The Bolt Concept is undoubtedly an attractive car, and the prospect of a long-range, relatively affordable BEV that would hit the market right around or even before Tesla’s similarly priced Model 3 means that GM is still aggressively pushing its undisputed Canadian leadership in the plug-in market. But even as an EV fan, I worry that the Bolt crossover will be based on the platform of the subcompact Sonic hatchback, still a very small car for much of the U.S. And that market so far has not shown a huge appetite for subcompact vehicles, all-electric or otherwise, even in EV-friendly California. But small crossovers like the Buick Encore have sold better than expected, so as long as GM learns from the Volt and installs a decent third seat in the Bolt, unlike the two in the rear of the Bolt concept, it could do very well for them.

Other notable green cars making their Canadian debut at the show included hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the Hyundai Sonata, the ravishing Acura NSX hybrid supercar, the Volkswagen Cross Coupé GTE plug-in concept (which will arrive as a seven-seater next year, followed by the Golf GTE plug-in hybrid in the next couple years), the large but super sleek Infiniti Q80 hybrid concept, and the gorgeous Mini Superleggera Vision all-electric two-seat convertible concept. And of course, the performance pinnacle of all hybrids, the Ferrari LaFerrari, on loan by former Dragon’s Den and Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec.

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Finally, there was the notable debut of the Hyundai Tuscon Fuel Cell (FCEV), which had been shown before, but the first Surrey, BC-based owners were presented the keys on the show stand during Hyundai’s press conference. The first consumer fuel cell vehicle sold (okay, leased) in Canada is certainly a worthy occasion to mark. But with only one hydrogen fuel station open in the country, and very low numbers of other Tucson FCEVs set to come in, Hyundai is working hard to find other compressed hydrogen suppliers in Ontario and Quebec.

Whereas California has laws that require a certain number of zero emissions vehicles, Canada has none, so all credit to Hyundai. When some manufacturers there build the minimum number of cars available and then reluctantly sell them, they’re called compliance cars. Perhaps the green cars with limited availability in Canada (Focus EV? Kia Soul EV?) or not at all, but available for media test drives (Honda Accord Plug-In? Fleet-only Spark EV?) will soon become known as GPR (Green Public Relations) cars, because they seem strictly available for their green public relations value.

So here’s hoping the Tucson FCEV is just the start of a larger effort to replace an increasing number of greenhouse-gas-emitting and health-hurting vehicles on our roads, and not simply another GPR car.