The automotive industry is about to go through a seismic change as the transition to an all-electric future completely modifies the supply chain, the manufacturing process and ultimately the finished product.
Almost every other day, manufacturers are announcing a new electric vehicle or outlining an ambitious plan to become an all-electric brand and ultimately achieve net zero greenhouse emissions.
For a consumer, at this moment in time, although undeniably exciting for all the new options available, can be daring and confusing. There are multiple doubts about EVs, from range anxiety to the price tag and also the adjustment to a new and different technology.
However, there are certain brands that have come to the forefront of this revolution. These brands have shown themselves to be true contenders for when you decide to transition from internal combustion engines to the sweet soundless world of electric vehicles.
WhichEV has analysed the future prospects of multiple manufacturers and their portfolio offerings and there is a good chance that in the next five years one of these brands will be in your driveway. That is, if they aren’t already!
MG
The iconic British brand might be a surprising choice for most as the company struggled in the late 90s and early 2000s. However, in the past two years, MG has resurrected itself as a fantastic option for people who are looking to buy their first electric vehicle. The company offers the most affordable portfolio of electric cars. MG has decided with its vehicles to tackle one of the key issues that is slowing down the transition to an all-electric future: the price tag.
As WhichEV reported, MG now offers multiple options sub-£30k and it is planning many more in the months ahead. There is the original MG5 EV, which is an estate car powered by a 115kW electric motor and has a 52.2kWh Lithium-Ion battery pack that can be charged from zero to 80% in just 50 minutes using a rapid charger. The EV has a range of 214 miles which rises to a respectable 276 miles, if the car is used solely for urban driving. The starting price is just £24,495 after the Plug-In Car Grant. This has recently been updated to a Long Range version with 250 miles of range from a 61.1kWh battery.
They also make the MG ZS EV, an SUV with a 163-mile range, 141bhp of power with a top speed of 87mph. The ZS EV has a starting price of just £25,495. The brand has also announced another two exciting EVs: a compact all-electric hatchback which is expected to cost less than £20k and a new tri-motor electric SUV which is expected to go from 0 to 62 mph in just under 5 seconds, although currently there are no plans to bring this to the UK.
MG is creating great EVs that are reliable, relatively cheap and have a decent range. A lot of the company’s models are already perfect for the urban life and with the constantly expanding line up, there is a good chance that one day you will own one too.
Volkswagen
As WhichEV highlighted a couple of months ago, the German giant is poised to become a leader in the all-electric market, thanks to its hefty investments and intriguing electric cars. The company is accelerating the process to become a solely EV manufacturer and there is a good chance that in the future a VW electric car will be parked right outside your front door.
Thanks to its dedicated MEB platform, Volkswagen has already launched two electric vehicles that have already climbed the charts and helped Volkswagen become the most sold brand in Europe. The company has already debuted the ID.3 , which comes with two battery options 58 kWh and 77 kWh and depending on the trim, the range goes from 263 miles to 336 miles. The company has also hit an absolute homerun with the ID.4, an electric SUV that is showing itself to be highly competitive on the market. The top versions of this EV feature a 77-kWh battery (net capacity) and 204 PS / 310 Nm electric motor.
The company is also launching a sport version of the ID.4 called GTX which will be powered by an electric motor on both the front and rear axles. Together, they deliver a maximum electrical output of 220 kW (299 hp). Volkswagen has also announced that in 2023, there will be an ID.6 on the road with a 435 miles range.
The new models offer great range and performance, and they will soon be able to receive Over-the-Air-Updates, which ultimately will allow the EVs of the VW family to always deliver the latest features introduced by the company. That means that Volkswagen EVs will also maintain an important resale value.
As Volkswagen offers multiple trims, battery options and truly gives customers the opportunity to configure an EV that fulfils all their specific needs, the company will become an attractive option for many more potential new buyers.
Volvo
Volvo is owned by one of the most exciting and ambitious manufacturers in the whole world, Geely. The Chinese brand has the ultimate goal of becoming a global EV corporation dominating every market around the world and Volvo is the centrepiece of this offence. Volvo is making every step necessary to secure that spot in your heart and in your garage.
The company has announced that by 2030, all its models will be all-electric but even before that date there is a good chance that a Volvo will end up in your household. As a matter of fact, the Swedish brand has already launched the new C40, an EV equipped with twin electric motors, one on the front and one on the rear axle, powered by a 78kWh battery that can be fast charged to 80% in about 40 minutes. It will offer an anticipated range of around 420km (261 miles).
Volvo has also debuted the XC40 Recharge that has a range of 249 miles on a single charge and an output of 408hp. The battery can charge to 80% of its capacity in approximately 40 minutes on a fast-charger system. The company has also announced that the new XC90 will be one of the safest electric SUVs on the market thanks to its LiDAR-powered technology.
The company has also made multiple moves that have shown a glimpse into what the future might look like for the company as it is trying to build the first ever carbon neutral vehicle. In fact, Volvo has partnered up with SSAB to create fossil-free steel and with Northvolt to develop more sustainable batteries.
Volvo Cars has also unveiled its unique ‘manifesto’ of what the company’s future EV will be all about: minimalistic design and super range. With this promise, the brand expects to create unique products that will draw attention and ultimately convince you to switch.
Renault (and Nissan)
After the dramatic Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn’s escape from Japan, which is worthy of a spy movie, Renault has put at the helm a new CEO that has turned around the company and has decided to bet hard on its electric future. Luca di Meo has announced that the Group will make the best of its dedicated EV platforms, launching 10 new battery-electric vehicles by 2025.
The iconic Renault 5 with a modern and electric twist will be based on the brand-new CMF-BEV platform and will be part of this electric offensive. The Renault Group will also strengthen its presence in the all-electric C-segment, firstly with the All-New MéganE in 2022. The EV will be based on the advanced CMF-EV platform, featuring a 160kW (217hp) electric motor and a 60kWh battery pack enabling up to 280 miles of range.
The French manufacturer is certainly getting ready to create a whole new portfolio of electric vehicles, however in the meantime it already has the legendary Renault Zoe on the market. The EV features a new electric motor, and a 52kWh battery across the entire model selection, providing up to 245 miles (WLTP) all-electric range on a full charge.
Renault has a stake in Nissan and the Nippon manufacturer has also launched a very interesting EV, the Ariya. As WhichEV reported, the Ariya SUV, which was unveiled last July, will offer a two-wheel drive version with 63kWh or an 87kWh (usable) battery, as well as an all-wheel-drive version.
Nissan has been at the forefront of the all-electric revolution for the past 10 years also thanks to the Nissan Leaf and it is expected to keep being an important player in the future with the new model. Meanwhile Renault has committed to a battery technology future and with the investments it is making, it won’t be a surprise if you will choose the iconic French brand as your first EV.
Stellantis
The probability of a Stellantis EV to be in your driveway within the next five years is as high as the fact that this is your first time hearing the name of this company. However, it encompasses many major OEMs that are now making the transition from the ICE era to the battery electric future. The PSA group and Fiat-Chrysler group are the two main partners who joined forces to make Stellantis.
As WhichEV reported few weeks ago, Stellantis is betting big on an electric future and plans to invest more than €30 billion through 2025 in electrification and software development to deliver BEVs that will have ranges between 300-500 miles/500-800 km and class-leading fast charging capability of 20 miles/32 km per minute.
Stellantis has already committed to a £100 million investment in Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant to transform the site for a new era in electric vehicle manufacturing. This means that we will see many more electric Vauxhalls added to its already rich EV portfolio. Even Peugeot has announced that the company’s vehicle range will be 70% electric by the end of 2021, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
Stellantis will also work with Dodge to create electric Muscle cars. It has a plan to make Alfa Romeo fully electric by 2024. Even the Ram trucks and Jeeps with the help of the company will be soon based on a dedicated EV platform. The ambitious plan of Stellantis is to create as many electric options as possible to build a wide portfolio of EVs that will attract a lot of costumers.
Stellantis might not be the brand name of the car, but it will surely be the source of the technology that underpins these vehicles and that is why there is a very high chance that in the future, you might unknowingly end up owning a Stellantis EV.
As you can see in this list, Tesla is not mentioned. One of the main reasons is due to the price as although it manufactures the top EVs on the market they are far from being affordable for a majority of consumers. Therefore the likelihood to have one in your driveway will be far lower in the future than these brands above, unless it delivers on the promise of the $25,000 Model 2.
We have also left another possible contender off this list – the the Hyundai Motor Group, which incorporates Kia as well as Hyundai. This company has recently released two of the most exciting new EVs, the IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6.These join EV favourites such as the Hyundai Kona and Kia e-Niro. However, the new cars are still relatively premium models, where most of the above are targeting more of the mainstream.
It is a very exciting moment for the industry as we see many more electric options on the market. This ultimately gives the possibility for buyers to have the freedom to truly choose the EV that suit their needs. However, the manufacturers that we listed are the likely candidates to be your first or new EVs in the next five years.