Media Release
24 September 2014

Largest Electric Motor Sport Event in NZ Coming to Christchurch

Introducing EVolocity – the largest electric motor sport event to hit the country! Taking place Sunday 30 November at Ruapuna Speedway in Christchurch.

Fast-paced, innovative and exciting, EVolocity is a motor sport event with an environmental twist – demonstrating electric vehicle performance and efficiency. An initiative of the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV), EVolocity aims to promote the use of electric vehicles while also encouraging New Zealanders to innovate, invent and become involved in the future of transport.

“EVolocity is the first ever day of electric motorsport in New Zealand and we think that is pretty special. The sector is growing worldwide with technology and innovation taking electric vehicles to thrilling new places – I am sure those who visit EVolocity will see electric vehicles in a whole new light and some may even come away with a new passion,” says Rob McEwen, Executive Director of APEV.

This year’s event highlights include:

• A race between the world’s fastest electric drag motor bike and the fastest drag motor bike in the South Island. (The electric drag bike goes from 0-100km/h in 1 second)

• An action packed event featuring sixteen Canterbury high school teams who have developed their own custom design and built electric vehicles

• A showcase of three world record holding electric vehicles from the US, plus New Zealand’s first Tesla S (The highest performance electric vehicle commercially available and Motor Trend car of the year, 2013).

• A race between the epitome of motorsport a Ferrari and the high performance Tesla Roadster.

• Race legend – Eva Håkansson who holds the title of fastest electric motorcycle in the world (434 km/h), fastest sidecar motorcycle in the world and fastest woman on a motorcycle in the world.

• Kevin Clemens who set 11 world, US National and US East Coast land speed records with electric motorcycles built in his Minnesota workshop.

• A Dragon’s Den where inventors and innovators will go head to head for potential investor backing

• An Award Ceremony celebrating the stand out performances and innovations from the day

Tickets for EVolocity are on sale now and can be purchased via the EVolocity website www.evolocity.co.nz

EVolocity is sponsored by Orion, the central Canterbury electricity network operator, who is well advanced in planning for the impact of electric vehicles on the network and understands the need to be ready and able to adopt this technology.

APEV
The Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV) mission is to create financial, environmental, health and energy security benefits for all New Zealanders. APEV is owner of the EVolocity concept.

Orion (Principal Sponsor)
Orion owns and operates the electricity distribution network that provides power to most of the Canterbury region. As one of the largest electricity distribution networks in New Zealand, Orion covers remote rural areas, regional towns and the city of Christchurch.
The Orion network extends over 8,000 square kilometres across central Canterbury from the Waimakariri River in the North to the Rakaia River in the South and from the Canterbury Coast to Arthurs Pass. Orion transports electricity to around 190,000 homes and businesses.
Orion is the principal sponsor of EVolicity and sees its sponsorship as an opportunity to show a strong commitment to the Canterbury community and to environmental and sustainability issues.

CPIT
CPIT, Enviroschools and Electroflash contribute time and work in partnership to run the EVolocity Boot camps for the participating high school teams.

ENDS

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