Green Transportation Program

In the Driver’s Seat

The Green Transportation Program presents insights from the front seat, starting with this list of virtual ride & drive videos and related resources.

• Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
• Light-duty vehicles

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles

Global Environmental Products

Get a close-up look at the first and only Class 7 heavy-duty street sweeper that is 100 percent electric drive and rechargeable.
M4 Electric Walk-Around Video, May 2021 (19:26 min)

Light-duty vehicles

Driving on Sunshine

Electrify The South and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy present an extensive library of virtual EV ride & drive videos and Clean Car Chats as part of their Driving on Sunshine program. Here is a sample:

• Virtual Electric Vehicle Ride & Drive ~ Chevy Bolt, June 2020 (56 mins).
  Jump ahead to 6:28 to start the ride & drive. It is about 15 minutes long.
• Virtual Electric Vehicle Ride & Drive ~ Tesla Model 3, Dec. 2020 (1 hr 50 mins).
  Jump ahead to 4:50 to start the ride & drive. It is about 19 minutes long.

Electric Vehicle Society

Electric Vehicle Society is a platform where Canadian EV owners showcase their own vehicles and also hosts EV Society webinars that cover topics including EV policy, condo charging, and the effects of charging habits on battery health. Here are some short virtual ride-alongs with members of various Electric Vehicle Society chapters in Canada:

• Virtual EV Ride-Along with Dave VanAlstyne (Nissan Leaf has room for a ladder), Oct. 2020 (4:46 mins).
• Virtual EV Ride-Along with Pino Mastroianni (Chevy Volt, PHEV), Sept. 2020 (3:24 mins).
• Virtual EV Ride-Along with Trevor Rodie (Hyundai Ioniq EV), Sept. 2020 (5:13 mins).
• Virtual EV Ride-Along with Tim Burrows (Tesla Model X), Sept. 2020 (4:15 mins).
• Virtual EV Ride-Along with Sean Hart (Nissan Leaf), Sept. 2020 (4:45 mins).

First Drive Reviews

In First Drive Reviews, Green Car Reports offers driver’s seat insights about EVs that are entering the marketplace. Here’s a fun one to kick off the new year: 2022 Kia EV6 electric car is a hoot, and it hits reset for the brand—and the article includes 64 photos. First drive offers reviews of many other EVs, including 2022 Rivian R1T shines as the North Star of Utility Vehicles.

Fully Charged Show

The Fully Charged Show produces videos about all things EV. Here are links to three recent test drive videos.

• VW ID.4 First Drive with special guest from America, Mar. 2021 (21:33 mins).
  Compares the VW ID4 with the Tesla Model Y.
• Aiways U5 First Drive, Mar. 2021 (9:33 mins).
  Chinese EV built for efficiency and price, poised to disrupt Western markets.
• MACH-E First Drive – Is the Mustang the dark horse in the race against Tesla?. Mar. 2021 (20:34 mins).

AutoTrader

The consumer company AutoTrader offers a separate Hybrid and Electric section of their video offerings. Here are a couple:

• All-New Nissan Ariya Electric Vehicle – First look, Nov. 2020 (2:33 mins).
  This is a larger EV with more range available, and you can have one with one or two motors for a choice between front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.
• 2020 Nissan Leaf vs 2020 ChevyBolt – Comparison, Nov. 2020 (3:55 mins).
  This is a larger EV with more range available, and you can have one with one or two motors for a choice between front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.

EcotricityNZ

New Zealand’s electricity producer Ecotricity, which offers affordable 100 percent carbon zero certified renewable energy, produces weekly videos to discuss what is new in the EV marketplace. Here are just two of the latest videos in the Ecotricity library:

• VW Power Day Shows VW is Serious At Last about EVs, Mar. 2021 (19:09 mins).
  Focuses on how new battery technology will reduce cost, improve range, and reduce charge time for EVs.
• Rivian Keeps Surprising – But Still has Lots to Give!, Mar. 2021 (11:31 mins).
  Three new Rivian vehicles are getting closer to hitting the market later in 2021, including a pick-up, Amazon delivery vehicles and large SUV. Rivian is also building a DC quick charging network.

Plug In America

Plug In America offers video series including virtual EV test drives, policy perspectives, and Ask the EV Experts.

Project Future

Project Future with Zack Tripp provides videos that focus on Tesla vehicles.

Puget Sound Energy

Take a virtual EV test drive - Kia Niro EV, Nov. 2020 (2:20 mins).
Test drive in Washington presented by Puget Sound Energy.

Volter Media

Volter Media produces videos that discuss exciting news in the EV industry. Many more videos are available on their website. Here is a sample of the most recent:

• Hyundai Ioniq 5: Best features of the best 2022 electric car, Mar. 2021 (11:36 mins).
  Ioniq 5 marks the debut of all new, all EV sub-brand that will introduce 23 BEVs by 2025.
• EV Announcements at CES 2021, Jan. 2021 (9:01 mins).
  Manufacturers including Sony, Mercedes, BMW, GM, Cadillac, and GMC Hummer reveal features that will be available in upcoming vehicle models. Includes a look at GM’s autonomous ride-sharing pod that can read passengers’ vital signs.
• 5 Awesome Solar Powered Cars - Can Buy in 2020/22, Jan. 2020 (8 mins).
  Conditions have to be just right for solar cells to create enough electricity for vehicle use but promising models are on the horizon, including Toyota Prius PHV, Lightyear One, Sion by Sono Motors with a bidirectional charge so that it can share power with other EVs or common electronic devices, Hyundai Sonata hybrid, and Tesla cyber truck.

Other online resources include:

• E for Electric
• Electric Vehicle Man
• Tesla Torque
• The Fast Lane Car