Electric vehicles are front and center as Southern Automotive Conference begins

Rivian R1S SUV
Electric vehicle maker Rivian plans to build a production facility east of Atlanta, but has faced vocal opposition from neighbors (Emil Moffatt/WABE)

Electric vehicles are top of mind at the Southern Automotive Conference in Gwinnett County this week. The gathering is being held as Georgia positions itself as a hub for EV manufacturing.

Among the half a dozen vehicles that were on display Wednesday just outside the entrance to the Gas South District Convention Center, almost all are fully electric.

There’s an electric school bus made by Georgia-based Blue Bird, a Rivian R1S electric sport-utility vehicle and an all-electric tractor trailer made by Peterbilt.