Barcelona, the world capital of electric vehicles in November

Barcelona (ACN).- The 27^th edition of International Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition (EVS27) and the Expoelèctric fair will transform ​​Barcelona into the world’s capital of electric mobility from the 16^th to the 20^th of November. These two fairs are part of the city’s strategy to boost the electric vehicle sector by forming another economic cluster, and becoming an economic priority for the entire Greater Barcelona area and Catalonia. The EVS27 is the main international event in this field. It will be held from the 17^th to the 20^th of November at the Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue. It will welcome 170 exhibitors and over 7,000 visitors, 90% of which will be foreigners. The latest technologies for electric vehicles, especially batteries and charging systems, will be on display. The 3^rd edition of Expoelèctric will take place from the 16^th to the 17^th of November near the ‘Arc de Triomf’, in Barcelona’s city centre as a showcase for locals for this type of transport. It will introduce the first electric taxi in Barcelona and offer test drives to its visitors in the vehicles of the market leaders.

Barcelona’s Deputy Mayor for Economy, Business and Employment, Sònia Recasens, stressed that such events allow the city “to reinvent a traditional industry” such as the automation. In addition, they enable the creation of quality jobs for the city and the country. Recasens added that the “application of new technologies could help the industry to keep active and to create jobs at both city and country level”.

Meanwhile, the director of the EVS27, Adriana del Solar, said it was the first time the event was held in Barcelona. The Catalan capital was awarded the 27^th edition’s organization competing against Geneva and Paris. Del Solar indicated that the EVS27 would address issues such as battery capacities for electric vehicles and recharging infrastructure, as well as explain how they have improved in recent years.

The main topics addressed at the conference will be public policies encouraging zero emission and the development of the electric vehicle industry from an economic and strategic point of view. Barcelona’s EVS27 will also display the section Project Dissemination, which will introduce the latest innovative initiatives that are already underway in the sector. 135 projects, which have the support of the European Commission, will be discussed.

Expoelèctric to make Barcelona a showcase for electric vehicles

Meanwhile, the Director of Expoelèctric fair, Ramon Caus, stated that 10,000 visitors were expected to attend the event. He added that one of the main objectives was “to introduce zero-emission vehicles” to a very wide audience. Thanks to the fair, visitors will be able to discover the latest models of electric vehicles on the market and to participate in free activities open to all.  

One of the big novelties of this third edition – which always takes place in the Catalan capital – will be the presentation of the first 100 % electric taxi in Barcelona city and the first demonstration in Europe of how a city can be 100% electric. The City Council has allowed Roger de Flor Street to be temporary closed to traffic in order to recreate a city with only electric vehicles. The demonstration will include private cars, motorcycles and municipal transports such as street-cleaning vehicles. The main objective is to measure the acoustic and environmental impact in the area.

The Smart City Expo World Congress and the BcnRail Fair will take place between 19^th and 21^st November

The two events will coincide with the opening of the Smart City Expo World Congress and the BcnRail Fair, which will be held from the 19^th to the 21st of November at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona. All these events occurring simultaneously will turn Barcelona into the world capital of sustainable development and transport, according to the organisers of the fairs.