There was a different feeling in the air at NDEW2019 in DFW this year and I just don’t mean the lack of torrential rain, like we had in 2018. This year, more than I’ve noticed before, there were EV-curious people there. Of course, I saw many faces I’ve seen before, but there were so many people asking EV lifestyle questions. Obviously, these were people that have not owned an EV before.
My immediate neighborhood, at the show, was quite interesting. On one side, there was a young guy who had electrified a VW Beetle. He was interviewed on Jay Leno’s show, talking about the work he had done. It was amazing to not hear the Beetle, when it drove up…
On the other side of my location was a truck from Maverick Harley-Davidson from the Dallas suburb of Carrollton. They were showing off the Livewire electric motorcycle from Harley Davidson.
Having been a motorcycle enthusiast, in my youth (before I realized all car drivers were out to get me), I was hoping to get the time to talk to them about the Livewire. In particular, I was hoping to see what Harley Davidson customers thought of the new bike.
Unfortunately (or actually, fortunately, since I was very busy) I never got the opportunity for that chat.
Beside my location, there was the most purple Fisker Karma I’ve ever seen. The owner parked, got out a lawn chair and spent the afternoon talking with people about her Karma. This is not the reincarnated Karma company (Fisker, after being bought by a Chinese concern) but the original Fisker Karma that I first saw in-person at the very beginning of my electric vehicle journey, in 2012.
The Fisker Karma was well represented, with multiple vehicles, in excellent condition. Those are now seven year old cars, but their styling makes them almost immortal.
Across the driveway from my location, was my good friend and colleague Tom “Smitty” Smith of TxETRA, signing up EV owners left and right.
I’m told a good number of people signed up with TxETRA, during the event.
Disclaimer: I am a board member and the Director of Dealer Outreach for TxETRA.
The difference, this year, is people seem to be getting more confident about switching from gasoline to electricity. One couple I met, Brett & Mindy, beat me back to the dealership and bought their first electric vehicle from me, upon my return.
While they were in the Business Office, finalizing their purchase, another couple I met at the event showed up. The husband has a Tesla Model 3, but the wife was interested in the Bolt EV. She looked at several and selected the one she liked the most. They went home so she could think about it. She had also been considering getting a Model Y, when they become available. Another couple, with deep EV experience, phoned me to say they wanted either a Volt (of which I am sold out, but can still obtain) or a Bolt EV. After checking them both out, Bolt EV won the day, due to its better rear visibility. They plan to buy mid-week.
This year’s NDEW has me convinced that people who have been sitting on the fence are quickly moving to EVs and those who may not have considered an EV are now opening this eyes to the EV lifestyle. The tipping point just moved closer…
