Until Tesla’s Model S made its debut in 2013, most of the electric cars on display at auto shows were ugly-duckling oddities or one-off concept cars. Since then, we’ve seen a small, but steadily-growing number of EVs and PHEVs sharing the show floor with their carbon-spewing cousins. In fact, the large number of eco-vehicles on display at the NY International Auto Show are a strong indicator that EVs may be well on their way to becoming a respectable market segment.
At least that’s what the auto makers want you to believe. But, in these early days, just how practical, comfortable, and fun to drive, is this first generation of electric upstarts? That’s precisely what Megan Crouse, PD&D’s intrepid real-time reporter, and I will attempt to learn during our visit to the auto show. Since we’re working on a “Top 5 EVs” feature for PD&D, our goal will be to get up-close-and personal with as many EVs as possible. We’ll even be driving some of them on the special Clean Air Test Track that is being set up in the convention center’s basement.
One of the EVs we’ll be sure to check out is Chevy’s Bolt, a subcompact, offering a 200-mile rage and a price tag of around $30K. While at the Chevy booth, I also want to at least get a test-sit in the heavily-revamped 2016 Volt which is quicker and more efficient than its predecessor and now boasts a 50 mile range before its gasoline generator kicks in. We’ll also be dropping by the Volkswagen booth where the eGolf will be on display. It is reputed to be nearly as fun to drive as its gas-powered brethren while delivering an 80+ mile range and a sub-$30K price tag. I’ve already driven Nissan’s Leaf and was very impressed with its peppy acceleration, comfortable interior, and overall drivability. Nevertheless, I still want to check out the 2016 model which includes a few subtle improvements in the interior and offers improved range, giving you up to 107 miles of driving versus around 80 mi from earlier models.
Ford will be another must-see at the show because it now offers several affordable EVs. Ford’s selection includes an all-electric version of their Focus as well as PHEV versions of their compact C-Max, and full-sized Fusion sedan.
We’ll also be sure to stop by the BMW booth to check out the i3. It still only has an 80-mile range but it offers a great mix of utility, comfort, and style – and it’s the one of the few true EVs besides the Volt to offer a gasoline range extender. While we’re at BMW, I’ll also do my best to at least get a quick test-sit in their incredibly sexy i8 spyder hybrid. Assuming our schedule permits, we’ll also be stopping by the Smart, Mitsubishi, Mercedes, Kia, Honda and Fiat booths to get a feel for the production EVs they’ve also recently introduced.
Of course EVs are not for everyone so we’ll also be looking at many of the 50+ hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and alternate fuel vehicles which will also be on display in New York. Look for our “Top 5 Green Cars” feature which will appear next week on the PD&D web site.
