Electric cars pull the crowds in Whanganui

Margaret Baker was one of many Whanganui people to take a test drive in the popular Tesla model X electric car on Saturday. Photo/Bevan Conley.

Whanganui people were queuing in their hundreds to test drive a fleet of electric vehicles on Saturday.

The visit was organised by Better NZ Trust as part of their Leading The Charge campaign and took place at the Pak'nSave carpark in Victoria Ave where a charge station will soon be installed.

"I think it's safe to say there will soon be quite a few electric vehicles in Whanganui," said organiser Kathryn Trouson.

"We had a lot of people queuing up for test drives and the Tesla Model X was especially popular."

The Better NZ Trust are part way through a 2018 road show, taking a fleet of EVs from Bluff to Cape Reinga to show that they are capable of making everyday journeys as well as road trips.

As well as the test drives on Saturday, there was a screening of Revenge of the Electric Car at the Davis Lecture Theatre on Saturday night and Ms Trouson said around 100 people attended.

The film takes viewers behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars.

EV champion and consultant on the film, Chelsea Sexton was on hand for a question and answer session after the screening which Ms Trouson said was very well received.