Évangélistes électriques!

The 2016 edition of the biennial Paris motor show was all about electric mobility. GreenFleet takes a stroll around the halls of the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and examines the chic electric and plug-in hybrid concept and production models that adorned the show floor.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Vokswagen ID

One of the most-hyped electric car unveilings in Paris was the Volkswagen I.D. concept car which is said to preview the first bespoke production EV from the German car manufacturer. Teased ahead of its reveal, the car is being marketed as ‘an electric car for a new era’ and was presented at the show as a ‘fascinating outlook on the mobility of tomorrow’.

The striking concept is the size of a Golf yet boasts as much interior space as a Passat. It takes styling cues from both VW’s legendary hatchback, as well as the Up city car. The I.D. is the first VW to use the company’s new Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) which will underpin a whole range of zero‑emission vehicles, following the ‘Dieselgate’ emissions issue which has engulfed Volkswagen over the past year. A 125kW electric motor powers the I.D. which Volkswagen states should give a range of around 250-372 miles (400-600km) on a single charge.

Automated driving functions also feature highly in VW’s future plans, and the I.D. incorporates these, with a fully autonomous ‘I.D. Pilot mode available from 2025. The production version of the I.D. is scheduled to appear in 2020, priced around the same as a diesel-engined Golf. Volkswagen also announced an update to the current e-Golf, which will see it up =dated with a range of 186 miles. (300km).

Mercedes-Benz Generation EQ

VW’s German compatriot Mercedes-Benz also focused its spotlight on e-mobility at Porte de Versailles. The Generation EQ concept blended SUV and coupé looks to give a preview of ‘a new generation of vehicles with battery‑electric drives’, according to the company. A pair of electric motors form the main motive part of the powertrain, with a system output of up to 300kW thanks to scalable battery components. Range is stated to be up to 310 miles (500km). Permanent all-wheel drive also features on the Generation EQ to ‘deliver the guarantee of dynamic high-level performance’, while comfort, connectivity, functionality, and safety are also high on the concept’s agenda.

Mercedes also states that its neon-grilled concept ‘meets every demand in terms of contemporary, sustainable mobility’, and says that the car’s name points to a new e-mobility sub-brand. EQ stands for ‘Electric Intelligence’ and is said to be derived from the company’s brand values of ‘Emotion and Intelligence’.

Opel Ampera-e

The latest all-electric car from Opel had its world premiere in France. The Ampera-e replaces the previous Ampera, which was a plug-in hybrid range-extender and was sold in the UK as both a Vauxhall and the Chevrolet Volt. The new 150kW Ampera-e is a supermini-sized pure EV and also has a US sister, the Chevrolet Bolt. With a theoretical range of 310 miles (500km, 236 miles in real-world scenarios), the Ampera-e is set to shake up the electric vehicle sector in Europe: sadly there are no plans to engineer right-hand driver versions for the UK market, although Opel’s UK arm Vauxhall states that the car ‘will be evaluated in the UK with the possibility of right-hand-drive models being produced in a future generation’.

Renault Zoe and Trezor concept

One of the surprise reveals in the French capital was a larger-capacity Renault Zoe, which will be capable of a 250-mile (400km) range. Renault’s popular all-electric supermini was arguable the most relevant real-world EV launch at the show, and will now boast a 41kWh ‘Z.E. 40’ battery, expected to return a real-world range of around 186 miles. The existing 22kWh battery has a real-world range of 106 miles, so is a significant upgrade. The new battery was developed in close partnership with LG Chem.

Sharing space with the longer-range Zoe was the Trezor all-electric Grand Tourer (GT) concept. Designed to provide a connection with the company’s innovations in the Formula E racing series, the Trezor and its high output electric powertrain is derived from the Renault e.dams, two-time winner of the Formula E teams’ world title. Maximum power of 260kW (360bhp) and peak torque of 280lb ft (380Nm) sees the Trezor accelerate from 0-62mph in under four seconds. Autonomous driving also features highly in the daringly-styled Trezor.

Smart Fortwo and Forfour Electric Drive

Smart revealed its new electric-drive line-up in Paris, which unlike previously, now also includes the five-door Forfour. Arriving in the US at the end of the year and Europe in early 2017, both the Fortwo and Forfour have over 100 miles (160km) of range. The 60kW electric cars have an official electricity consumption of 13.1-12.9kWh/100km.

HYBRID VEHICLES

Citroën CXperience concept

French car maker Citroën revealed its CXperience plug-in concept at its home event. Reinventing its iconic large car CX badge for 2016, the new concept is 4.85m long and is powered by a plug-in petrol hybrid engine. The 150-200bhp petrol engine is boosted by an 80kW electric motor. A 3kWh battery provides up to 37 miles (60km) of zero‑emission range and can be charged in 4.5 hours.

Mitsubishi GT-PHEV concept

Japanese company Mitsubishi announced its ‘grand tourer’ plug-in SUV concept in Paris. A high-end next generation SUV, the GT-PHEV concept featured an advanced triple‑motor PHEV system, comprised of a next-generation high-capacity drive battery package, three high-output and high-efficiency motors and an engine designed especially for the PHEV system featuring improved electricity generation performance and motive performance. An all-electric range of up to 74 miles (120km) and a combined hybrid cruising range of over 745 miles (1,200km) is promised.

Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid

Sports car manufacturer Porsche pulled the covers off its plug-in hybrid version of the new Panamera super-saloon at Porte de Versailles. System power of the Panamera E-Hybrid is 340kW (462bhp), while fuel consumption is quoted as 2.5l/100km (112mpg). CO2 emissions are 56g/km. The 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery offers an all‑electric range of up to 31 miles (50km), while the 100kW electric motor gives high performance: 0-62mph takes just 4.6 seconds.