For those who couldn't make the LA show, here are the EVs and other electrified cars that I found most interesting.
Tragically, in my opinion, the LEAF was on a raised display with no cars to sit in or touch. Crazy for a production car that's on the roads in many states, including, of course, this one, and with demo cars at dealers. There was a peppy young man giving a well rehearsed talk about the LEAF. I asked him why there were none to sit in. He said "You're asking me? I don't make those decisions", which of course was true. I had a good long talk with a couple of guys my age who were very excited about the LEAF. They said that it was the most interesting car they had seen at the show. Too bad Nissan didn't put one on the floor for them to touch.
Of course, there were several Volts on display and available to sit in. There was also information posted on the Volt signage about the new 2012 Volt engines that will qualify the Volt for car pool lane access.
DOK-ING XD from Croatia: 33 kWh battery, all electric BEV, two or four motors, Dual scissor doors, Kevlar/Carbon Fiber body on aluminum frame, Three-seater with driver in center and two rear passengers. Possibly coming to the US in 2013 starting at $40,000 (I have no idea if that is before or after gov't incentives, or even if there is any truth to this figure). Cordoned off at the show and no opportunity to even sit in it.
BMW i3 Concept: Carbon Fiber passenger cell, 30+ kWh battery, rear drive, full BEV and/or extended range with a small ICE. Lots more searchable on the web about this one. Cordoned off at the show and no chance to sit in it.
BMW i3 Concept
BMW i3 Concept
BMW i8 Concept: Plug-in hybrid super car. Cordoned off at the show.
BMW ActiveE field trial vehicle based on the current 1 Series Coupe. Contains many of the electric drive components destined for the i3. Car was locked at the show.
Some specifications from the BMW ActiveE display.
Does something look a bit "off" about this picture?
Honda Fit EV. It only comes in this color. The rest of the body looks identical to any Fit that you see on the roads today. Lease only. Car was cordoned off at the show.
Cadillac Converj EREV Concept: A Cadillac coupe with a version of the Voltec powertrain from the Volt. Cordoned off and unavailable to touch.
The most interesting thing about the Coda display, the battery case and mechanical components on display. Far more interesting than the cars themselves. The Coda cars WERE available to sit in at the show.
Mitsubishi i with "woodgrain" trim. This was the only "i" that was on display, I think. Odd choice. See next picture for close-up detail of the "woodgrain".
Ahhh, wooden circuitry. Probably a weight saving feature???
A two-door EV concept based apparently on the Mitsubishi i. I hadn't heard of this one before. No name for the car was posted and no information. You're looking at the rear of the car, I think...
Oh yes, there is the front end.
And the Fords: The Focus EV. Locked up so that you can't sit in it, with the cargo cover in place inside the hatchback so that you can't see the battery lump taking up the cargo space. Nice looking car, though.
Ford Focus EV. Like I said, nice looking.
Ford C-Max Energi plug in hybrid van-thing. Nice looking, not very large, no data yet on all-electric range, as far as I know. As I looked inside the locked car's windows, I wondered if there was any benefit of this car over a LEAF, except extended range. The inside didn't look like it would be any more useful than a LEAF. Five passengers and a smallish cargo area. I guess that the cargo area is bigger than the LEAF's.
Ford C-Max Energi rear view.
Ford's Level 1 EVSE.
Ford/Leviton Level 2 EVSE.
Inside the Ford/Leviton Level 2 EVSE, the wall plug.