The Jaguar I-Pace.Jaguar
- Smaller vehicles have dominated the first generation of electrified cars.
- But a wave of upcoming electric SUVs could help bring battery-powered cars further into the mainstream.
- In the coming years, both established auto companies and startups plan to release a range of electric SUVs to compete with Tesla’s Model X.
If electric cars are the auto industry’s future, SUVs represent its present. SUVs continue to take an increasingly large share of the global auto market, worrying those who support a movement toward higher fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
But the popularity of SUVs has presented an opportunity to ease the transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles. While smaller vehicles have dominated the first generation of electrified cars, an upcoming wave of electric SUVs could help bring battery-powered cars further into the mainstream.
In the coming years, both established auto companies and startups plan to release a range of electric SUVs to compete with Tesla‘s Model X.
Here’s what they have planned:
1. Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar will release its first fully-electric vehicle, the I-Pace, in the US during the second half of this year.
2. Audi e-tron
Audi says it will start delivering the e-tron in the US in the second quarter of 2019.
The e-tron will have just under 250 miles of range, Audi says.
Audi has said the e-tron will have a range of around 248 miles per charge, a top speed of 124 mph, a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds, and a 95 kWh battery that will be able to get an 80% charge in around 30 minutes when using certain DC fast-chargers.
Volkswagen says the vehicle will have a range of up to 300 miles.
The ID Crozz will have two motors, 302 horsepower, and the ability to drive up to 300 miles per charge, Volkswagen has said.
4. Mercedez-Benz EQC
Mercedes-Benz will bring the EQC SUV to the US in 2020.
Mercedes-Benz says the EQC will be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in under five seconds.
The EQC will be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds and will have around 280 miles of range, 564 pound-feet of torque, and 402 horsepower, Mercedes-Benz has said.
5. BMW iX3
BMW revealed its iX3 electric SUV concept in April at the Beijing Auto Show and plans to start making a production version of the vehicle in 2020.
BMW says the iX3 will have over 249 miles of range.
BMW says the iX3 will have a range of over 249 miles per charge and a motor that can produce over 270 horsepower.
6. Faraday Future FF 91
While Faraday Future has struggled to raise money, the company has said its FF 91 could ship by the end of this year.
The company has said the vehicle will be incredibly powerful.
Faraday Future says the FF91 will have 3 motors, 1050 horsepower, and a 0-60 mph time of 2.39 seconds.
7. Byton M-Byte
Chinese startup Byton unveiled a concept for its electric M-Byte SUV in January. Byton co-founder Daniel Kircherttold Business Insider the M-Byte will arrive in 2019.
The M-Byte has a distinctive interior.
In place of a traditional dashboard, the M-Byte concept — which Kirchert said represents around 80% of the production version — has a 49-inch touchscreen, as well as touchscreens on the steering wheel and the backs of the front seats. The M-Byte also has individually-adjustable seats, gesture control features, and onboard Wi-Fi.
8. Hyundai Kona Electric
Hyundai will bring its Kona Electric crossover SUV to the US in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Kona Electric has impressive range.
The Kona will have 258 miles of range, according to theEnvironmental Protection Agency. It will also have driver-assistance features that can help avoid accidents and keep the car in its lane.
9. Kia Niro EV
Kia has said it will bring its Niro EV crossover to the US at the end of this year. Pictured above is a concept version of the vehicle.
Kia has said the Niro EV will have a 240-mile range.
According to Kia, the Niro EV will have a 240-mile range, 201 horsepower, and 291 pound-feet of torque.
10. SF Motors SF5
Startup SF Motors unveiled its plans to make electric SUVs at the New York International Auto Show in March.
The SF5 may have up to 1,000 horsepower.
The company will start with the SF5, which SF Motors plans to start producing in 2019. SF Motors says customers will have the opportunity to equip the car with up to four motors and 1,000 horsepower.
11. Volvo XC40
Volvo design chief Thomas Ingenlath told Autocar in June that Volvo will release an electric version of its XC40 SUV “very soon” after the Polestar 2. The gas-powered version of the XC40 is pictured above.
Volvo will make a plug-in hybrid version of the XC40.
Volvo hasn’t yet revealed the hybrid’s specs. In April, the company said it is aiming for fully-electric cars to account for 50% of its sales by 2025.
12. Subaru’s all-electric crossover
According to a report from The Drive, Subaru may release an all-electric crossover in five years, but very little is known about the car at the moment.
In August 2016, a Subaru spokesperson told Automotive News that if the company ends up building an electric car, it would probably build it on its Global Platform, like the 2017 Subaru Impreza, pictured above.
The company’s first plug-in hybrid will arrive near the end of this year.
Subaru said in May that the Crosstrek Hybrid, the company’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle, will arrive near the end of this year.
13. Ford’s electric crossover
Ford has said it will release an all-electric crossover by 2020.
The crossover doesn’t have a name yet, but the company claims it will have an impressive range.
Carlos Osorio / Associated Press
Ford’s former North American president, Raj Nair, told Business Insider in 2017 that the vehicle will have over 300 miles of range and be “affordable.”
“To get electrification volumes where we would all like them to be we have to make sure we make the affordability targets or otherwise they are going to stay as a niche item or a pure luxury item,” he said.
BONUS: Tesla Model Y
While Tesla hasn’t announced a definite release date for its upcoming Model Y SUV, CEO Elon Musk has said production will begin in 2020.
Musk said the Model Y will be a “manufacturing revolution.”
During Tesla’s first-quarter earnings call in May, Musk said the Model Y will transform Tesla’s manufacturing process.
“I think Model Y is going to be a manufacturing revolution,” he said.
Tesla released a video in May that included a glimpse of a vehicle that may be the Model Y. The vehicle in question is pictured above.
