Auto show opens doors to oncoming electrics, hydrogen

Consumers successful Colorado, for the astir part, look hardly connected the borderline of acceptance of electrical vehicles arsenic the prime of proscription successful coming years.

Yet, authorities authorities edicts are pushing guardant against the usage of fossil fuels amid planetary warming concerns, and automobile manufacturers are astir regular addressing plans to determination to electric-car production.

In bid to go acquainted with the alternate offerings of afloat electrics, plug-in electrics, and gas/electric hybrids, alternatively of the age-old internal-combustion-engine power, galore motorists look to car shows, specified arsenic the 1 opening successful Denver this week. It’s a accidental to spot the possibilities each together, including accusation connected hydrogen-powered substance cells successful the signifier of a autobus operating connected electrical powerfulness from hydrogen.

The Denver Auto Show, an outdoor mounting astatine Elitch Gardens this year, volition beryllium unfastened from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday done Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. connected Sunday, Sept. 19.

Test-driving electrics successful the Xcel Energy Drive Electric Experience volition beryllium unfastened from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. connected Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Among electrical models disposable for riding oregon driving are the Polestar2, Volvo C40, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID.4. Inside the Xcel Garage besides volition beryllium proposal connected home-charging programs and however to acceptable up “charging astatine home” possibilities.

On show besides volition beryllium the New Flyer Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus, a zero-emission nationalist proscription conveyance successful cognition astatine respective airports crossed the U.S., according to New Day Hydrogen.

Adding involvement volition beryllium the Toyota Mirai, a midsize hydrogen fuel-cell automobile, and 1 of the archetypal of that aboriginal exertion to beryllium mass-produced and sold.

Over the past mates of years, I’ve driven six afloat electrical automobiles – the Ford Mustang Mach-e $51,200; Volkswagen ID.4 $45,190; Chevy Bolt $43,905; Nissan Leaf $44,780; Mini Cooper SE $37,750; Kia Niro EV $47,155. Among others are Audi e-tron, BMW i3, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric, Jaguar I-Pace, Porsche Taycan, Tesla, and Volkswagen e-Golf.

My astir caller thrust of an all-electric was the Volkswagen ID.4; a rear-wheel-drive exemplary with a 201-horsepower electrical centrifugal situated implicit the rear axle. The VW is simply a bully handler, precise quiet, and offers a comfy ride.

Brief notes from the different drives:
The Ford Mustang Mach-e AWD comes with an 88kWh artillery battalion with 288 lithium-ion cells successful a waterproof lawsuit beneath the level betwixt the crossover’s beforehand and rear axles.

The single-speed transmission is creaseless and the Mach-e4 performed with bully power connected snowfall and ice. . . . .The afloat electrical Chevy Bolt was the archetypal affordable, long-range electrical car from an American manufacturer. . . . . With the Nissan Leaf Plus, it was cold, windy, and rainy, we were moving precocious headed for the ceremonial of a person successful Sterling and the scope dropped dramatically. We were saved by a quick-charge presumption astatine Fort Morgan connected the instrumentality drive. . . . . The Mini Cooper SE has the slightest magnitude of range, astir 110 miles. Its contiguous effect and speedy acceleration, adjacent with its 1-gear transmission, makes it a amusive car to drive. . . . .With the Kia Niro EV, generating the electrical powerfulness is simply a lithium-ion polymer artillery pack, 150 kw (201 horsepower) electrical motor, an onboard charger, a fast-charge larboard successful the beforehand grille, 1-speed direct-drive transmission, and regenerative braking with paddle shifters.

The quality and editorial staffs of The Denver Post had nary relation successful this post’s preparation.