While 2021 isn’t likely going to bring the salvation we’re all hoping for, it’s still on track to bring us some of the biggest innovations for the next generation of electric vehicles.
Almost all of the highly anticipated EVs are compact (or massive, ahem, Hummer) SUVs, following the popularity of Tesla’s Model Y that came out in 2020. While an electric version of America’s most popular vehicle (a Ford F-150 pickup truck) is still years out, two of the first e-trucks are expected to arrive from Tesla and Illinois-based newcomer Rivian.
In no particular order, here are the EVs that should make it to driveways by the end of next year — even with a pandemic throwing off reveal schedules, factory operations, and in-person events.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford’s first 100-percent electric vehicle reimagines the classic Mustang.
Image: ford
Ford is stepping into the EV world with a revamped Mustang. The Mustang Mach-E will be entirely battery-powered with up to 300 miles on a single charge. The First Edition comes out, well, first, for $58,300 with a 270-mile range and is supposed to arrive by the start of the year. According to Ford, the limited number of First Editions are all reserved. Later into the new year, the base version, the Mach-E Select, will roll out. It has a 230-mile range and smaller battery, but starts at under $45,000.
Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla’s first pickup truck is on its way.
Image: tesla
Over a year ago, Elon Musk revealed what Tesla’s first pickup truck would look like. While we’re still trying to accept the dystopian, angular design of the Cybertruck, the first models are expected to hit the streets by the end of 2021. The first sightings will be the popular (based on pre-order reports) dual- and tri-motor versions with all-wheel drive and 300 and 500 miles of range, respectively. The single-motor trucks with a range of 250 miles aren’t coming until the end of 2022. They’ll be priced at $39,000, compared to $69,000 for the tri-motor version.
Rivian R1T
The R1T in Rivian Blue.
Image: rivian
In 2019, before Rivian was even close to delivering its first vehicles, Amazon backed the company and ordered thousands of EV vans for its delivery business. They won’t hit the road until at least 2021, the same year Rivian releases its R1T pickup truck. After the truck is released, Rivian has plans for an electric SUV.
GMC Hummer EV
The Hummer is back as a monstrous EV.
Image: gmc
The discontinued Hummer is back, but this time as a giant EV with up to 350 miles on a charge. The already sold-out Edition 1 is supposed to come at the end of 2021 with a whopping price tag of $112,595. More affordable versions will reportedly trickle out each year until spring 2024.
Mercedes EQA
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Finally some electric options from Mercedes in the U.S. The EQA compact electric SUV was supposed to come out this year, but it was delayed until the end of 2021. Mercedes hasn’t shared much about the vehicle, except that it’ll be more affordable than most Mercedes cars, setting it up as competitor to Tesla’s Model Y. Afterwards, an electric sedan will make its way into the German automaker’s electric lineup.
Nissan Ariya
First envisioned as a concept car, the real thing is making its way to the U.S.
Image: nissan
Nissan’s pragmatic Leaf made it an EV pioneer. Next year, it will release its sleeker and more spacious Ariya.
Nissan’s first electric compact SUV started as a concept car in Japan in 2019. Now, as Nissan revealed back in July, it’s a real car that will start at $40,000 in the U.S. and Europe and stay charged up to 300 miles.
VW ID.4
VW’s ID.4 is the first all-electric SUV from the German automaker.
Image: volkswagen
Here’s an electric SUV that’ll give Tesla a scare. It’s VW’s first e-vehicle of this size in the U.S. and its starting price is more than reasonable: $39,995. The pricier ($43,995) 1st Edition with a bigger touch screen, panoramic sunroof, and 20-inch wheels, is already sold out. It has a lower range (250 miles) than some other e-SUVs, but that’s more than enough to get around during a pandemic or for a standard commute (if that ever happens again). It’ll be here in the first half of the year.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
Charged up.
Image: volvo
Volvo’s first all-electric SUV is just about here. The Chinese-owned Swedish auto company made big commitments to electrification back in 2017, and this is the first step. While it looks a lot like the “regular” XC40 SUV, this one has an electric battery and motor with a 200-mile range and fast charging. The user system for maps, music, and other apps on the center screen is all Google-powered, so for Android users it’ll be very familiar. The first deliveries start in January for the $53,990 electric SUV.
Lucid Air
Luxury and range.
Image: Lucid
The Lucid Air is the electric dream we’ve been waiting for from one of the newest EV startups. The luxury sedan is pushing the range up to 517 miles on a single charge. The top-of-the-line Dream Edition comes out first for a staggering $169,000 with a 503-mile range. Throughout the year, cheaper models will follow, including the range-busting 517-mile Grand Touring version. The base model, known as the Air Pure, is more comparable to Tesla Model S pricing and range, but won’t be available until 2022.
BONUS: BMW iX
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BMW is more than dabbling in EVs next year. Its first bigger EV is an SUV that has been in development for years. (Its compact, low-range i3 has been out since 2013.) The iX started as a concept car (the iNext) and is coming out as a 300-mile range “Sports Activity Vehicle,” as BMW calls it. The iX still has the big butterfly grille from the iNext design, but inside there’s less of a fancy living room vibe with more screens and technology on display. Production starts in 2021, so we might not actually see this one until early 2022.