Electrify Expo just launched a new demo program letting people take EVs home for a weekend. The first partner is Tesla. More brands are coming soon.
The program, called Electrify Weekender, kicks off at the Los Angeles festival on June 21. Attendees with a driver’s license and insurance can drive an EV around for a few days — no sales pressure, no dealership hassle.
Electrify Expo CEO BJ Birtwell told TechCrunch it’s about giving people a realistic, no-strings experience to see if an EV fits their lives. 
“It’s an opportunity for our attendees at Electrify Expo to have a no-pressure, non-sales-y experience with an electric vehicle on their terms, running errands and fitting this vehicle into their lives to see if it actually makes sense for them or not,” Birtwell said.
The launch follows data from Consumer Reports showing half of U.S. consumers want to test-drive EVs. Short rides at EV events already help push sales, but the longer “Weekender” test drives aim to reach more skeptical buyers.
Birtwell says Electrify Expo acts as a buffer to the typical dealership pressure that kills longer test drives. The goal: attract thousands of people who are curious but hesitant about EVs.
“People who are buying a ticket to come to our festival are often cross-shopping a bunch of different electric cars and trucks, like they’re literally coming to our event as if we are the 2.0 version of an auto mall,” Birtwell added.
“If we’re going to drive broader EV adoption beyond half the population, that means we need to appeal to everybody,” adding the focus is on consumers who are “curious and skeptical about EVs.”
Tesla did not respond to requests for comment on the program. The move could help Tesla fight flagging sales and competition as its lineup ages and CEO Elon Musk’s image takes hits.
Electrify Weekender will also roll out at festivals in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, and Dallas later this year.
