them back to the National Library. Route (F)

[7] National Library.
Back at the National Library, groups could view the displays of e-bikes and electric motorbikes, collect informative literature and test-ride some e-bikes.  The final function was held in the Ferguson Room where entrants could enjoy refreshments and chat about electric transport with EV owners.