Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contacts: Pam McCurdy, 651-757-2559 Saint Paul, Minn. -- The latest in electric and hybrid vehicles will be on display at the Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair, including some models that are not household names. Electric vehicles on display include the Wheego Whip, the Gizmo, the Current, the Fei Chi, a Ford Ranger pickup converted to electricity, the Vectrix electric motorcycle and the Zapino electric scooter. The Myers NmG, which has the look of a jelly bean, will be added to the display Sept. 1. The latest Ford Fusion hybrid, powered by a mixture of electricity and gas, will also be on hand. Some of these vehicles are small, one- or two-person vehicles designed for trips less than 10 miles. Other electric vehicles are larger and can be driven on the highway. Many of these vehicles are available in Minnesota and some qualify for tax rebates. Plug in electric vehicles, or EV's, use power generated by a home's electricity source. Visitors to the Eco Experience will see how an electric vehicle can be charged off a home's solar panels at the Eco House carport. Nearly half the air pollution in Minnesota is a result of vehicle exhaust. Electric power produces far less air pollution than internal combustion engines used by a majority of vehicles on the road. The Eco Experience, located in the State Fair's Progress Center, will also include daily live performances and food demonstrations on the Eco Experience stage. Visit www.ecoexperience.org for a complete schedule.

About the Eco Experience A partnership between the Minnesota State Fair, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, other state agencies and dozens of organizations and businesses, the Eco Experience has become the second most popular exhibit at the fair. The Eco Experience is the largest environmental event of its kind in the country in the last two decades. Since 2006, more than one million visitors have attended the 25,000-square-foot exhibit to learn more about clean water, saving energy, climate change, local food, transportation, green building and remodeling, and other ways to lead more eco-friendly lives. Discover easy and uniquely Minnesota ways to go green in your daily routine by exploring cutting-edge green technologies and having fun with interactive displays, kids activities, live performances and more. Look for more information and schedules at /ecoexperience/index.html .