Sydney International EV Autoshow: A new era for Australian motor shows

10/25/2024 01:30 AM

Returning to ​Sydney after a 12-year hiatus, with a new-found focus on electric vehicles, the three-day Sydney International EV Autoshow organised by Future Drive AutoShows gathers Australia's largest-ever display of electric vehicles and a wealth of industry experts under one roof.

For many Australians, attending a motor show was once an annual tradition – a family outing where parents and children could marvel at the latest cars and imagine themselves on the open road.

RELATED: Sydney International EV Autoshow to be bigger than Melbourne events

Sydney International EV Autoshow is the perfect opportunity for families to continue this tradition with the new generation and see how much the industry – and Australia's auto shows – have evolved.

From November 8–10, 2024, the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney will host the event, promising to provide a vehicle for all lifestyles and budgets. From very affordable $30,000 cars to high-end luxury vehicles worth more than $1 million, the show aims to demonstrate that the future is electric. Along with battery electric vehicles (BEVs), the Sydney showcase will also include plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), as well as e-motorbikes and charging solutions.

Confirmed EV manufacturers displaying their latest vehicles include Ford, Kia, Tesla, Audi, Volvo, XPeng, Zeekr, Smart, GWM, Chery, Deepal, Subaru, Peugeot and more.

Other exhibitors helping attendees learn more about buying and owning an EV include bp pulse, AGL, Segway-Ninebot, LEKI, ANCAP SAFETY, MSI, MotorPlatform, Hankook Tyres, EV Trove, Leaselab, Moomoo, ROLLiN’, Europcar, AmazingEV and Invest HK.

The event covers every aspect of EV ownership, answering attendees’ questions in person so they can upgrade to an EV with confidence, says Ray Evans, CEO of Future Drive AutoShows.

“It's the perfect opportunity for visitors to view over 100 of the latest and most anticipated car releases in one place, saving the effort of visiting multiple showrooms,” Evans says.

“It’s a celebration of how far we've come and a glimpse into the future of mobility.”

Complimentary test drives will offer potential EV buyers a hands-on taste of electric motoring before taking the plunge. Attendees can expect models from Tesla, GWM, XPeng, Smart and Peugeot (to name a few) that will be available to test drive.

Along with the extensive showcase, the Future Drive Stage will host a range of daily live sessions led by industry experts. These will cover every aspect of buying and owning an EV, as well as advice on important topics like home charging, financing, government incentives, buying tips and future trends in EVs.

The ‘EV Road-Trips’ panel will offer first-hand accounts of long-distance EV trips across Australia, including practical tips for planning journeys and managing range anxiety.

Many Australians still have unfounded EV range anxiety when it comes to taking long trips, but the session will include plenty of great advice for getting off the beaten track, says panellist and independent Australian electric transport and sustainable home technologist journalist, Neerav Bhatt.

Having himself recently driven more than 4500km on a family road trip throughout Victoria and South Australia, Bhatt says most Australians underestimate how far today’s EVs can travel on a single charge.

“Potential EV buyers often have questions about how they’ll manage on road trips but, for many people, a decent road trip from Sydney might be to the likes of Canberra, the Southern Highlands or Port Macquarie,” he says.

“There’s no need to worry when in most mid- or high-spec electric cars – if you’re starting from home with a full charge – you’d only need to stop once, if at all, along the way.”

Likewise, Australians don’t need to be so concerned about suburban range anxiety when the average vehicle only drives around 30km per day.

“When you drive a petrol car, you get into the habit of running the tank low and then completely refilling it, but that’s not how you tend to charge an EV, especially if you’re charging at home,” Bhatt says.

“Whenever you get home, you simply plug in the car so it can top up the battery every day – perhaps taking advantage of solar – to ensure your car is always charged up when you need it.”

Elsewhere at the Sydney International EV Autoshow, the ‘Breaking Down Barriers to Entry: Your First EV’ panel features Pete Thorn, President of the Tesla Owners Club of Australia. The session will guide newcomers through the process of choosing their first EV, from understanding their needs and budget to navigating the buying process including government incentives and financing options.

Meanwhile, the ‘EV Myth Busting’ panel sets the record straight on the real benefits of driving electric, with experts debunking the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding electric vehicles.

Altogether, the Sydney International EV Autoshow offers the perfect opportunity for Australians to get all their EV questions answered, says Future Drive AutoShows’ Ray Evans. 

“Ultimately, we want to deepen attendees’ understanding about what’s on offer in Australia and help them find the right fit for their needs,” he says.

With more than 100 electric and hybrid vehicles on display, daily live sessions, and hands-on test drives, the Sydney International EV Autoshow offers something for everyone, young and old. This November, revisit the magic of motor shows and discover the future of driving. 

To buy your tickets to the SydneyInternational EV Autoshow, follow this link.

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