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vancouver international auto show

Friday, March 25, 2011

Electric storms headed our way

take a peek: Some

are on the market, more are on the way, and theyll all be at Vancouvers auto show

Bob McHugh
auto view n addition to strange, exotic and over-the-top, you can as always depend on seeing the very latest new vehicles offerings at next weeks Vancouver International Auto Show. And youll also get an early peek at what vehicles are coming in the nottoo-distant future. A whole new era in vehicle electrification is starting to gain real momentum and it will come in many interesting forms. The next new (or used) vehicle that you buy might very well have either a full-electric or a hybridelectric powertrain. Youll be surprised to discover the wonderful variety of new highly fuelefficient, hybrid-electric and all-electric new products already on the market or will soon be available. Ford, for example, is introducing a trio of electric vehicles including its first electric passenger vehicle, the all-new Focus Electric. Thats in addition to its small commercial vehicle, the Transit Connect Electric, in which a local company Azure Dynamics played a leading roll in engineering its electrification. Make sure to take a look at the new Ford C-Max (a new small passenger wagon/van) while at the show. In addition to gasoline versions, this vehicle will also be available as the C-Max Energi (a plug-in hybrid) and C-Max Hybrid. The all-electric version of the new Ford Focus is also on the way. Already on sale in the U.S., the Chevrolet Volt is an extended-range electric car. It has an electric-propulsion driving range of between 40km to 80km, which is probably enough for it to function on electrical power alone for many commuters. If needed, however, the Voltec propulsion system has an on-board gasoline fuelled engine/ generator that kicks in to extend its driving range, if the main battery gets too low on charge. One thing many of these new electric vehicles have in common is hookup capabilities to a 240-volt electrical power source. Plug-in hybrids, extended range electric and pure electric vehicles all recharge their batteries much faster when connected to

Honda will have a small electric vehicle, based on the Fit EV, with a 160-kilometre driving range.

submitted photos

The Focus will be Fords first electric passenger vehicle.

Ford C-Max will be available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid

The Toyota Prius PHV drives on electric power for 21 kilometres.

Nissan Leaf the first purely electric production vehicle.

a high-voltage outlet, which can be installed in the garage of most homeowners. The auto show is a good opportunity to take a look at some the 240-volt hookups that will be available and talk to informed personnel about usage and installation issues. The plug connection to the vehicle meets an SAE standard and will fit any electric vehicle, but the cost and assistance offered by the auto manufacturer may vary. The first purely-electric production vehicle available here will be the Nissan Leaf. Its based on a stretched version of the Nissan B-platform (used by Nissan Versa) and uses a Lithium-

ion battery pack, which is positioned in the centre of the vehicle under the floor. The battery is a unique flat design with four cells and 48 laminated modules and comes with an eightyear/160,000 km warranty. The electric motor that drives the Leafs front wheels is a high-response 80kW AC synchronous motor that can generate 107 horsepower and it has a rated driving range of 160 kilometres (based on the U.S. LA4 cycle) on a single charge. Honda will have a small electric vehicle based on the popular Fit hatchback. Its powered by a lithium-ion battery and a coaxial electric

motor that will give it a top speed of 145 km/h and an estimated driving range of 160 kilometres per charge. An innovative three-mode electric drive system, allows the driver to select between Econ, Normal and Sport. The Toyota Prius PHV is another, soon to arrive, plug-in hybrid vehicle and has a driving range on electrical power of about 21 kilometres. In Canada, the average daily commute is about 16 kilometres, according to Stephen Beatty, Toyota Canadas Managing Director. The times they are a changing and the everyday use electric vehicle is no longer a distant concept its a new reality.

Avoid driver distractions accidents happen in a split second.

Bob McHugh is a freelance automotive journalist, writing on behalf of BCAA. Email: to.mchugh@shaw.ca

Look for The Provinces Auto Show supplement in Sundays paper for an expansive look at what and who will be at the Convention Centre this coming week.