The 10-day long Paris Motor Show is taking Europe by an electric vehicle storm, kicking off last Thursday with many of the usual suspects as well as a few newcomers that surprised enthusiasts.
Tesla was present, as we noted in last week’s preview – which is unusual in itself, but the US EV maker chose to use the Paris motor show to officially unveil its Model 3 to European consumers.
Also there were European carmakers Mercedes-Benz, DS, Renault, BMW, Jaguar, Audi and Peugeot, and Asian carmakers Kia and Hyundai, and also including China’s Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) – all taking on the challenge to reach into the future of electric mobility.
We’ve covered quite a few of the EV models launched in recent weeks as well as those likely to make it to our shores that are on show in Paris – but we also wanted to share some of the outlying contenders and concept vehicles also exhibited at the popular motor show.
Self-described mobility solutions expert Solenne Cucchi snapped some shots prior to the show opening on October 4, including the red Tesla Model 3, the newly launched Mercedes-Benz EQC and from the virtually unknown Chinese automaker GAC – the Enverge all-electric concept, whose doors open up Batmobile style.
Improvised and exclusive visit of Paris Motor show that opens tomorrow. Lots of electric vehicles. Some noticeable here (Part 2) #EV #VE #Parismotorshow2018 #Salondelauto2018 pic.twitter.com/GzoGi3ScWH
— ӂ Solenne Cucchi ӂ (@SolenneCucchi) October 3, 2018
The only Chinese manufacturer at the Paris Motor Show, GAC, presented its electric concept Enverge at the Paris Motor Show after exhibiting in late August in Moscow.
A “zero emission” SUV with a range of 600km and futuristic design, the compact 100% electric SUV with butterfly doors has a battery of 71 kWh, rechargeable by induction, or 400 km in 10 minutes with a high-speed charger for a range of 600 km.
With all-wheel drive, the EV has a power of 235hp and 410Nm of torque. This allows a 0-100 km/hr achieved in 4.4 seconds for a limited top speed of 160km/hr.
Alongside the Mercedes-Benz EQC was Daimler’s cute and convertible all-electric smart – ‘simple, reduced and pure, yet never boring’, says the automaker.
Smart’s EQ fortwo (yes, it’s a two-seater) cabriolet features a powertrain with maximum 60kW output, 160nM torque and a 17.6kWh battery with up to 160km of range.
Another #worldpremiere at #ParisMotorShow ????:
The new #smart #showcar is simple, reduced and pure, yet never boring, and unconventional in its ideas. The show car is a radically open electric convertible. #Daimler #EV #eMobility @smart_worldwide #MondialAuto @smart_worldwide pic.twitter.com/ieXCz5Id2d
— Daimler AG (@Daimler) October 1, 2018
“Motoring Scribe” Vikrant Singh waxed lyrical about the Peugeot e-Legend, describing it as ‘dripping with emotion’ (you can read more on the specs of the e-Legend here):
Absolutely loved the @Peugeot #ELegend concept. It’s electric cars like these – ones dripping with emotion – that will get us jumping onto the #EV bandwagon. Now, where can I buy a scale model for it…#ParisMotorShow pic.twitter.com/CydnFoHXjr
— Vikrant Singh (@MotoringScribe) October 3, 2018
French DS made headlines with French President Emmanuel Macron visiting the carmaker’s exhibition of their all-electric offering, the DS 3 Crossback E-tense, as captured by DS Senior VP Eric Apode.
The very first 100% electric car for DS, was first reported to have 300km range but now the carmaker has officially announced a homologated range of 320 km per charge (WLTP) homologation cycle, with a 100kW electric motor with 260Nm of torque and 100kW CCS Combo connector.
Visite de M. Emmanuel Macron sur le stand DS cet après midi. Notre DS 3 Crossback E Tense est au centre de toutes les attentions. La star du Salon de Paris. pic.twitter.com/IwR4KvN0Cz
— Eric Apode (@eric_apode) October 3, 2018
One of the most striking electric vehicles at the show by far has to be another concept from Mercedes-Benz – the EQ Silver Arrow.
The streamlined, futuristic interpretation of a grand prix racing vehicle sports a powerful combination of 550kW output and a thin 80kWh battery in the underbody for a range of over 400km (WLTP), according to the German carmaker – and although it is unlikely it will ever make it into production, it certainly captures the imagination.
The Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow electric concept supercar at the Paris Motor Show ???? El concepto de superdeportivo eléctrico EQ Silver Arrow de Mercedes-Benz en el Salón del Automóvil de ParÃs pic.twitter.com/PZw1mHkISH
— Deluxes.es (@deluxesmadrid) October 3, 2018
Last – but by no means least – of the EV concepts at the Paris show is the super sleek Renault EZ-ULTIMO, a self-driving car concept with Level 4Â autonomy that the carmaker pitches as a premium on-demand vehicle rather than a privately owned car.
While Renault’s own release on the car does not mention range or power, what it does do is describe it as a ‘robo-vehicle’, with a focus on ‘illustrating the future of shared mobility’.
Renault EZ-Ultimo Concept arrives in Paris with Level 4 autonomous driving technology. The concept also is focused on flexibility. #Renault pic.twitter.com/2i8JVlGcGN
— Cole Marzen (@cole_marzen) October 4, 2018
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.