2017 LA Auto Show — More Electric Cars Than Ever!

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If you are still on the fence about going to the 2017 LA Auto Show because you’re an EV aficionado but were disappointed in the last few years, fear not. This year show has a lot of electric vehicles and autonomous driving, and security is high on the panel agenda.

After test driving the Arcimoto and talking to Bollinger, we headed out to a new Nissan LEAF test drive.

The New LEAF Matures Into a Fine EV

If you’re like us, you might feel that the world of EVs is evenly split between performance cars and quaint cars. The Nissan LEAF has been around for a decade and, as great as it was, needed an upgrade. The #1 selling EV in history is now a very different car than the original LEAF. We would compare the transformation to the new Volt versus the old one.

We’re sure you will be impressed with a test drive. The new LEAF is bigger, but it doesn’t feel bloated. You definitely feel there is more room inside width-wise. The new LEAF is also lighter despite that extra size, and the estimated range of 150 looks easy to achieve.

The e-pedal regen (i.e., Nissan’s more advanced regenerative braking) feels really great. It is pronounced and frank when fully engaged. If feels just like a BMW i3 and will bring the LEAF to a full stop while packing back into the battery as much energy as possible.

Another Funky Three-Wheeler — The Ampere 1

Locally made, locally developed, this San Fernandino project is a cool three-wheel EV that only weighs 900 lb. The total price will be $9,000, with lots of colors to choose from.

We particularly liked it because the driving position is right up our alley, low, low to the ground and almost race-reclined.

We’ll have more on that project soon.

Sondors Adds Another Wheel & Joins the Three-Wheel EV Club

Do you remember those Sondors electric bicycles and their fat tires? The company is working on a three-wheel enclosed EV (which we first published about in 2016) that looks striking. Not much to say yet about the final product except that we’re eager to test drive it for you. It looks sleek.