WHISTLER, B.C. — In the underground parkade beside the Whistler Convention Centre you’ll find five 50 kW DC (direct current) charging stations, each delivering a free fill-up for full-on battery electric vehicles (EV).

2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Front 3/4 Exterior

If you can afford a $100,000 Tesla Model S, for instance, taxpayers pay for your electric fuel – delivered through networked Greenlots charging stations. If you are driving a more modestly-priced though not cheap 2016 Hyundai Sonata plug-in hybrid ($43,399), you’re out of luck.

The fast-charging outlets are not compatible with the Sonata and other plug-in hybrids. Shameful.

The Sonata plug-in can go 43 km on electric power alone and can be recharged in less than three hours with a 240V (Level 2) charger. That’s range for a weekend’s worth of errands in and around Whistler Village on battery power alone. Indeed, while the plug-in Sonata’s trunk is slightly smaller than the regular gasoline car, it’s certainly big enough for grocery bags, suitcases and golf clubs.

The cockpit looks rich.

So you can understand my disappointment to find a dearth of outlets at the Convention Centre parkade. I mean, Governments consider this version of the Sonata “green” enough to qualify for an $8,460 taxpayer-funded purchase incentive in Ontario, $4,000 in Quebec and up to $3,750 in British Columbia. (Model S buyers also qualify for up to $8,500 in taxpayer-funded incentives.) The missing piece of the infrastructure puzzle is odd, given governments from British Columbia to Beijing are pushing the electrification of the vehicle fleet.

I could not take full advantage of the Sonata plug-in’s “bridge” technology – technology that fills the gap in the transition between cars with internal combustion engines and full battery electrics. Most experts believe the electrification endgame will be hydrogen fuel cells, but we’ll get there in steps – hybrids, plug-ins, battery car, fuel cells.

Touchscreen Display

The plug-in’s range comes courtesy of a dual powertrain: a battery-driven system (50 kW electric motor and 9.8 kWh lithium-polymer battery pack) paired with a small gas engine (2.0 litres, 154 horsepower, 140 lb-ft of torque). Like all of the dozen or so plug-in hybrids sold in Canada, the gas engine extends the car’s range to 800 km combined.

Now if your runs are relatively short and electrical outlets are available, you can go all-battery, all the time. That’s good. This Hyundai’s total net system output is 202 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, which means there is no lack of oomph, either. Also good.

Decent trunk space.

A plug-in hybrid makes sense for the Vancouver resident with a place in Whistler, 115 kilometers away. You see, the typical battery car today has a range of 180 km at best, under perfect conditions. The drive to Whistler is not only uphill, but weather-related demands often drain batteries, slicing range dramatically. (Tesla’s Model S has a range of 300-plus km between charges and there is a Supercharger halfway in Squamish, just in case.)

Hyundai makes the plug-in price tag more palatable by stuffing this midsize five-seater with every premium feature available – from blindspot detection to door handle welcome lights, proximity keyless entry, 8.0-inch touchscreen navigation, adaptive cruise control, satellite sound and more. (The plug-in is $14,000 more than the base Sonata hybrid and nearly $20,000 more than the base gas-powered Sonata.)

The plug-in is also much heavier – about 250 km or 550 pounds. You feel the heft in all driving conditions, but especially so in the sweeping corners of the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Combined fuel economy for the plug-in is 5.9-litres/100 km, versus 8.4 combined for the gas Sonata.

Readouts.

To live with the plug-in and use its capabilities to the max, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with how to charge up – and find outlets. When it’s time to fill up with gas, you’ll need to wait for the plug-in system to de-pressurize – something that can take 20 seconds or more after you trigger the release of the fuel-filler door.

Yes, living with this plug-in and others like it can at times be a little inconvenient, and if you want racy handling, go elsewhere. But for the right buyer, it can function as an everyday EV — without the range limitations of a pure battery car.

Here’s hoping the Whistler people add a few plug-in outlets to their parkades.

Roomy back seat.

THE LOOK: The plug-in Sonata looks identical to the regular Sonata, other than some badging and an extra fuel-filler door for the electric plug-in. This is a square-ish, conservative design. A little bland, in fact. Not offensive, but not a standout in a positive way.

THE DRIVE: The plug-in is quite a bit heavier than the gasoline Sonata, and you feel it in the ride and handling. The car feels lumpy. The electric-motor boost makes for energetic acceleration. The steering is vague and there is plenty of roll in corners. Quiet at high speeds, though.

THE NUTS AND BOLTS: The lithium-polymer battery pack fits under the trunk floor, so the trunk floor it flat and the rear seats split and fold 60/40 – so best-in-class cargo volume of 380 litres. The exterior design delivers a drag coefficient of 0.24.  The instrument cluster displays all sorts of information about how the hybrid system is functioning, including a charge indicator is located on top of the dashboard.

Push-button start.

THE CABIN/STORAGE: The cabin is roomy, the seats well-stuffed and there are plenty of storage cubbies.

THE BRAND: Hyundai is trying to position the brand as high technology, high performance. But the brand is not nearly as strong as Toyota, for instance.

WHY BUYS? Those who want a somewhat green alternative that does not induce range anxiety.

Price: $43,999.

Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine (154 horsepower, 140 lb-ft of torque) paired with 38 kW (HEV) or 50 kW (PHEV) electric motor.

Drive: front-wheel.

2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Rear 3/4 Exterior

Transmission: six-speed automatic.

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 6.1 city/5.7 highway using regular fuel.

Comparables (other plug-ins sold in Canada): Ford C-MAX Energi, Ford Fusion Energi, Toyota Prius Plug-in, McLaren P1, Porche 918, Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, BMW Concept X5 e Drive, Toyota Prius Plug-In, BMW i8, Volvo XC90 T8 Plug-In, 2016 Audi A3 Sportsback e-tron.