The future of convertibles in the electric era?

Sea_Shell

Just having a quick look on Auto Trader's website, and it appears that the only options for "wind in your hair" EV motoring are either a Smart Fortwo or Fiat 500!!

Where are the "normal" size ones...are we ever going to get them?

Golf, A3 types.

Are any manufacturers planning any mid-size convertible EVs?

What about "premium" larger ones, like Mercedes & BMW?

Is Summer crusing with the top down going to be a thing of the past ☹️

DrEskimo

I haven't seen any. 

I imagine it's a market share issue, hence why there are so many SUVs being made as EVs.

I can't imagine the additional weight needed helps either.

motorguy

Sea_Shell said:

Just having a quick look on Auto Trader's website, and it appears that the only options for "wind in your hair" EV motoring are either a Smart Fortwo or Fiat 500!!

Where are the "normal" size ones...are we ever going to get them?

Golf, A3 types.

Are any manufacturers planning any mid-size convertible EVs?

What about "premium" larger ones, like Mercedes & BMW?

Is Summer crusing with the top down going to be a thing of the past ☹️

They'll come.

Lets be honest, at the moment there arent really any "fun", affordable EVs.  MINI Cooper SE comes closest i guess.

Theres 8 years before ICE car production stops and therefore an easy 15 years of ICE cars still being around after that.  Plenty of time to continue enjoying convertibles / sports cars / coupes until their EV equivalents come along.

MEM62

They will come but it will be a while.  Batteries are heavy and take up a lot of space so, until the technology has improved, electric convertibles are not practical.  

ElefantEd

motorguy said:

Lets be honest, at the moment there arent really any "fun", affordable EVs.  MINI Cooper SE comes closest i guess.

All EVs are fun! Even a boring family car like a Nissan Leaf accelerates like Usain Bolt when he's realised his tea is ready.

Sea_Shell

ElefantEd said:

motorguy said:

Lets be honest, at the moment there arent really any "fun", affordable EVs.  MINI Cooper SE comes closest i guess.

All EVs are fun! Even a boring family car like a Nissan Leaf accelerates like Usain Bolt when he's realised his tea is ready.

But "fun" isn't all about speed and acceleration.

"Top down" motoring doesn't need speed to be fun.    Just your favourite tunes playing on a nice sunny day.

Can even make traffic jams more bearable...as long as you're not at risk of sunburn! 😎

It'd be a shame if a generation of drivers miss out on the opportunity to experience this.

They'll have to either drive an old "modern classic" or wait ages for an EV one to be launched and then appear on the used market.

Jenni_D

https://e4tp.com/electric-convertible-cars-uncovered/

🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

motorguy

ElefantEd said:

motorguy said:

Lets be honest, at the moment there arent really any "fun", affordable EVs.  MINI Cooper SE comes closest i guess.

All EVs are fun! Even a boring family car like a Nissan Leaf accelerates like Usain Bolt when he's realised his tea is ready.

Fun isnt just about straight line acceleration, its about how they brake, how they turn in, how they handle the twisty bits and how you feel when you drive them.

motorguy

Jenni_D said:

https://e4tp.com/electric-convertible-cars-uncovered/

🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Good article. 

born_again

Once manufactures have got the base EV build right, rather than bodging old ICE bodywork. Then if there is demand they will start making them.
In theory, while a EV is heaver. They are a less flexible body due to the size & fixing of the battery, compared to a ICE car.

ElefantEd

I was a bit tongue in cheek. But my Leaf is pretty agile, corners well, and drives really smoothly - a really nice drive. And I live in Scotland, so a convertible isn't the vehicle of choice for about 363 days of the year!