Inaugural Electric Motor Show powers up the sector as promised
10.11.2009 09:32:23 EET | Messukeskus | Press release
The Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre’s "electric weekend" was set to dazzle visitors ith the wondrous novelties of this innovative new sector – at least this was the intention. The visitors were, however, surprisingly well-versed in the world of electric transports, and the experts in attendance at the fair were, at times, subjected to some tough questions. Staff from the Finnish Vehicle Administration AKE got asked a host of questions about, for example, the taxation of electric cars. The primary reason behind most fair visits was, however, the opportunity to see tangible examples of electrically-powered vehicles and hear expert presentations on the electrical distribution network and available charging options. The first and foremost reason was, however, the chance to test drive electric vehicles, and a steady flow of eager visitors was seen heading for the test drive track to try out electric bikes and scooters as well as the Segway personal transporter during each hour of the fair.
Proponents of sustainable development and environment-friendly transportation were out in force and argued for national-level decisions in favour of electrically-powered vehicles; this calls for the resolution of taxation issues, among other things. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen visited the fair on Friday and tried out an electrically-assisted bicycle. The Prime Minister considered it important that the e-Cars – Now! popular movement, which promotes conversions of old-technology vehicles into electrically-powered cars, continue its pioneering work on the eCorolla project. In this conjunction, Prime Minister Vanhanen noted that the big carmakers would enter the picture prominently immediately after business volumes in the electric car sector start to increase significantly. There are clear signs of this, as several car marques have already exhibited their own electric models or plan to do so at next year’s major car shows.
Test drives, sales and contacts
Electrically-powered vehicles have developed quickly and the Electric Motor Show was also organised in just four months. In the case of new events, it’s always of paramount importance that the expectations of both exhibitors and visitors are fulfilled.
"Exhibition visitors were given the opportunity to ask questions as well as to check out and actually test drive electric vehicles. A number of deals were concluded during the fair and some exhibitors also networked with each other by entering into retail contracts," says shift2e’s Jyrki Mattila, who was responsible for marketing exhibition space at the Electric Motor Show.
"We have displayed different ranges of our products at several fairs, but we have never before received such a positive welcome for a new product as we did now," said Eskil Storås, managing director of Cebotec Oy, which displayed a range of electric scooters at the fair.
The Finnish Fair Corporation and shift2e will arrange the next review of electrically-powered vehicles at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre in autumn 2010.
Further information:
shift2e, Jyrki Mattila, tel. +358 40 7472 698, jyrki@shift2e.com
Pixoi Oy, Anna Okkonen, tel. +358 44 2929759, anna@pixoi.com
Pixoi Oy, Sampo Manninen 040-5150880 sampo@shift2e.com
Finnish Fair Corporation, Communications Officer Petra Samppa, tel. +358 9 150 9380, petra.samppa@finnexpo.fi
Pictures by Aarre Rinne, Pixoi Oy
About Messukeskus
Helsingin Messukeskus on Suomen elämyksellisin tapahtumakortteli ja vaikuttavin kohtaamismedia. Suomen suurin tapahtumajärjestäjä tuottaa laadukkaita tapahtumia sekä vuokraa tilojaan ja palvelujaan erilaisten tapahtumien areenaksi. Messukeskuksen itse tuottamia tapahtumia ovat mm. Habitare, Helsingin Kirjamessut, Educa, FinnBuild, Matkamessut ja Vene Båt. Vierastapahtumina Messukeskuksen tiloissa järjestetään mm. Slush, Nordic Business Forum, Assembly, Kennelliiton Koiramessut sekä lukuisia kansainvälisiä kongresseja ja yritystapahtumia vuosittain.
Tilat käsittävät 7 hallia, 40 muuntuvaa kokoustilaa, 21 ravintolaa ja oman tapahtumahotellin. Messukeskus toi vuonna 2024 pääkaupunkiseudulle 245 miljoonan euron tulovirran ja toiminnan työllisyysvaikutus oli 3335 henkilötyövuotta. Omistajayritys Suomen Messut perustettiin vuonna 1919. | Messukeskus. The realsocial media. www.messukeskus.com @messukeskus
Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre (brand name Messukeskus) hosts Finland’s most inspiring events and exciting encounters. As Finland’s premier experience provider, we organise high-quality events and rent out our facilities for a wide variety of occasions. Events produced by Messukeskus include, among others, Habitare, the Helsinki Book Fair, Educa, Finnbuild, Matka Travel Fair, and Helsinki International Boat Show. Messukeskus also hosts guest events such as Slush, Nordic Business Forum, Assembly, International Dog Fair, as well as many international congresses and business events every year.
Our premises include 7 halls, 40 convertible meeting rooms, 21 restaurants, and our own hotel. The events held at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre last year brought in a revenue stream of 245 million euros to the Helsinki metropolitan area and created the equivalent of 3,335 full-time jobs. The Finnish Fair Corporation was founded in 1919. | Messukeskus. The real social media | www.messukeskus.com @messukeskus
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