First electric-car expo is a sellout as 30-plus brands to show models

We are promised that there will around 50 EVs from more than 30 automotive brands at the show in Dublin’s RDS.

And there will be new cars launched on the day, including the Opel Astra Electric hatch, MG ­Cyberster and a refreshed Peugeot e-2008, as well as an e-308.

You will be able to get up close and personal with test drives in your favourite, or about-to-be-favourite, EV while Applegreen Electric is giving away one year’s free EV charging, worth €3,000, during the course of the day.

The organisers are expecting quite a bit of activity on the Bank of Ireland stage, with live discussions from the likes of those involved with Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, Axa Insurance, Porsche, MG, BYD, Opel, Kia, Applegreen Electric and many others.

And as you’d expect, there will be ­plenty of browsing to be done on everything you need to know to go ­electric (or not to go just yet?) – from insurance to finance.

As already mentioned, Opel’s new electric Astra will make its Irish debut at the show. Deliveries to Opel dealerships start this month and prices range from €39,598.

It will be revealed on the brand’s special stand. More than 17,500 people are expected at the show, so the Astra will certainly gain substantial initial exposure.

So here are some bits and pieces about what is one of the more important electric cars coming on the Irish market this year, as this is the first time the Astra has had an electric ‘engine’.

The new EV has a claimed range of up to 418km on a full charge, though that can be reduced in large, or small, measure by how, and where, you drive.

In hatchback, the EV will shortly be joined by an electric Sports Tourer (estate).

The electric motor delivers 156hp and a powerful 270Nm of maximum torque (pulling power).

You can choose from three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport.

The energy source is a compact 54kWh lithium-ion battery. The car uses 14.8 kWh of electricity every 100km (based on official WLTP test results). That is in part due to a heat pump and a regenerative braking system that recovers energy in the course of being driven.

The Astra can be charged to 80pc of battery capacity in under 30 minutes at a 100kW DC fast charging station. It comes with a three-phase 11kW onboard charger for a wall-box at home.

There are 352 litres of luggage space in the boot, and that goes to 1,268 litres with the rear seats flattened.

There will be three trim levels: SC, Elegance and GS.

Standard spec (SC trim) includes 10-inch colour touchscreen and 10-inch digital driver instrument cluster with wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, 18-inch alloys, traffic sign recognition with intelligent speed adaptation, cruise control and speed limiter, keyless entry, electronic climate control, front and rear parking sensors, jet black Alcantara/leather-­effect seat trim.

Level two Elegance trim (from €41,284) adds heated front seats, driver sports AGR seat, wireless charger, and park assist with 180-degree rear view camera.

Level three (GS trim from €43,993) adds dual-zone automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control with stop-start, electric folding mirrors, Pure ­Panel Pro frameless digital interior, black painted roof, black badging sports style front and rear bumpers, Intelli-Lux LED pixel head lamps, 360-degree rear view camera.

The MG Cyberster will also attract attention with its striking looks.

The brand says the all-electric roadster will be as exciting as MG sports cars of the past. There are cues from its heritage – signature design highlights and distinctive long bonnet and curved surfaces. Among the more notable elements are scissor doors.

And Peugeot is promising an updated e-2008 with improved range/tech, and the e-308.