The all-new Honda e prototype.
The all-new Honda e prototype.
2020 has already been a strong year for electric vehicles with a number of manufacturers adding new and innovative vehicles to their line-up, giving customers more choice in EVs than even before. Here are just a few of the cars that have arrived in showrooms this year along with some that will be arriving soon.
Fuelled by the early success of its i3 range, the new electric i4 will raise the bar again for the German carmaker as it goes after the likes of the Tesla 3.
The new i4 certainly has impressive figures: 523bhp, a top speed of 125mph and 0-62mph in 4.0 seconds. And thanks to its large 80kWh battery pack, it should have a range of 373 miles.
Not only does it promise to be something of a head turner, but the cabin should be pretty plush and special too. Plus, given its 3 Series background, it’ll also be pretty cracking to drive in terms of handling dynamics.
Price: From £50,000 (est)
Fiat will introduce an electric version of its best-selling 500 model. Fitted with bespoke underpinnings, it’s been redesigned to accommodate EV powertrains. That means a battery and motor which will combine to cover around 199 miles on a single charge. The launch edition is a convertible version that Fiat have named ‘La Prima’ which is now available for pre-order with deliveries expected to take place at the end of the year.
What about looks? Well, it retains the retro design buyers have come to love, but through the magic of design, it has more space inside than ever before.
Price: From £29,000 (estimated)
When it was unveiled at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, Honda’s new all-electric car grabbed all the headlines. Now set to enter showrooms in spring, the all-electric ‘e’ hatchback shows what a modern-day city car should look like.
Power comes from a 35.5kWh battery pack, which sits low down and is positioned centrally within the chassis. The result is a claimed 50:50 weight distribution and a WLTP range of 125 miles. Charging? That comes from either Type 2 AC or CCS2 DC charging, the latter giving 80% of charge within half an hour.
Inside, the rear-wheel drive ‘e’ gets a rather posh cabin, featuring digital dials, twin touchscreen and monitors for the camera-based door mirrors.
Price: From £26,660 (including £3,000 govt. grant)
The all-electric Soul could be one of the most important new EVs of 2020. With its eye-catching combo of sharp looks, impressive power pack, competitive pricing and range of 280 miles, it’s certainly an attractive proposition.
Power comes from a 64kWh battery pack, with its single electric motor providing 201bhp and impressive 395Nm of torque. That’s all good for a 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds.
Inside — and there will only be one high-spec model offered — the Soul EV delivers a 10-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; 10-speaker Harman Kardon audio system; wireless smartphone charging, and heated leather seats.
Price: £34,295 (including £3,000 government grant)
The latest arrival from Mercedes-Benz all-electric EQ sub-brand will be the smallest: the EQA. Set to go head-to-head with the VW ID.3, the new Merc was first seen as the Concept EQA (pictured) in 2017. It will have a range of up to 250 miles on a single charge. Power — in the top-spec production car — will come from a 60kWh battery, deliver 286bhp through all four-wheels and cover 0-62mph in 5.0 seconds. As for charging, we should expect at least 110kW.
Price: £35,000 (estimated)
The second model in Volkswagen’s new family of all-electric cars, following on the heels of the Golf-sized ID.3, will — perhaps not surprisingly — be a family SUV.
The ID.4 uses much of the same technology as first seen in the ID.3, but will use two electric motors — one for each axle — rather than just one. Combined, they produce 302bhp and, powered by an 83kWh battery, we should except a range of 311 miles. It’ll also be capable of receiving an 80% charge in 30 minutes. The line-up is also likely to include models with smaller batteries, which will cost less.
Though we’re still waiting for images of the ‘production-ready’ ID.4, it’s likely to be heavily based on the ID Crozz concept (pictured) which has been appearing at motor shows around the world over the past two years. Measuring 4625mm long, 1891mm wide and 1609mm tall, it will sit between the five-seat Tiguan and seven-seat Tiguan Allspace.
Price: £40,000 (estimated)
