Each new year brings highly anticipated vehicle launches from OEMs across the board. These launch events are becoming, increasingly, electric. And no, I’m not referring to the accompanying Apple Keynote meets Hollywood red carpet style press spectacles that follow. I’m talking about the vehicles themselves: they’re all going electric.
Last August, President Biden signed an executive order that aims for half of all cars and trucks sold in the U.S. to go electric by 2030—just eight years away. Both at home and abroad, the push for EVs is palpable. In 2021, 14% of all new cars sold in China were electrified and in Norway it was closer to 65%, compared to approximately 4% here in the U.S. America has a longstanding attraction to the internal combustion engine, and in many ways, we’re still catching up to other markets with famously strict emissions regulations.
The bar has been set high and manufacturers have taken notice, offering a wider range of EV offerings each year. Gone are the days when EVs appealed solely to those seeking efficiency. Performance offerings from brands such as BMW, Tesla, and Porsche have changed the automotive landscape, further cementing that electric is here to stay. Here are just a few of the highly anticipated EVs we’re looking forward to in 2022:
The F-150 is entering its 39th straight year as the best-selling vehicle in America. Now, this national treasure is going electric. It will be offered with two battery configurations and sprint to 60 mph in the mid-4 second range. Ford has recently announced it’s almost doubling production capacity, to 150,000 units per year, to meet the overwhelming demand. More importantly, this launch signifies a changing of the guard for the truck market with other electrified pick-ups such as the recently launched Rivian R1T and the upcoming Chevy Silverado EV.
For the past few years, Genesis has been giving the Germans a run for their money. Now they’re pledging to go all-electric by the end of 2025. The success of their new GV60 is bound to be an important part of that equation. With a swank interior and underpinnings from Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, the GV60 hopes to blend performance and luxury wrapped in a crossover package that America is bound to love.
The Macan may be getting long in the tooth, but it remains Porsche’s bestselling nameplate. Last year, 24,716 folks in the U.S. lined up to buy the bitesize German crossover. With a confirmed fully electric variant on the horizon, spied testing here, that line will likely grow longer. Expect production to begin sometime this year.
We would be remiss not to mention Tesla and their back-to-the-future-looking Cybertruck. First announced in 2019, the Cybertruck still has some question marks next to it, given that production hasn’t started and there’s no word on pricing yet.
The early-aught’s are back in fashion (we’re not kidding) and so is the Hummer H2, naturally. The H2 was once viewed as a trophy of conspicuous consumption, then consequently seen as out of touch. Now, it’s back to redeem itself with a clean, green image. Hummer EV pickups have already entered production, so expect the boxy 4-door SUV soon.
The bZ4X has been blessed with many things, but a good name is not one of them. Luckily, it also carries the Toyota name which practically pioneered the hybrid-electric car with their iconic Prius. The bZ4X will offer a RAV4-like footprint and will utilize Toyota’s new EV platform that was co-created with Subaru. Look out for the bZ4X to share its underpinnings with the new Subaru Solterra EV. Toyota build quality, available all-wheel drive, and sensible pricing are sure to draw buyers to showrooms.
This Bavarian EV is already available for order, and unlike previous BMW EVs (see: i3 and i8) it’s more of a car than a fashion statement. Two models are available (one will have a bigger battery) and both promise to deliver on BMW’s “ultimate driving machine” tagline with quick 0-60 sprints, 4-door hatchback practicality, and excellent handling.
At Mercedes-Benz, “EQ” stands for “electric intelligence”. We’re still not sure how to spell intelligence with a “Q”, but their ever-growing electric lineup is certainly smart. For 50 years, the S-Class has defined the luxury sedan, and last year, Mercedes announced the EQS. Now, the EQB and EQE are headed our way. The former is an electrified version of the familiar Mercedes GLB crossover, and the latter is the electric answer to the E-Class.
This beloved Brit (by way of Germany) has long been known for its go-kart handling and fashionable appearance—offering a premium package at a reasonable price. The next-gen MINI is nearly complete and expected to debut sometime in 2022 as a 2023 model year. Although an EV variant already exists (pictured here), it manages only 110 miles of range and feels like a bit of an afterthought. Expect the new MINI to have an electrified option out of the gate, while retaining its same adorable personality and bulldog-style front end.
Although some of us are still in denial (myself included), electric vehicles are the future. Most brands already have an offering on sale, and those that don’t have announced plans to electrify. The EV benefits are numerous: they cost less to run, have fewer moving parts, and offer instant acceleration. For the time being, all of this comes at a price. The charging infrastructure hasn’t fully caught up with the roll-out of the vehicles themselves. But if you’re willing to trade some tricky-charging dynamics for clean driving and snappy performance, an EV might be for you.
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