Tesla has consistently been ahead of the curve on electric cars but major automakers are finally starting to pose competition. These cars will challenge Tesla in the next two years.
- BMW i3s
BMW is giving its i3 a sports edition called the i3s. It will come in 2018 with a starting range of 124 miles and 184 horsepower electric motor. The vehicle will have a top speed of 99 miles per hour and will be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.9 seconds. Charging for i3s will come with a home charging point that takes five to six hours. It starts at about $48000.
- BMW Electric Mini
BMW also debuted a new all-electric mini concept that will start rolling out on the roads in 2019. It has got a lot of unique visual changes- the headlights, charging hub, rearview mirror turning into indicators, body paints and the clearest outward sign shows that this is indeed and electric car. However there the price and performance hasn’t been revealed yet.
- Mercedes GLC f-cell
Its not purely electric but Mercedes unveiled its hydrogen empowered midsize SUV that will go on sale in the US in 2019. It will come equipped with two carbon fibre tanks capable of holding 4.4 kilograms of hydrogen and a separate 13.8 kilowatt hour battery pack. The electric motor boasts a 50 kilometre range thus helping to power the vehicle when hydrogen runs low. It has a 10.5 inch touchscreen navigation and entertainment. Mercedes says that the SUV can drive 271 miles on a single charge and an electronically limited top speed of 99 miles per hour. It only takes a few minutes to fill a hydrogen tank but charging a battery takes over 30 minutes. The price of the truly zero zero emission vehicle is not yet revealed.
- Mercedes EQ
Mercedes has also unveiled its electric SUV concept arriving in 2019 called the EQ. The car will be able to drive 310 miles on a single charge and accelerate 0 to 60 miles per hour under 5 seconds. This concept will come with a massive 24 inch display that will show speed, battery charge and navigation information. Charging time of 5 minutes will provide for 100 kilometres range. The price starts at $39000.
- Audi Elaine
Audi is planning on bringing a version of this car to the market in 2019. Its battery pack delivers 320 kilowatts of power with the batteries energy content of 95 kilowatt hours. The car can drive 311 miles on a single charge and accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.5 seconds. The price is not yet revealed.
- Honda Urban EV
Honda unveiled the design for its Urban EV concept that will arrive in Europe in 2019 because its a design concept. Honda hasn’t yet released any specifications for the vehicle. Inside Honda made a simple modern design with the large display screen. Like many other automakers Honda thinks that it wants to talk to their cars in the future too.
- Jaguar I-pace
Jaguar unveiled its eye pace electric SUV concept that will arrive in 2018. All wheel drive capability and aerodynamic design enable i-pace to reach 100 kilometres per hour in around 4 seconds. Two touch screen displays are on the centre console- a virtual screen instead of a traditional drivers instrument which can be controlled using the buttons on the steering wheel. I-pace can offer a range greater than 220 miles on a single charge with a quick charge option. It achieves 80% charge in 90 minutes.
- Hyundai Kona
Hyundai will launch an electric SUV in 2018 powered by greater than 50 kilowatt hours battery pack. It will drive about 2017 miles on a single charge. The Gamma 1.6 Turbo Engine boasts 177 horsepower that enables the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 7.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 210 kilometres per hour. High beam assist automatically controls the high beams depending on surroundings. Lane keep assist helps to prevent accidental lane departure by steering the car automatically. Forward Collision avoidance assist uses the car’s front-facing camera to detect imminent collision and avoid impact and minimise damage by braking autonomously. The Kona will have a starting price of around $39000.
- Volvo Polestar One
Polestar Volvo’s newly rebranded performance electric car brand unveiled its first vehicle- a plug-in hybrid sports coupé that will go on sale in 2019. Two electric motors at the back make a combined 218 horsepower with an estimated range of 93 miles on a charge. Its the longest full electric range of any hybrid car on the market. For more performance the 2-litre 4 cylinder gasoline engine delivers 600 horsepower. There is no word on the price yet but it announced itself to be a new Tesla Model 3 competitor which starts at $35000.
- Nissan Leaf (2018)
The all new Nissan Leaf is coming in 2018 with a 178 horsepower electric motor. It offers 150 miles of range on a single charge. The innovative e-pedal lets you accelerate a brake with only one pedal and is enhanced by 100% electric drivetrain that provides an instant rush of acceleration. With pro-pilot assist, Leaf helps you to decrease the speed of the car to maintain a preset buffer distance set by the driver. The battery can be charged in 8 hours using 6 kilowatt hour charger. With a quick charge option it achieves 80% charge in 40 minutes. The price starts at about $30000.
The Listicles 