The Electric Vehicle Market-what’s happening?
The EV Market-what’s happening?
There is a LOT going on in the EV (Electric Vehicle) arena at the moment!
Rapid strides are being made on all fronts as manufacturers vie to bring better, quicker, further ranging and more affordable options to the market!
And while there is clearly still a fair way to go before EVs will be viewed as a viable solution for everyone, they are certainly gaining acceptance, and there are some interesting possibilities among an ever-widening range of alternatives.
There needs to be an increasing recognition and trust among road users, as the clock ticks down to 2030 and the outright ban in the UK of all new petrol and diesel vehicles.
Just as there needs to be an increased commitment by those leading the way in the industry, allied with governmental bodies, to find ways of improving the entire infrastructure faster so that by the end of the decade the entire EV package is not just an attractive alternative, but the only rational way forward for the discerning motorist.
Here we look at what is leading the way in a range of categories in the “car (+)” sector, as we consider what might just pique the interest of the most ardent petrolhead!
The Cheapest on the Market.
Smart EQ Fortwo
Image: Heycar
Launched in 2018, this electric version of the Mercedes Benz mini machine has a range of 81 miles, ideal for trips around town.
Pricing starts at a very attractive £20,725, and you can pick up a nearly new model for around £16,000 making this snazzy little motor an even more compelling choice.
There is also Cabrio and a 4-seater version available.
For a comprehensive list of low-priced options click on the link below:
https://heycar.co.uk/guides/cheapest-electric-cars
The best small car
Peugeot e-208
Image: Autocar.
An impressive blend of visual panache, useable range, performance, practicality, value, and driver magnetism, this all-electric version of the 208 supermini ranks tops in the Autocar small car charts.
It delivers where it matters in terms of drivability and has an elegant interior to complement its natty bodywork!
By all accounts it handles well, is a fun ride, and has a 0-60mph of 8.1 seconds with a 93mph top speed.
See the full Autocar list on the link below:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/best-cars/top-10-best-small-electric-cars
The Best Selling Model
Tesla Model 3
Sold last year: 34,783 units
Having managed to ramp up production significantly, Tesla is now in a much better position to service a market eager to get their hands on the steering wheel of this long-awaited model!
With an excellent range of 305 miles combined with the much-vaunted Tesla Tech on board and a starting price of £42,990, the Model 3 has proved a hit in the UK.
There is a long-range model available that delivers 360 miles between charges (that could get you from London to Newcastle with miles to spare!).
Click on the link below for the full list:
https://www.moveelectric.com/e-cars/ten-best-selling-electric-cars-uk
The car with the greatest range.
Mercedes-Benz EQS
Image: Heycar
The electric variant of the illustrious Mercedes Benz S-Class is a worthy flag bearer for the marque.
It combines the refined attributes of its more contemporary sibling with a whopping 453 miles of range per charge!
A luxurious drive that’s brimming with cutting-edge technology, this model is a true ambassador for the EV cause!
Click below for more information.
https://heycar.co.uk/guides/electric-cars-with-longest-range
The Best Family Car
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Image: Hyundai
This relaxing to drive, luxury cruiser from Korea was voted the top family EV by Autocar.
A high-speed charging system allied with classy looks and a high-quality, contemporary interior proved to be a winning combination and there is lots of space inside for family and friends and a generous storage area to boot!
A range of 281 miles for the 214 bhp model is more than respectable.
See Autocar’s top ten by clicking the link below:
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/best-cars/top-10-best-family-electric-cars
The best EV SUV
Kia EV6
Image: Kia
With a range on all versions well at over 300 miles, the Whatcar car of the year has super-fast charging capabilities and is the undisputed SUV champion!
Capable of 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and boasting a top speed of 161 mph this model is no slouch and with a refined, spacious, and high-tech interior it’s one of the best electric vehicles available today.
It’s also covered by the Kia seven-year warranty for total peace of mind.
For the full list click on the link below:
https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038
The Top Electric MPV
Mercedes EQB
Image: EV Charge+
Go for the 288bhp 350 4Matic choice.
It doesn’t cost much more than the 225bhp 300 version, but the performance is significantly enhanced!
With 0-62 mph measured at 6 seconds and a top speed of 99.4 mph it has clout when going for that gap in the traffic, but the range is not brilliant at between 200 to 257 miles depending on which model you go for.
With the quality Mercedes premium interior and packed full of cutting-edge technology, It can seat up to seven passengers and delivers a great package for around £10K less than its Tesla competitor.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars-vans/354700/best-seven-seat-electric-cars-buy-2022
The Fastest EV Production Car
Rimac Nevera
Image: Car throttle
Croatian marque Rimac has launched a limited-edition production car that boasts a set of astonishing performance stats.
· 0-60 in 1.85 seconds!
· 0-100 in 4.3 seconds!
· 186mph at 9.3 seconds of flat-out acceleration!
· Top speed 260mph!
It makes one’s eyes water (and neck muscle tense anticipatively) just thinking about numbers like that!
With only 150 scheduled to be rolled off the production line and at a basic cost of £1.7million, it’s not the sort of vehicle that will be clogging up the main arteries into London in rush hour!
Nevertheless, the Nevera’s capabilities are jaw-dropping and must auger well for the future of EV performance potency.
Check out the YouTube video below to watch the Nevera absolutely pulverize a Porshe Taycan and a BMW M5 in a drag race!!!!
Now here’s food for thought for all the luxury car buffs out there!
According to Autocar, Rolls Royce has announced it will launch its first series-production electric car in late 2023 and has pledged to phase out combustion engines across its entire line-up by 2030.
And just look at this!!!
An old classic reimagined!
It makes you want to stash your surfboards to the roof and hurtle (silently and sustainably) to the beach………doesn’t it?
https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/id-buzz-concept-car-3550
EV RACING
To enlarge on the theme of EV Vehicle Capabilities, there are now highly competitive, expertly run top-level World Championship competitions rapidly acquiring a large and loyal following.
Formula E
Image: theverge.com
Since 2014 the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship body has been running this single-seater EV racing car competition.
With 16 rounds this year starting in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, and finishing in Seoul, South Korea, the championship takes in the likes of the classic track at Monte Carlo and runs a couple of rounds through New York!
Rounds 13 & 14 take place in London on 30th and 31st July!
Extreme E
Image: The British Association for Sustainable Sport
9 teams and 18 drivers compete in this FIA sanctioned international off-road racing series.
Drivers battle it out driving bespoke EV SUVs in far-flung and spectacular locations, from the frozen tundra of Greenland to the arid desert in Neom, Saudi Arabia.
Rounds this year in remote regions of Sardinia, Chile, and Uruguay will highlight parts of the earth that are endangered by the effects of climate change.
The cars must tough it out through the most demanding of terrains, from careering down practically vertical inclines to making mighty “yumps” on some of the most vehicle punishing surfaces on the planet!
CARS (+)
At the beginning of this blog, we mentioned this list was about cars (+) and we would like to draw your attention to a rather remarkable EV Motorbike!
Energica Eva Ribelle
This elegant Italian machine really packs a punch in terms of performance with a capability to wow at the equivalent of 170hp capacity.
A battery capable of a range of 123 miles (Highway rage) and 261 miles (City range) combined with DC fast charging, is the basis on which this bike delivers a remarkable 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds and a top speed limited to 125 mph!
https://energicamotorcycles.co.uk/energica-motorcycles/energica-eva-ribelle/
The Future
Although there is still a long way to go, it’s clear that the future is looking very promising on the EV front.
We need the shift from ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles to EVs to gather increasing momentum, however, as figures from 2021 are still stark!
(see below)
Image: moveelectic
However, as we hope this blog expounds, vast strides have been made by a wide range of stakeholders in this industry and it is very exciting to consider what will develop as technology continues to break new ground and open new horizons.