You don’t see a lot of convertibles on Canada’s roads, and you’re even less likely to see an electric open-top car.

It’s so rare, in fact, that in most likelihood you’ve never seen an electric convertible in Canada, not on the road anyway; maybe at an auto show in a display of high-end cars.

There just aren’t many automakers that build convertible EVs.

In North America, the segment mostly belongs to multi-million-dollar exotic cars. Pininfarina is a notable example of a supercar brand that will happily sell you an electric open-top sports car, but you’d need really deep pockets for one.

But Canadians do have an option on this side of a million bucks.

Mind you, it’s still pricey, but it’s cheaper than the gasoline-burning version of the same car.

There’s the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore, which has a starting price of $188,800 in Canada.

That’s pricey, sure, but when you consider the gas version of the GranCabrio starts at $197,800 and it has less power, the Folgore version begins to look a bit like a steal. (Folgore is Italian for lightning bolt.)

The GranCabrio Folgore has an electric powertrain with 751 hp, which gives the electric convertible a zero to 100 km/h sprint of 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 290 km/h.

How does the EV compare to gas version?

The non-electric GranCabrio can be had with two gasoline-burning powertrains in Canada, neither of which comes close to the Folgore’s 751 hp.

The base model gets a twin-turbo V6 with 483 hp. That gives you a zero to 100 km/h sprint of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 302 km/h.

You can also move up to the pricier Trofeo trim, which ups power to 582 hp. That’s good for a zero to 100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 316 km/h, but it sets you back $234,200.

Why aren’t there more electric convertibles?

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the segment is mostly untouched.

First off, convertibles aren’t particularly practical, so they don’t sell in great numbers. It’s not that they’re not desirable – I mean, who wouldn’t want to cruise around in a convertible? – but most car buyers look for something that can be driven daily, while also being efficient, comfortable, safe and large enough to transport themselves and the people in their households, including their stuff, be it strollers, hockey gear, camping equipment or whatever else that life might call on.

And so, the small SUV is the vehicle of choice for most buyers, and so that is the segment automakers focus on, regardless of whether the vehicle burns fuel or runs on electrons.

Then, when you consider that EVs have large battery packs that sit at the bottom of almost the entire car, with the cabin placed on top of the battery pack, you realize that electric vehicle platforms are more suited to raised vehicles such as SUVs.

Maserati uses T-shaped battery to overcome height

Maserati overcomes the typical ride-raising battery’s placement by using a T-shaped battery pack in both the GranTurismo Folgore coupe and the GranCabrio Folgore convertible. This places the battery between the four-seater’s occupants, not under them.

In the case of the GranTurismo Folgore, the battery’s shape allows the coupe to have a height of 1,353 millimetres, the lowest of any electric car, according to Maserati. The GranCabrio Folgore is just 10 millimetres taller at 1,363 millimetres.

And don’t worry, the T-shaped battery has plenty of electric juice with a capacity of 92.5 kWh, which gives the convertible an estimated driving range of 368 kilometres.

More details are available on the Maserati website.

Other open-top electric options

At this time, the GranCabrio Folgore is basically the only electric car with a removable top that’s widely available in Canada. Other than that, you’d have to go for one of the exclusive supercars that’s sold globally in limited numbers and at stratospheric prices.

Polestar intends to introduce a roadster soon and Tesla has been promising one for years.

Europe, where EVs sell in greater numbers, has several options that are cheaper than the Maserati.

Canada also has some less traditional convertible options. There are a few electric utility vehicles with removable tops.

These include the GMC Hummer EV, which is available in SUV and pickup truck body styles, and the Jeep Recon off-road SUV.

As electric vehicles become more widely available in the coming years, we can expect to see more body style options, including more convertibles. Until then, there’s the Maserati GranCabrio Folgore.

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