EV test drives, e-scooters, e-bikes, and more await you at America’s biggest EV expo

Have you ever wanted to ride shotgun with a pro driver drifting a Mustang Mach-E around an autocross course? Maybe you’ve dreamed of borrowing an e-bike and seeing how hard you can push it before test-driving the latest electrified Porsche models. These are just some of the experiences the Electrify Expo can offer you. We got a good look at what really goes on at the largest EV and tech festival in the US, so you’ll be able to decide whether you want to go when it comes to your town.

Electrify Expo 2025 comes to eight major US cities

For 2025, Electrify Expo visits eight cities. Phoenix, AZ, and Orlando, FL, have already happened, but there are still six more chances to get in. Enthusiasts near Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Dallas will all have the expo in their town, with general admission starting at $20 per person. There are a couple of things I wish I knew before I attended. Chief among my oversights was the fact that the expo is outdoors only, rain or shine. Second: be prepared to walk. The expo touts over one million square feet of stuff to do, and after walking around all day, I believe it. The test drive areas are the furthest from the entrance, which was likely intentional.

EV test drives are the best reason to go for car enthusiasts, but there’s a lot of other stuff to check out

Far and away, the best reason to check out Electrify Expo 2025 is the on-site test drive area. Lucid, Porsche, Lexus, Toyota, and Ford were the major OEMs in attendance, although I’m told the brands that are on-site might vary with the venue. Regardless, it’s the fastest way to get a sample of some of the most competitive EVs on the market today. While Lucid, Toyota, and Ford offered a flexible test drive experience, Porsche’s was a bit of a let-down. It was limited to 15-20 mph and practically bumper-to-bumper lead/follow, which none of the other brands I mentioned did. Still, it was a good first experience behind the Macan Electric otherwise.

Past test drives, there’s a lot more to do. At the Phoenix show, there were several motor/battery-swapped cars from tuner shops on display, including an R32 GTR with a Tesla powertrain. Sim racing setups were also on-site, which would probably have made more sense to me if it wasn’t 90 degrees outside. The pitfalls of Southwest living are more than an indictment of the expo itself. Other electric vehicles on-site and ready to test included electric-powered bikes, skateboards, scooters, motorcycles, and more. Food and drink are available, but bear in mind that Electrify Expo 2025 is totally cashless.

Final thoughts

Electrify Expo 2025 was a fun experience, and you can’t really do much better for $20 per person. It’s especially well worth checking out if you’re even remotely considering switching to an electric vehicle in the future. If you’re going alone or without kids, I’d even recommend ponying up for the $30 “early pass” that gets you in the gate an hour before the other people. Particularly when it comes to test drives, earlier is better. I was wrapping up my test drives just before noon, and lines were already beginning to form, especially at the more popular brands like Porsche and Lucid. If you’re near one of the cities the Expo is visiting, take a day and check it out — you won’t be disappointed.