By Ian Hind

For petrolheads, it’s Nirvana, the gold-plated showroom, top of their bucket list. From the 7th to 17th March this year, over 660,000 visitors descended on the Palexpo convention centre in Geneva, Switzerland for the 89th Geneva Motor Show, or more correctly, Le Salon international de l’automobile. I was supposed to go, but my wife had me booked to wash the windows, clean and gas the car (the irony!) and mow the lawn, so maybe next year…

The statistics that accompany the show are truly staggering. Aside from the vast number of visitors, there were 141 production cars (from the Abarth 124 Rally Tribute to the Zeno TSR-S “Grotta Azzura” Blue – I hadn’t heard of it either) and 41 concept cars (from the Alfa Romeo Tonale to the Volkswagen T-Roc R). On top of that there were also sections for electric and alternative powered vehicles, converted cars, accessories, special bodywork and design, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and the maintenance industry, giving a total of over 900 vehicles on display with 150 of them being world or European premiers, all held in seven exhibition halls covering a total of 102,000 square metres, or 25.2 acres. Which is a lot of people, a lot of cars and a lot of property.

One of the most interesting features of car shows, and of relevance to the general motorist, is the display of concept cars by major manufacturers. They are designed to demonstrate the probable shape and look of the next new model, which is often not more than a year or two away from full-scale production. Bermuda’s size and power limits deny us the opportunity to own most of these models. However, we might soon see the new Jeep Renegade eAWD, the Mitsubishi ASX, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio and Twingo, the Smart Forease+ and the Mitsubishi Multivan 6.1 (as a taxi). All of these were on display, some with extreme design features which may, or may not, make it into the final production model.

Looking back over the years, it is noticeable how the tone of the major motor shows has changed and, in my view, improved. The launch of a new model by a major manufacturer is usually a serious theatrical event, featuring music (loud), smoke and mirrors, a dramatic unveiling (either from under a wrap or from behind a screen or smoke) and, reviously, scantily clad young ladies, who draped themselves seductively over the front of the car. This year, things were quite different. For example, the new Ferrari F8 Tributo was unwrapped by four young men in smart suits, and there were no female embellishments present when the Aston Martin Vanquish Vision Concept was unveiled.

And other changes are in the air. Some manufacturers are now choosing to launch new vehicles outside of the motor show circuit, and some elected not to even attend the Geneva show, including Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo.

Another difference from earlier years is the huge emphasis on electric cars. Most of the bespoke, smaller manufacturers are exclusively concentrating on these to the exclusion of the internal combustion engine and even hybrids. And take Citroen for example, maker of iconic designs such as the 2CV and the Safari. They chose to celebrate their century by unveiling the Ami One, a small boxy all-electric car with a top speed of 30mph and a range of just 60 miles – a city car if ever there was one and probably ideal for Bermuda. So, you might see that here sometime soon. Changed days indeed.

I’m sure we would all love to own an Aston Martin, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar or Range Rover, but, being realistic, what would your pick be from the above?

I think I’d go with the new Citroen Ami One. See you at the show next year.

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The car is measuring at about 144 inches long and 62 inches wide. Which means that it was designed to provide space only in the places that matter. The front, with its adjustable seat, always has enough leg room, but the back usually suffers because of this. The high ceiling, however, gives good head clearance and, in a way, makes up for the lack of space below. The trunk has a surprisingly large amount of room for cargo, and the back seats can fold down for more space, if necessary.

Parking and navigating Bermuda’s winding roads is a breeze with this car. If you are looking to save money on TCD licensing, the KWID might be the car for you. As a Class C, you can get the car on the road relatively cheap as opposed to bigger ones.

It’s 1.0 Litre gas engine gets 60 miles to the gallon, and has been rumored by costumers to only cost $40 to fill up (that back seat isn’t looking too bad now).

The transmission is an automatic manual, which means the car has a regular manual gear box, but automatic functions. In other words, it has a clutch and gears, but the car changes and does everything for you. This kind of system improves overall engine performance and fuel economy. The car isn’t going to let you win a drag race, but luckily you’re traveling a 21-square mile terrain, so it will get you from point A to point B quickly enough, and more importantly, with A/C.

The KWID is more basic than other Renault vehicles and only has one clutch (compared to other models that have two) making the ride a bit bumpier, but smooth enough for comfort. Again, it will be the back-seat passenger who will take the brunt. The wheels have good compression, so going over the small bumps and grates on our roads doesn’t serve to be that big of a problem –– as long as you’re dreams of going off-road are put in your back pocket.

The car also sits quite high off the ground and has good brake clearance.  A gravel driveway, or unpaved dirt road is no match for the KWID.

The interior has cloth seats which can be reupholstered to leather after you’ve bought the car, and a dash mounted with an uncomplicated information system. The display is completely digital for easy view of information. When it comes to the driver’s view and peripheral, good, but there have been some blind spots reported by users.

The KWID was originally only available as a manual in India, but they have expanded their markets to South Africa and Bermuda and opened the opportunities for an automatic option. The list of standard features is quite surprising for such a basic and budget-priced car. It includes all the goodies such as anti-lock braking, driver’s Airbags, electric front windows, electric mirrors, air-conditioning, front fog lights and central locking. It also has touchscreen stereo, Bluetooth, and a USB port for music, phone charging, etc.

Just over two months in Bermuda, at the time of writing, EuroCar LTD has already sold out of their first shipment and are halfway through their second. Its biggest competitor size-wise is the Kia Picanto, and price-wise the Hyundai Eon, which only comes in a stick shift. So far, the car is available in four colours and has a starting price tag of $16,250, an impressive one for the island. No top down, but definitely easy on your bank account.

This article was originally published in the September 2018 edition of the RG Business Magazine. 

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Fernando Oliviera has transformed his passion for the automotive “gearhead” culture into not just a career but an all-encompassing way of life.

He has coupled his enthusiasm for motor vehicles and auto mechanics with teaching, building and racing carts and bikes both in Canada and Bermuda, mentoring young people, community service projects to teach seniors the basics of Do-It-Yourself car maintenance and, most recently, the retail sector.

Oliviera founded what is now his Noble Automotive Enterprises group in the grounds of the CedarBridge Academy senior secondary school in 2012.

A former teacher at the senior secondary school, Oliviera’s Noble Auto began as a full-service garage, occupying the old woodwork classroom at CedarBridge’s  Devonshire campus.

But aside from offering professional services ranging from routine maintenance to major repairs, Noble Auto has always boasted an additional feature which has set it apart from its competitors.

From the day its doors opened the garage has been associated with CedarBridge’s flourishing motor mechanics and electrical engineering programme. allowing students to get a first foot on the automotive career ladder by enrolling in the service centre and training facility’s apprenticeship programmes.

Structured by the National Training Board, these hands-on courses  have touched on everything from automobile and motorcycle repairs to participants gaining experience in the accounting and administrative departments of the garage.

Within four years the success of that programme

Last year the company embarked on a major expansion and diversification programme, buying the island’s long-established Peugeot distributor, Continental Motors.

For Oliviera, who gained a wealth of experience at car dealerships in North America and the Bahamas working in sales, service and management positions, the move into retail was a natural progression.

“The opportunity came, which was rare, and we had grown to our limits here at CedarBridge size-wise,” he has said.

“Without compromising our student programme, we had to have more space. It was the next progression for us and a good opportunity to grow the apprentice programme with dealer training as well.”

Since taking over Continental Motors, Noble Auto has rebranded the firm as Peugeot Bermuda. Showroom and garage operations have been consolidated at Continental Motors’ old Curving Avenue service centre.

An outlet in the Washington Mall, where a number of popular Peugeot models are on display, continues to attract considerable walk-in business from city workers and shoppers since opening.

And Oliviera is now making good on the promise he made when he took over the Peugeot distributorship to expand the range of the French manufacturer’s vehicles available in Bermuda, on both the personal and commercial transport fronts.

In fact the most recent addition to the Peugeot Bermuda fleet arrived on the island this spring,

Compact, stylish and comfortable, the Peugeot 108 – called the “Lion Cub” by staff – is not only one of the newest automobiles on Bermuda’s roads it is currently the island’s only “A” class vehicle.

Introduced in Europe in 2014 and available in three-door hatchback and five-door hatchback versions, at 11.38 feet in length the 108 is the smallest car in the current Peugeot range.

Designed to look and feel like a sports car, the 108 features the creature comforts of larger, more expensive vehicles and is well suited to Bermuda’s narrow roads and lanes and awkward corners. It also it excels when navigating the island’s sometimes traffic-congested roads – and can fit into the smallest parking spaces.

The 108 joins such other popular Peugeot ranges in Bermuda as the 2008 Crossover, a compact F-class sport utility vehicle which is the larger cousin of the manufacturer’s 208 HB — itself another staple of local roads.

And like the classy supermini it’s modelled on, the 2008 features a combination of elegant design and practical functionality.

As a family car its sizeable trunk, plentiful interior room and numerous safety features have earned the 2008 high marks from Bermuda drivers who want to transport their broods comfortably and with little risk of mishap. Add in its style, performance and handling, and it’s not surprising the 2008 has established itself as a mainstay in the island’s family car market.

And with one eye on the future of the automotive industry, the Bermuda distributor is now accepting special orders for the Peugeot iON – a fully electrically powered vehicle.

Described by one critic “as a triumphant entry in the electric car market”, the compact four-seat hatchback has won praise in driver surveys in international markets for its reliability, simplicity and convenience.

With a surprisingly spacious interior given its length is just over 11 feet, the iON is powered by a lithium-ion battery mounted under the centre of the vehicle. Able to be recharged from a standard electrical socket, the car can travel for more than 90 miles on a single full charge

The virtually soundless iON’s is noted for accelerating strongly and smoothly up to speeds which are considered standard in Bermuda.

In fact the green vehicle has been said to “embarrass the many small petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles” it routinely overtakes in the European cities where it is most often seen.

With a polished and sophisticated styling intended to hit all of the aesthetic marks, the iON has a more streamlined, eye-catching profile than many earlier — and bulkier – generations of electric cars.

“Peugeot does have a good fit for Bermuda, although, unfortunately, some of the models couldn’t be imported here in the past,” Oliviera has said of his decision to expand into the highly competitive Bermuda automobile retail market.

“We want to build confidence in the brand and bring in as many models as we can, including the commercial models.”

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Built for inner-city riders by the Taiwanese manufacturer the focus from the start has been on creating a scooter with practical features. These include expansive lockable storage courtesy of the included top case, under seat area and front glove box compartment.

That same glove box compartment conceals a 12V DC outlet capable of recharging electronic devices on the go.

Additional features include an effortless centre stand to make parking simple, a steering lock to deter theft and room to carry a pillion passenger.

The attention to city requirements doesn’t end with the practical layout.

 “We wanted Agility 16+ 200i to be stable and confident in its handling but agile enough to easily out manoeuvre the obstacles of day-to-day life,” said a KYMCO spokesman. “The larger 16-inch front wheel, fresh suspension configuration and disc brakes really knocks that criteria out of the ball-park.”

The new model gets the same proven four-stroke, fuel-injected 163cc engine as its retro styled cousin, the Like 200i.

The engine is coupled to a simple twist and go transmission and its fuel injection has been carefully mapped to maintain consistent economy yet still spring to life when escaping traffic.

Agility 16+ delivers standout styling with a sharp, clean urban design that features an integrated lighting layout, cut-off front screen and ten-spoke wheels.

The design is available in a choice of three colours and also accommodates a flat floorboard and wide front fairing to provide riders protection against any weather.

This article was originally featured in the Spring 2018 edition of RG Motor.

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For its latest exhibit, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta has assembled 17 of the most beautiful, hideous, and strange automotive concepts ever dreamed up by man, from a 1934 Bugatti prototype up to an early iteration of the Porsche 918 Hybrid supercar.

What happens when creators balance aesthetics, functionality, and their personal vision of the future is one reason we love cars. That’s especially true when the results leave us wondering, “How could anyone think this was a good idea?”

1936 Stout Scarab

Designer William Stout, who worked as an aircraft engineer before turning to automobiles, was a pioneer in integrating luxury and leisure into transportation. Stout Air Lines is credited with introducing flight attendants and in-flight meals. The Scarab draws on that idea; it’s a road-going diner car powered by a Ford V-8 tucked in the rear of the stretched aluminum body. The brand never took off, partly because at $5,000 (about $90,000 today), the Scarab was more expensive than the Packards and Cadillacs of those days. Fewer than ten were produced.

1942 Oeuf electrique

The 1942 Oeuf électrique, or electric egg, had three wheels and ran on batteries decades after gasoline became the dominant way to power cars, and decades before Elon Musk decided to make electricity cool again. Its designer, Parisian Paul Arzens, worked as a painter and designed railway locomotives before moving on to cars. The bubble is made of hand-formed aluminum and curved Plexiglass, a novel material at the time.

 1947 Norman Timbs Special

No other automobile looks like the 1947 Norman Timbs Special, with its front-mounted cockpit and curves leading to a raindrop tail. Timbs, an Indy racing engineer, made the car with a Buick Straight 8 engine placed at the rear of the chassis. Look to racers like the 1937 Auto Union Type C for indications of Timbs’ inspiration.

1953 General Motors Firebird 1 XP-21

To describe today’s supercars, we fall back on likening the Koenigseggs and Paganis of the world to jet fighters. The 1953 General Motors Firebird I XP-21 was an actual jet fighter, with four wheels, a tail fin, and a bubble cockpit. The turbine engine spun at up to 26,000 rpm to generate a whopping (for the time) 370 horsepower.

1955 Chrysler (Ghia) Streamline X “Gilda”

The 1955 Chrysler (Ghia) Streamline X “Gilda” got its name from a 1946 Rita Hayworth movie. After foregoing a planned jet turbine engine, Italian firm Ghia outfitted the Gilda with a plain 1.5-liter engine made for touring. The design is an antecedent to a short run of Chrysler turbine cars, and the fins tell you it’s from the 1950s.

1970 Ferrari (Pininfarina) 512 S Modulo

Design firm Pininfarina has produced more famous works, but the Ferrari 512 S Modulo car, which it created for the 1970 Geneva Motor Show, didn’t aim for beauty. Designer Paolo Martin put the bizarre body on the chassis of the Ferrari 512S race car.

1970 Lancia (Bertone) Stratos HF Zero

This 1970 Lancia (Bertone) Stratos HF Zero is the concept that led to the seminal Lancia Stratos. Just 33 inches tall, the concept was so short, drivers had to enter through the hinged windshield.

2001 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model

The 2001 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model concept came from BMW design director Chris Bangle, famous for upsetting the German auto-maker’s design standbys with hard geometry and chunky body parts. Here, he covered the car’s exterior in polyurethane-coated spandex that would shift according to the car’s aerodynamic needs at the time.

Porsche 918 Spyder Concept Car

The Porsche 918 Spyder Concept Car was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and led to the hybrid supercar Porsche on the road today. The concept was an evolution of the Carrera GT that precedes it, with added electric motors on the front and rear axles producing a combined 218 hp. Those, of course, were supplemented by a 500-horsepower 3.4-liter V-8.

1935 Bugatti Type 57S Competition Coupe Aerolithe

The original example of the 1935 Bugatti Type 57S Compétition Coupé Aerolithe, which debuted at the Paris Auto Show in 1935, was lost after the unveiling — the popular explanation is that Bugatti disassembled it for parts to make the Type 57 production car that followed. The model on display is a recreation produced in 2007, based on recorded specs, photographs, and an oil painting by a Bugatti engineer.

1932 Ford Speedster

The 1932 Ford Speedster, packing a flathead V-8 engine, came with a starter button, decades before the feature became standard automotive fare. The low, long roadster was the brainchild of Henry’s son Edsel Ford and designer Eugene Gregorie.

1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne

Like many of his peers on this list, designer Gabrielle Voisin started off making airplanes. After World War I, he turned to cars. Only 28 of the 1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne were made, one of which won Best in Show at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

1948 Tasco

This 1948 Tasco was made under a short-lived brand called The American Sports Car Company — the car’s name is an acronym for the manufacturer. Gordon Buehrig, formerly of Duesenberg, took design inspiration from World War II fighter planes. The fiberglass covering the front wheels moved with the steering input.

1951 GM LaSabre

The 1951 GM Le Sabre was the first car to sport fins and a wraparound windshield, design elements that became standard in American cars thereafter. The car came with a moisture detector that would automatically raise the convertible’s top if it rained.

 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt

The curves on the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt were inspired by streamliner trains. The car was among the first to have power windows — Chrysler used hydraulic motors to move them. The fully retractable hardtop and button-operated pop-open headlights were also seminal design features that showed up in cars decades later. It was one of the last Art Deco designs before concepts leaned towards futuristic aesthetics.

1956 Buick Centurion

The 1956 Buick Centurion had a back-up camera decades before they appeared in consumer vehicles. Buick emphasized the significance of the car’s advances with the Jetsons-esque clear bubble roof and cockpit, which gave the driver and passengers unobstructed views.

1959 Cadillac Cyclone

See those two black cones where the 1959 Cadillac Cyclone’s headlights should be? Those are the radars for the car’s crash-avoidance system, a technology you might recognize as today’s adaptive cruise control. If the car sensed an approaching object, it would set of a series of warning lights and a high-pitched beep, and car could even automatically apply the brakes.

This article was originally featured in the Spring 2018 edition of RG Motor.

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The horse-and-carriage business first began to hear the rumble of the automobile coming up fast behind it in the early 1900s.

And within just a few short years horse-drawn vehicles had clip-clopped their way into virtual extinction, handily overtaken and left behind by the new gasoline-powered automotive juggernaut

But the trade managed to hold on in Bermuda far longer than it did in the rest of the world as the automobile became the dominant form of transportation. The island decided noisy, smoke-spewing “horseless carriages” were very much at odds with its carefully cultivated image as a tranquil resort destination.

So Bermuda responded to the changing times by ignoring them: a ban on the private ownership of motorised vehicles was put into place in 1908 and strictly observed here for almost 40 years,

But come the Second World War and the arrival of the American military’s Jeeps and trucks on the island and Bermuda’s preference for horse-drawn vehicles over the horseless variety began to crumble. Technological progress in the form of the internal combustion engine could no longer be held at bay,

By 1946 the passage of the Motor Car Act finally overturned the prohibition on automobiles and motorbikes and the days of literal horse-power in Bermuda were numbered.

Today we are living in an era when the long dominance of the internal combustion engine is drawing to a close and  the electric car is finally coming of age. After years of false starts and countless failed attempts to manufacture practical, good quality batteries, the future of transportation is upon us.

Electrically powered vehicles are becoming increasingly competitive in terms of price and performance with their petrol- and diesel-powered counterparts.

Last year Chinese-owned Swedish automobile manufacturer Volvo announced plans to make only hybrids or electric vehicles after 2019. And American automotive giant General Motors has also committed to an “all-electric future”, promising to launch at least 20 new electric and fuel-cell vehicles by 2023. It’s only a matter of time before other brands follow suit or face going the same way as the manufacturers of horse-drawn carriages.

There can be no turning back. And this time there is no way for Bermuda to even temporarily postpone the inevitable.

In the months and years to come Bermuda, like the rest of the world, is going to have to confront a number of difficult truths about the pending transition to electric vehicles. While the new breed of vehicles are increasingly economical to run, environmentally friendly and boast ever-improving performance levels, there are nevertheless going to be growing pains.

Among them will be a steep learning curve for mechanics who will be dealing with entirely new forms of automotive technology in the near future.

Unlike gas-powered engines, electric engines don’t require oil changes. They also have far fewer moving parts and break down less frequently, eliminating a lot of the routine maintenance that garages and repair shops currently rely on for much of their income.

In fact, the latest types of electric vehicles can often be serviced using parts purchased online or even fixed remotely through online updates.

Bermuda’s auto repair industry employs several hundred people. While they are increasingly skilled and technically minded, some observers say that like so many of their counterparts elsewhere they are not entirely prepared for all of the ramifications of the impending electric vehicle revolution.

For in the not too distant, it’s been said, the typical auto mechanic will need to combine the skills of an IT support specialist with a “gearhead’s” boundless enthusiasm for the car culture – “someone with the ability to change tires and operate diagnostic and scanning equipment to root out problems involving computer networks and data processing.”

The end of gas-powered transportation will obviously not occur overnight. But the future of the internal combustion engine is limited, at best.

And those who earn a living from automotive repairs and servicing in Bermuda need to adapt quickly to the changing technology and circumstances.

For instance, aside from their computerized features electric vehicles require no traditional oil changes, fuel filters, spark plug replacements or emission checks. In many instances there is also no need for changing timing belts, differential fluid and transmission fluid.

Brake pad replacements for electric cars are less frequent because regenerative braking returns energy to the lithium-ion battery, significantly reducing the wear and tear on mechanical brakes because they’re used less to slow the vehicle.

But businesses which re-train their employees and individuals who take advantage of apprenticeship courses and the Bermuda College’s automotive technology certification programme should be able to make the transition to electric relatively seamlessly. And while a comprehensive understanding of the new electrical and electronics systems which operate these vehicles will be indispensable for the successful mechanic of the future, not all old-school auto repair skills will be lost: there will still be many mechanical systems on vehicles that have to be fixed. Tires can last only for so many miles, shock absorbers and struts will eventually need replacing and even the most sophisticated batteries won’t last forever.

Some in Bermuda’s automotive field have, of course, already started quietly upgrading their skills because the market share for all-electric vehicles has been growing steadily here for several years now.

Vendors are reporting increasing sales and higher numbers of enquiries from potential customers. And businesses that have brought the vehicles to the island are confident more people will make the switch to the electric option in the near future as they grow more familiar with the technology and choices continue to increase in terms of the models and makes available.

Certainly Bermuda residents already don’t lack for options when it comes to the plug-in vehicles. An electric vehicle showcase held at the Hamilton Princess last November by the Bermuda Government’s Department of Energy in collaboration with various vendors featured a wide range of vehicles and attracted considerable public interest.

Among the vehicles on display was the Bermi, which is marketed as Bermuda’s “people’s car”. It was the most compact of the electric vehicles on show, other than the rental market Twizys.

The minicars have been brought to the island by businessman Mike Swan, of Localmotion.

Costing $14,800 for the two-seat version, and $16,900 for the four-seater, the Bermi is a runaround capable of travelling up to 80 miles between full charges. It takes six to eight hours to fully recharge on a 110v supply, or half that time using 220v.

Mr Swan hopes the minicars will also soon be given the green light for use by the rental market.

“Interest has been off the charts — from hotels and private individuals,” he told The Royal Gazette during the expo when more than 30 people lined up to go on test drives.

“Bermuda, with its short commuting distances, is perfect for electric cars. We could be a leader in the world with totally electric vehicles.”

Auto Solutions displayed a new all-electric commercial van, the Nissan e-NV200, which has a full-charge range of 105 miles.

The company is also offering the Nissan Leaf, an electric family car with a full charge range of up to 155 miles.

Harry Andrews, sales and operations manager, told The Royal Gazette running costs and maintenance bills for the vehicles would be half that of gasoline-powered models.

The company has sold about ten of the Nissan Leafs, and it has interest from a further 20 potential buyers.

Mr Andrews is confident electric vehicles are already going from the niche market to the mainstream faster in Bermuda faster than is the case in many other jurisdictions.

He said consumer acceptance of electric vehicles had been hastened here because so many Bermuda residents were already comfortable with the technology, and understood the arguments for them in terms of practicality, cost savings and environmental friendliness.

Auto Solutions is offering a service where it will install a home-based recharging facility for electric vehicle purchasers.

Mr Andrews and Sam Dale, a technician at Auto Solutions who has undergone electric vehicle training with Nissan in Mexico City, believe recharging ports around the island will quickly become more common place.

A number of the island’s hotels already have electric vehicle recharging facilities available.

Mr Andrews said electric vehicles are “a wave” that has already arrived on Bermuda’s shores, and that it was vital to continue building and buttressing the local market’s understanding and confidence in the vehicles.

Also on display at the Hamilton Princess expo were electric motorbikes, including a model constructed in Bermuda by Team Oni Racing Club.

Alex Marshall, sales and marketing director at Torc, pointed out the electric bikes save about $2,000 on running and maintenance costs per year and reduce noise pollution. He said electric bikes, which have a full charge range of about 60 miles, can be recharged in six hours at a cost of less than $1.

Renault was represented at the showcase event with a regular-size electric car and a minicar Twizy, while Bermuda Motors had a BMW i3 and electric Kias on display.

Andrew Rance, service manager at Bermuda Motors, said: “It’s great to see the different models and the new technologies all in one place.

“The interest is picking up and people are getting more educated [about electric vehicles].”

At the onset of the last transportation revolution in the early 1900s the operators of horse-drawn vehicles were alerted, both literally and figuratively, to the approach of the earliest automobiles by the trademark spluttering and coughing of their relatively primitive engines. Today’s electric vehicles run almost silently, by way of comparison. But anyone who so much as glimpses in the rear-view mirror these days can spot quiet fleets of electric cars steadily advancing on gas and diesel-powered vehicles. And they are closing the distance rapidly.

This article was originally featured in the Spring 2018 edition of RG Motor.

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In a burst of publicity, the new 2018 model all electric Nissan Leaf arrived in Bermuda in March this year. Its arrival was marked by a flurry of articles and comments about electric vehicles in general, on-street charging facilities (or lack thereof), the driving range vise-a-vise Bermuda’s size and the cost of electricity in Bermuda.

With its second electric vehicle, Nissan has stolen a march on some major manufacturers who are still struggling to get their first model out the door.  Thus, they have taken the opportunity to make considerable improvements to the first model, such as increased driving range, increased horsepower and torque, reduced steering wheel turns lock-to-lock and a slightly lower overall height.

Of the four available, the top of the range Tekna version is the one being imported to Bermuda so that means you get extras such as BOSE premium audio +7 speakers, ProPilot advanced driver assistance system (keeps you in your lane…), leather front seats and heated rear seats, full LED ‘intelligent auto’ headlights, electronic parking brake, 17” alloy wheels, Nissan Connect EV 7” touchscreen, rear view camera (I love rear view cameras…), an approaching vehicle sound for pedestrians and many more goodies that come with the other versions.

Of course, its in the driving that you come to realise how different that electric vehicles are to regular cars. Apart from the sound, or lack of it, there is the immediate response to the accelerator pedal and the smoothness of the motion. Unlike gas and diesel-powered vehicles which develop their torque over the increasing rev range, electric motors produce full torque immediately thus propelling you from a standing start very quickly. This can be best experienced by flooring the pedal at the bottom of a steep hill. There is no lag or ponderous acceleration – you just rocket up the hill! Even the best automatic gearboxes are not as smooth as the all-electric vehicle in providing a pleasant driving experience.

The cabin interior is noticeably different with many of the normal dials and switches replaced by an illuminated display indicating battery condition and driving mode. There are 4 modes available, namely, Normal(D), Eco, B and e-pedal. Normal is what it says, Eco will reduce performance but provide the furthest range on a single battery charge, B, will increase the amount of battery regeneration when slowing down compared to the regular D driving mode and the e-pedal. This works from the accelerator and, with practice, you should be able to drive in most conditions without touching the brake pedal. Lifting your foot from the accelerator will cause the regeneration to engage, which slows the car through motor drag, then at lower speeds the brakes will gently engage, bring you to a stop, unless you hit the accelerator.

Getting the most out of these systems will take practice, but my experience of this car and other all-electric vehicles is that it can be fun trying to maximise the battery range while getting from A to B as efficiently as possible.

The battery pack under the cabin floors means that the rear seats are raised somewhat giving great visibility, akin to that experienced in many SUVs. This pack however intrudes a little into the rear boot so no absolutely flat floor when the rear seats are folded down. And the BOSE box is situated there too and may get in your way. The battery can be charged two ways, overnight with the standard plug or the Quick Charge socket, which is an optional extra, purchased from Auto Solutions local partner, BE Solar.

The bottom line is that the Nissan Leaf is different, providing a relaxing driving experience, low running costs due to the fewer moving parts and zero emissions.

The Nissan Leaf is H/L Class, available from Auto Solutions, St John’s Rd, currently retailing for $46,995 at the time of going to press. A test drive is strongly recommended.

This article was originally featured in the Spring 2018 edition of RG Motor.

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