Electric cars are becoming the norm! Right now, every car manufacturer is ramping up its research, development, and production in an attempt to see the roads populated with their battery-powered cars in the future.
Even though electric vehicles aren’t posting big sales numbers at present, the auto companies are making a significant investment anyway in EV technologies anticipating to play a big role soon. And they are right!
As per the report from T&E, electric cars are about to go mainstream in Europe, and 2020/21 is likely to be a tipping point for the market. Furthermore, the production of EV’s in Europe is expected to multiply six-fold between 2019 and 2025, reaching more than 4 million cars and vans.
Some parts of Europe, like Norway, have already adopted electric vehicles and is the undisputed world leader in electric cars. As per industry figures, around 11,518 EVs were registered in Norway during the first quarter of 2019. The majority of registrations account for Nissan Leaf, new Tesla Model 3, and Volkswagen Golf.
All said, let take a look at some of the coolest Electric Cars 2020 will bring our way.
Sono Sion (Munich)
Earlier this year, Sono Motors unveiled Sion, an electric car partially powered by solar panels on the vehicle. Interestingly, this car comes equipped with both battery pack and 248 integrated solar cells that can charge the car.
The Sion’s liquid-cooled battery has a capacity of 35 kWh, which enables you to drive 250 kilometers on a single charge. Also, it comes with an 80 kW motor that allows a maximum speed of up to 140 kph.
The company is planning to start production in the second half of 2019 at one of its German plants and will begin selling it for around 16,000 euros. Founded by Laurin Hahn in 2016, the Munich-based Sono Motors aims to end the usage of fossil fuels in exchange for sustainable mobility.
Lightyear One (Helmond, The Netherlands)
Dutch car making scaleup Lightyear unveiled its first long-range solar car – Lightyear One a couple of months back. For the uninitiated, Lightyear was founded in 2016 by alumni of Solar Team Eindhoven, which won the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. As per the company claims, Lightyear One has an incredible range of 725 km on a single charge and charges whenever it’s in the sun. On the other hand, Lightyear One can also be charged like a more traditional plug-in electric vehicle.
Through fast charging, you can charge up to 570km worth of power within an hour, and with a simple 230V outlet, it’s even possible to charge up to 350km worth of power overnight. The car has a total of four electric motors, which will allow it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km in 10 seconds. The first 100 cars have already been reserved via the Lightyear website, with expected delivery in 2021. Customers can book one of the 500 Lightyear Ones for a reservation fee of €119,000 right now on their website.
Audi e-Tron 50 Quattro (Ingolstadt, Germany)
A few days back, Audi announced its entry-level variant of the Audi e-Tron model – the Audi e-Tron 50 Quattro, which will join the existing e-Tron 55 Quattro. This affordable variant is powered by a much smaller battery pack of 71 kWh with a range of 300 km on a single charge. It has a power output of 230 kW and 540 Nm of torque, allowing it to accelerate from 0-62mph in just 7.0 seconds.
Additionally, it is also capable of 120kW charging capability allowing a 0-80% charge in 30 minutes at a fast-charging station. The company also promised an ‘optional connect charging system,’ which will be available on the e-Tron at this year’s end. It’ll facilitate smart charging capability enabling customers to schedule charging sessions overnight to benefit from cheaper electricity tariffs.
The e-Tron 50 Quattro will be available in the European market in the fourth quarter of 2019.
DS 3 Crossback E-Tense (Rueil-Malmaison, France)
Initially, revealed at the Paris Motor Show in 2019, DS 3 Crossback E-Tense is the company’s first electric car. The company promises a range of 200 miles with 100kW rapid charging capable of delivering a 0-80% in just 30 minutes. This car has a 136hp electric motor with 260Nm of torque, linked to a 50kWh Lithium-ion battery. The E-Tense comes with various driving modes including Eco, Normal, and Sport along with two settings for the regenerative braking system: Normal and Brake.
The mobile app gives drivers access to the battery range, charging settings, and climate control. The prices for the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense start from £32,350 for the Prestige trim, rising to £35,350 for the top-spec Ultra Prestige car. While the pre-order will commence later in the year, the deliveries will be fixed somewhere in January 2020.
Mini Electric (UK)
As promised, Mini launched its ‘Electric’ or ‘Cooper Electric’ last month in the UK. This electric variant will be produced at the carmaker’s Oxford plant. The production is set to take place later in 2019 and delivery in March 2020. The base variant of Mini Electric starts at £24,400 and goes up to  £30,400.
The Mini Electric is stunningly similar to Mini Hatch with the 3-door body. It is powered by a 32.6kWh battery pack and has an electric motor with a maximum power output of 184hp and torque of 270nm. The given range of Mini Electric is between 124-144 miles. It supports rapid charging at up to 50kW, where 80 percent charge is reached from zero in 35 minutes.
Furthermore, it has four Driving Modes – Sport, Mid Green and Green+ and two-level regenerative braking switch offering either intense or low-level power regeneration.
Polestar 2 (Göteborg, Sweden)
Polestar 2 – the direct rival to Tesla Model 3 is a five-door fastback that takes cues from Volvo S90. Production of this electric car will begin in China in early 2020, for both left- and right-hand-drive markets, including the UK.
In terms of specifications, it has two electric motors mounted across both axles for four-wheel drive. The car has the ability to recognise you via your phone. Once inside the vehicle, the Android-powered infotainment system offers apps you are used to, like the Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Play Store, Spotify, and more.
Furthermore, it has 78kWh battery pack integrated into the floor. It is powered by 408hp and 660Nm of torque, which is said to deliver a 0-100kph time of less than 5 seconds.
Fresco Reverie (Norway)
Fresco Motors, Norway-based EV startup, has unveiled an interesting new electric sedan – The Reverie. According to the company claims, the machine is capable of reaching 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2 second and maximum speeds of 300 kph (186 mph).
In addition to that, it is expected to have a long-range along with fast, wireless charging technology. Fresco will be employing a 4-speed automatic gearbox with overdrive powered by an electric AC induction motor. It’s worth mentioning that Reverie looks somewhere between Tesla Model S and Model. Fresco Motors is expected to sell its first electric vehicle sometime in 2021.
Lotus Evija (Hethel, United Kingdom)
Lotus Evija is the first fully British all-electric hypercar with an exceptional design that attributes to various factors including aerodynamics, ride stability, downforce and more. It has a target power output of 2,000 PS, 1,700 Nm of torque and is touted to go from 0 to 100 km per hour in under three seconds. With a completely electrified drive train, it is said to attain a top speed of over 320km per hour. Notably, a 2000kW lithium-ion battery pack sits behind the two seats.
In addition, the Lotus Evija is said to feature the world’s fastest charging battery, which is touted to accept an 800kW charge. Two high-power density e-motors draw in power from the battery pack and these motors employ silicon carbide inverters and epicyclic transmission on each axle of the four-wheel-drive powertrain. Integral Powertrain Ltd is the provider for the motors and inverters. Lotus has confirmed that the production of its all-electric supercar Evija will begin in 2020.
As for the pricing, the Lotus Evija is priced from €1.88 million (excluding duties and taxes) and one needs to make a €276,854.68 deposit to secure a production slot. One can also pre-order the car via www.lotuscars.com.
Stay tuned to Silicon Canals for more updates in the tech startup world.
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