Want to Learn More About EV Technology? Plan to Attend Saturday’s Kitsap Electric Vehicle & Bike Expo

You don’t have to look very far or wide on Bainbridge to notice the growing number of electric cars and e-bikes cruising island streets and byways.

Stand on the corner of Wyatt Way and Grow Avenue on any given morning and you’re likely to see dozens of Teslas, Chevy Bolts and other electric cars silently whizzing by. Walk towards the ferry terminal when a commuter boat anchors and you’ll likely see a gaggle of e-bikers scooting up Olympic Drive (Highway 305) to Winslow Way.

Like a lot trends, our island community tends to be a bit of an early adapter. Pickleball comes readily to mind, but electric cars and e-bikes aren’t far behind. There have been Tesla owners on our rock ever since Elon Musk watched his first model roll off the assembly line in 2008. And, e-bikers have been plying island roads the past dozen years or so as pedal-assist technology has been further developed and commercialized.

But these emerging transportation modes are still in their infancy, and there’s still much to learn and assimilate. That’s one of the reasons why the backers of the first-ever Kitsap Electric Vehicle and Bike Expo decided to stage their event to be held this Saturday (May 20) from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Woodward Middle School.

Not only will you learn more about electric vehicles and electric bikes, but you’ll have a chance to eat good food, enjoy music by local bands, hear presentations by experts, and be able to talk face-to-face with owners of various electric vehicles and electric bikes.

Indeed, in recent years there has been an exponential growth in the sale of electric vehicles, as car makers have improved range, along with providing more models, and increased performance. About 13 percent of new cars sold in 2022 were electric. Similarly, electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular. In 2022, electric bike sales outpaced the combined sales of regular and hybrid bikes.

Program

10:00 – 11:00: Presentations

• Welcome – Brenda Fantroy-Johnson, Mayor of Bainbridge Island
• City of Bainbridge Island Activities: Autumn Salamack, Climate Officer
• Electric Bikes: Tom Clune, Owner BI Cycle
• Electrify Your Ride: Grace Reamer, Board member Seattle Electric Vehicle Association and Coltura
• Questions and Answers: Fran Korten, Facilitator

10:00 – 2:00: Kick the Tires

• Learn about electric vehicles from dealers, car owners, and bike owners.
• Learn about electric vehicle programs from Puget Sound Energy, City of Bainbridge Island, ZEV Coop, Pacific Mobility, Bainbridge Greenways, and others.
• Listen to local music and eat local food.

Parking

Attendees: Please park in the South parking lot at Woodward Middle School (9125 Sportsman Club Road NE) or Sakai Intermediate School (9343 Sportsman Club Rd NE).

EV dealers, EV car owners, EV bike owners, organizations with tables: Please park in the North parking lot of Woodward Middle School.

Questions?  Contact  kitsapevfair@gmail.com

Speaking of electricity, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is providing information for Bainbridge residents to reduce home energy use and to learn more about its demand response pilot program (and) its Peak Energy Rewards. BI PSE customers are now eligible for increased financial incentives on a variety of home upgrades through Peak Energy Rewards, a new pilot energy-efficiency program. Learn more in this PDF document (or visit the PSE website for the most up-to-date information and note that you will need to login to your PSE account to access the Peak Energy Rewards page on the PSE website).

The voluntary pilot program uses smart technology to meet high energy demand during the coldest days of the year. When the demand is forecasted to peak, PSE smooths it out by adjusting a customer’s smart thermostat. This increases reliability and is designed to reduce the need for more new infrastructure, PSE officials note.

As a reward for participating, customers will receive $75 annually and be eligible for increased rebates on home heating, water heating and weatherization. According to a PSE release, only customers living on Bainbridge Island who heat their home with electricity as the primary fuel source and have an AMI meter qualify for enrollment.

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