An EV to fit your all your real needs? The conversations surrounding electric vehicles are evolving at a pace equal to that of EV and battery technologies. Only five years ago, the matter at hand was making it to one’s destination, even if only a few kilometers away. There were strategies, compromises and much planning to do to cover only 100km in an electric car. Only four years ago, the wife and I tackled a 450km round-trip in a Nissan LEAF. What would today require barely a day, with some downtime, necessitated 36 hours because of the car’s limited range and equally limited number of charging stations. The participants in this comparison test offer a 200- or greater kilometer range which, in conjunction with readily available Level 2 and Level 3 charging stations, make short work of most road trips. Getting around in an electric car has never been easier and it will only become leisurelier as the months and years go by.
The questions related to EVs are beginning to revolve around their versatility and their ability to conform to our daily needs. This is the main premise behind this evaluation as you can see in our related video. Along with our comments about space and comfort, we share with you some driving impressions. Before summarizing our thoughts, we feel it’s important to note that there are no real losers in this test. For the moment, there are too few 100% EV options for us to flat out disregard or black-list any one of them. As well, most are good or better than good. We’ll see what the future holds. Keep in mind here that Chevy’s Bolt did not lose anything. So how did it end up in last place? It did so because some of its shortcomings are too great to overlook. The first element is price. 10,000 more than the others. The justification lies in the larger 60 kWh battery, more powerful 150 kw drive unit and impressive range of 383km. With 200 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft. Bolt is exceptional performance-wise and its power is truly addictive.
The biggest breakthrough with driving an EV come from the ability to one-pedal drive. In Low mode or by using the paddle located behind the steering wheel on the left, you can slow down and come to a complete stop by simply lifting your foot off the accelerator. In fact, of the three cars, it’s the simplest to operate in this manner. Sporting the largest battery also means recharging times are the longest. At home and with a Level 2 station, a full charge requires 9.5 hours. While on the road, a Level 3 charger will top up your range by roughly 140 km in 30 minutes time. Although the Bolt can accelerates from 0-96 km/h in 6.5 seconds, it does not help its second biggest fault: a jittery ride. Nearly all other EVs offer up smooth or plush rides. The Chevy’s dampers lack initial give, transmitting road irregularities immediately into the cabin.
This is very at odds with the quietness and otherwise drama-less driving experience. Lastly, its trunk is tiny. This is an issue for active people, small families or anyone who’s hobby requires some boot space. The upside is that the cabin, thanks to the Bolt’s tall roofline, is very roomy for tall adults. It’s great to slide baby seats in and out of but anything larger than an umbrella stroller will have to be left behind. Charles and I both enjoyed the Bolt for its design and performance but it’s currently priced out of its own market. Volkswagen’s e-Golf is both Charles’ and I’s favorite of the lot. So how is it that it did not win? Its main fault is that some of its EV technology has already fallen behind the competition. 36,355, its 35.8 kWh battery is short on storage, thus range and power. The 100 kw electric motor is good for 134-horsepower and 214 lb.-ft. Golf is no match for the other two cars performance-wise.
