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By APH
2020 was a slightly strange year in the progress of electric car take up. On one hand, all economic activity had been slowed to a near stop by the lockdown and fears of possible resurgence from the pandemic; on the other, amid bad news from almost all other fronts, the UK government is signalling its intention to get behind greener forms of transport. Meanwhile, electric car manufacturers are wasting no time in perfecting new models for future markets. The net result of all of this is that 2021 looks to be a great year for new electric cars; here we take a look at 10, proving very tempting.
1. Ford F-150 Electric
Whisper it quietly, but 2021 could be the year of the electric pickup truck. Probably not the first type of vehicle anyone – even committed e-car owners – would think of being produced, Ford has stolen a march on other major manufacturers with the F-150 Electric. In doing so, it’s onto a proven winner; the F-150 is already the company’s most popular pickup in North America. Originally, the talk was that a hybrid would be the first incarnation of an electric version, but Ford has decided to skip that step and produce a fully electric version. They keep its specifications under wraps, but it’s up there in the new release electric cars to look out for.
2. Tesla Cybertruck
If Ford has any success with its foray into new electric cars of pickup design, it will have to compete with the Tesla Cybertruck. As the pickup is such a large part of the global motor vehicle market, Tesla has dedicated some of its impressive infrastructures to developing a commercially viable, totally electric pickup. According to the company’s own released specifications, three versions are available: a single motor rear-wheel drive, dual and triple motor four-wheel drives. With prices starting at $39,900 (£30,700), anyone in the UK looking for an electric pickup might be very keen to get their hands on a Cybertruck.
3. Rivian R1T
Another of the new release electric cars is a total newcomer to the automobile market. Rivian has been working behind the scenes to release a fully electric pickup onto the market over recent years. As other, established manufacturers have altered their designs and factories to make cars for family and individual commuters, Rivian has had the pickup specifically in their sights, unveiling their first version in 2018. Whereas the R1T will not have Tesla’s performance statistics, it will be cheaper. It is to be assumed, better value than Ford’s foray into the electric pickup; the latter is certainly the target market for this traditional looking truck.
4. Audi Q4 e-tron
Away from the world of e-pickups, one of the electric car release dates UK drivers will be looking for in 2021 is for the Audi Q4 e-tron. Consistently a very popular market segment in petrol vehicles, small SUVs, and crossovers already have electronic versions in the Kia Nero and Hyundai Kona EVs; the Q4 e-tron is squarely aimed at competing strongly in this market. Audi says that their vehicle will accelerate to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.3 seconds and drive for 280 miles on one charge, all at a price tag of under £35,000.
5. Mercedes-Benz EQA
In direct competition with the Audi Q4 e-tron, particularly the Tesla Model Y, the EQA is an SUV crossover that started life as a more compact hatchback. Presumably, Mercedes see the small SUV / crossover market as being the one to produce the most buyer activity in 2021; this is a widely held opinion. The EQA has established technology, with dual motors delivering 268 hp (or 200kW) to all four wheels and acceleration of 0 to 62 mph in 5 seconds. Mercedes also says that their battery gives an actual range of 250 miles, with a 10-minute quick charge boosting this by 62 miles.
6. Nissan Ariya
More competition in the small SUV / crossover market will come from Nissan, with the Ariya due to be launched in 2021. Amazingly, of all electric car release dates UK drivers have seen, it will be a full decade since the company launched its Leaf, the first really competitive electric vehicle. With this experience, the Ariya is sure to be another market leader, and will probably sell at £30,800. Another kick for the competition is that the Ariya is likely to have a range of around 300 miles, which is up there in the Tesla range for miles on a single charge.
7. Volkswagen ID.4
The ID.4 is another of the eagerly awaited new release electric cars set to be unveiled in 2021 and is the next step in VW’s development of its own modular electric drive matrix MEB technology. In Europe, we already have the ID.3, which is a smaller car based on the hatchback design. The ID.4 will be an entry in the small SUV / Crossover market, a territory of the Tesla Model Y, with which the ID.4 will no doubt want to compete strongly. The car is likely to have a range of around 300 miles, with performance similar or better to the ID.3.
8. BMW iNEXT
Another of the eagerly awaited electric car release dates UK motorists will be looking for is that of the iNEXT from BMW. Of course, the company makes the very popular Mini, including the electric E model, which is more than holding its own in the British electric car market. The iNEXT, however, is BMW’s foray into the small SUV / Crossover market, and as such, will be squarely aimed at Tesla’s Model Y market share. The company says the car’s range will be a very healthy 360 miles, and the starting price is likely to be a Tesla beating £34,650.
9. Mercedes-Benz EQS
Away from the highly competitive world of small electric SUV / crossovers, new electric cars in the luxury sedan market will have a new member from 2021 in the form of the EQS. Of course, Tesla’s mighty Model S dominates this market, and Mercedes is looking to take Tesla on full frontal here. In doing so, the company promises acceleration – delivered by a dual-motor drivetrain – of 0 to 62 mph in less than 4.5 seconds, and a range of a mighty 435 miles on a single charge. Prices aren’t yet available, but the EQS is likely to be in the “not cheap” range.
10. Electric Range Rover
Finally, for our list of new release electric cars for 2021 is the all-electric Range Rover. A perennial favourite among some UK buyers, Jaguar Land Rover, has been working on a vehicle likely to be called the Road Rover. This will come with the same technology as Jaguar’s own i-Pace, and be more road-focused than previous models of the Range Rover. Price is not yet known, but the electric version should be just as affordable as the traditional Range Rover, which was, after all, probably the world’s first SUV.
