Test drive an electric car at Take Charge Christchurch

People can fulfil their electric dreams by getting behind the wheel of some of the world’s leading battery electric vehicles for a test drive along central city streets this weekend.

The Christchurch City Council Take Charge Christchurch event will gear up in front of Tūranga in Cathedral Square from 10am on Saturday, 13 April.

People will be able to check out a range of electric vehicles at the Take Charge Christchurch event.

People are being invited to slip into the driver’s seat to test drive the latest pure electric vehicles from Hyundai, Kia, LDV, Renault and Volkswagen.

Also on show will be a Jaguar I-PACE with a 90kWh lithium-ion battery, a BMW i3 and a Renault Twizy.

There will also be presentations from Jaguar, Renault and Volkswagen on the future of battery electric zero exhaust emission vehicles.

These will be held in Tūranga’s level one function room at 10.30am and 1pm.

People can check out the vehicle suppliers’ information stalls at Tūranga and learn more about their vehicles.

Anyone wanting to power up in one of the battery electric vehicles can visit the test drive registration tent. All you need is a current New Zealand driver licence to take a car for a spin.

Council Resource Efficiency Manager Kevin Crutchley says the Take Charge Christchurch programme aims to encourage the public and businesses to test drive and learn more about battery electric vehicles.

“We want to promote the value of battery electric vehicles in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution and also have some fun by taking the wheel of some of the latest technology zero exhaust emission vehicles,” he says.