The age of electric vehicles (EVs) has arrived. As an EV enthusiast, I‘ve been eagerly tracking the wave of new emissions-free models arriving from automakers in recent years as they invest billions to own the future of mobility. 70 EV models are available in 2023, up from just 25 in 2019, with way more on the horizon.
Let‘s dive into what‘s already here and what wild ideas companies like Tesla, Rivian and Mercedes have up their sleeves! I hope this guide helps navigate the transition so you pick the coolest EV around.
Today‘s Market – An EV for Nearly Every Driver
EVs are showing up across vehicle classes – roomy sedans, offroad pickups, luxury cruisers or zippy sport models. Here‘s a taste of the who‘s who:
Electric SUVs
- Ford Mustang Mach-E – One of leading EV debuts in 2021 with 300+ mile range and genuinely fun driving
- Volkswagen ID.4 – Stylish, roomy, affordable at around $40k with 250 mile range
- Audi e-tron – Posh, high-tech interior provides comfy ride with sporty handling
- Rivian R1S – Futuristic features like a gear tunnel storage for camping gear or sports equipment
- Tesla Model X – Spacious 7-seater with those oh-so cool falcon wing rear doors
Luxury EVs
- Porsche Taycan – Their billionaire clients demanded environmentally sustainable but pulse-pounding Porsche performance…and it delivers with 750 hp Turbo S!
- Mercedes EQS – A technological tour de force with futuristic Hyperscreen spanning the whole dash
- BMW i7 – Electrified version of their flagship 7-series sedan, absurdly smooth and packed with bleeding edge tech
Fleet & Commercial EVs
- Ford E-Transit – America‘s best-selling van goes electric to please business owners eyeing lower operating costs
- Rivian Electric Delivery Van – Bespoke last mile package delivery vans being manufactured for Amazon to bring EV benefits to their mammoth logistics operation
Whether you want advanced self-driving capabilities like Tesla‘s Autopilot or old school V8 rumble sound effects via the Mustang‘s speakers to confuse onlookers, there‘s an EV to match needs now with many body styles represented.
Comparing EV Model Ranges
Range anxiety persists among prospective EV buyers so automakers concentrate heavily on packing in bigger batteries. Today‘s models typically achieve over 200 miles range on a full charge with elite options from Lucid and Tesla exceeding 400 miles:
Solid state batteries on the horizon could drive ranges toward 1000 miles per charge but today‘s lithium ion packs have improved greatly since early, sub-100 mile EVs.
Advances come through:
- More energy dense battery chemistries
- More space efficient vehicle designs from EV-only platforms
- Streamlining energy consumption via heat pumps and aerodynamic shaping
So don‘t sweat occasional road trips in the era of 250+ mile EVs!
EV Adoption Trend
As automakers invest $515 billion in electrification this decade, EVs will make up over half of new car sales globally by 2030, says BNEF. It‘s easy to see why…
Precipitating factors beyond environmentally conscious early adopters include:
- Continued Cost Parity: EVs reach sticker price parity with gas cars around 2025 as production scales up. Add far lower "fueling" & maintenance costs and total ownership savings accelerate.
- Charging Infrastructure Expands: Public chargers will number 40M globally by 2025, up 5X from 2020.
- Government Phase Outs: Over 20 countries have ICE new car sale phase out targets by 2030-2040 including UK, India and Canada. Many cities also restricting/taxing gas car use already.
- Fleet Electrification: Companies like FedEx, Uber and logistics firms transition their millions of vehicles to EVs steadily too.
So anyone buying a gas car today needs to think hard about resale outlook later this decade. Maybe buy a short range plug-in hybrid to hedge bets.
Coming Down the Pike
Ok, that covers most of the juicy EVs roaming roads now in real customers‘ hands. But even more exciting are the concept vehicles and announcements around what‘s in automakers‘ R&D labs.
Based on insider reports and some educated guesses, here are a few that have me wishing for a time machine:
Ultra-Luxe Options:
- Rolls Royce EV – Their silence is golden electric era coming in 2023 based on BMW‘s latest platforms and battery tech. Expect insane, bespoke luxury and 600+ hp still on tap.
- Lotus Eletre – Racy British sports car maker cooking up an all-electric 600 hp hyper SUV wrapped in their signature sleek, aerodynamic carbon fiber origami.
Affordable Long Range:
- Tesla $25k Car – Elon promised a truly mass market EV with no compromise performance or function by 2023. Skeptics abound but he hasn‘t failed yet.
Green SUVs & Pickups:
- Jeep EV Wrangler – Gas-guzzling king of off-roaders Jeep preps an electric Wrangler arriving in 2024 with copious torque for rock crawling minus environmental guilt!
- Electric Chevy Silverado – 400 mile range pick up aimed at appeasing demanding truck lover needs
Autonomous Driving:
- Apple iCar – SECRET PROJECT hires slew of Ford engineers in 2022 to work on their infotainment system on wheels loaded with sensors and scanners to enable self-driving.
Rivian, Lucid, Fisker, VinFast…startups see opportunities to disrupt too with innovative e-mobility models, making this a prime time to ride the EV choice wave!
I don‘t know about you but I‘m tempted to live off the grid in a cabin to save up for multiple deposits! What EV or EV tech has you most amped for the electric future? Let me know on Twitter @EV_Obsessed.
