Plug-in proliferation

COINCIDING with rapidly increasing battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake in Australia Is confirmation that more than 30 all-electric newcomers will launch here this year to help sate booming local demand for electric cars, in both volume and variety.

 

Add to that a growing number of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) slated for arrival and by the end of 2023, Australia will end up with a whole lot of electron-powered or assisted vehicles in showrooms and on the roads.

 

Momentum in the electrification direction is building with assistance from governments at various levels in the form of financial incentives, intense lobbying from interest groups, international pressure, BEV demand driven by running costs and/or performance and a desire for some new car buyers to go ‘green’ with their transport choices.

 

Though unlikely to totally supplant petrol and diesel vehicles in the sales charts terms any time soon, BEVs will account for an increasingly sizable proportion of new vehicle sales starting in 2023. 

 

GoAuto’s road testers have noticed the shift at public charging stations while reviewing BEVs; where tumbleweeds once reigned there are now queues. We can only hope that infrastructure stays ahead of the task as choice and sales volumes ramp up.

 

The BEVolution is coming at us in all forms, including light commercial utes and vans, sporty sedans, people movers, hatchbacks, small, medium and large SUVs and other vehicle types. 

 

We may also soon see a funky drop-top sportscar called the Cyberster that is in the pipeline from MG.

 

Tesla still dominates local BEV sales although, despite price reductions, its first-mover advantage may be eroded by the arrival of models offering more variety – including more affordable options – from all points of the compass. Not to mention the shine coming off Elon Musk’s image of late.

 

However, BEV pricing remains premium for even the entry level models currently starting at $44,990 drive away for the MG ZS EV – almost double that of the cheapest petrol-powered ZS.

 

Looking at what is coming, a few other affordable contenders from fellow Chinese brands GWM and BYD are on the near horizon but the rest – particularly those from more established car-makers – will likely remain premium priced.

 

Like the Tesla Model 3, some will offer super sports performance, for example, Kia’s EV6 GT and N versions of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6, to say nothing of the plethora of high performance Mercedes-Benz EVs and similar electric cars from Audi and BMW coming in the future.

 

Range seems to be less of an issue as manufacturers are starting to fit their EVs with bigger and better batteries that can give up to 700km range – but most are still in the 400-450km bracket, enough for general driving and with a side benefit of faster charging.

As with the rest of the market, SUV offerings are beginning to dominate the BEV sector, with some sporty models and small hatchbacks sprinkled through the new offerings.

 

Here’s what to expect soon down at the local recharge station:

Micro and light passenger cars

 

The light car segment still chalks up respectable sales volumes led by tiddlers like the MG3, Mazda2, Kia Rio, Suzuki Swift and Toyota Yaris but since the pioneering Mitsubishi i-MiEV ebbed away almost a decade ago, only Mini offers a pure-electric option today.

 

Later this year the Fiat 500 EV and new-generation Mini Cooper EV will arrive but their status as established European offerings means neither is expected to achieve the title of price-leading BEV in Australia.

 

Instead, they will target premium buyers with their retro-inspired designs. Also hailing from Europe is the Peugeot e-208, although its arrival in Australia is speculative at this time.

 

Other electrified choices in the smallest segments are limited to the Toyota Yaris Hybrid and, when it arrives, the Suzuki Swift Hybrid.

What’s coming:

 

Small passenger cars

 

This remains a popular segment due to the petrol- and hybrid-powered Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, along with the petrol-only Hyundai i30 and Kia Cerato.

 

A smattering of small-segment BEVs includes Nissan’s ageing Leaf, which will have more competition this year from Chinese and European manufacturers.

 

In addition to the Corolla, competition for BEVs in this segment also comes from hybrid choices including the Honda Civic and Cupra Leon.

 

BYD’s EA1 small hatch – expected to be called Dolphin here – is due soon and could be the nation’s most affordable BEV while the Cupra Born is already taking orders at a price point that should have Nissan executives reaching for the calculator.

 

MG will continue making inroads with its compelling MG4 hatchback and GWM has its Porsche-aping Ora Cat range in the pipeline.

 

Even Renault might join the fray with an electrified version of the Megane hatchback, although in its latest BEV E-Tech guise it is starting to look more like a compact SUV. 

What’s coming: 

 

Medium passenger cars

 

There is still life in the medium passenger car segment, driven by the Tesla Model 3 and Toyota Camry (the majority of sales for which are hybrids), with the Tesla’s popularity inspiring a wave of sedan-shaped BEVs of which some are scheduled to arrive this year.

 

BYD’s Seal has already been seen locally in preparation for regulatory compliance, with a high-end variant boasting acceleration to rival Tesla’s Model 3 Performance.

 

The swoopy Hyundai Ioniq 6 will likely come in various flavours and deliver strong performance into the bargain.

 

Meanwhile Polestar has comprehensively re-engineered its Polestar 2 to rear-wheel drive and rear-biased AWD options with more power, battery range and enhanced performance to go with the model’s numerous other upgrades including refreshed frontal styling.

 

Several other manufacturers have capable hybrid and plug-in hybrid entrants in the segment, including the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

What’s coming:

 

Large and upper large passenger cars

 

BMW’s i7 limo is here already, reputedly offering a new dimension in luxurious motoring. Mercedes-Benz continues its EQ large car roll-out with the EQE sedan confirmed to be available in three variants with an AMG-enhanced performance version echoing that of the EQS upper large sedan, which will gain a mid-spec 450 variant this year.

 

Look for a BMW i5 this year and even the Rolls Royce Spectre EV might make it in 2023, though demand is outstripping supply.

 

 

What’s coming:

Sportscars

 

Not much action is yet taking place in the electric sportscar market, although Italian brand Maserati will bring its GranTurismo Folgore BEV coupe here at north of $350,000.

 

For those with less (but still a lot) to spend, the $100K Kia EV6 GT offers super sports performance from ist 430kW dual motor powertrain.

What’s coming:

 

People Movers

 

Kia dominates the people mover segment with its Carnival leaving Hyundai’s Staria a long way behind. Both offer a choice of petrol or diesel power but the BEV people mover barrier has already been breached with the arrival last year of the LDV Mifa 9 along, with the Mercedes-Benz EQV and eVito.

 

More could be in the offing, particularly from Chinese brands with passenger-carrying models based on electric commercial vans, but so far nobody is talking.

Small SUVs

 

As a busy part of the market for petrol-powered models, the small SUV segment has plenty of BEV action going on already with models such as the Hyundai Kona, Lexus UX300e, Mazda MX-30, Mercedes-Benz EQA and Recharge variants of Volvo’s XC40 and C40.

 

These challenge at least 10 HEVs and PHEVs like Alfa’s new Tonale, the Honda HR-V and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.

 

New releases this year will include next-gen Hyundai Kona that will gain a HEV option to go with the petrol and BEV variants, while Lexus will also launch a heavily revised UX300e to do battle with the imminent BMW iX1 BEV and Citroen will add a BEV option to its C4 coupe-SUV crossover.

What’s coming:

 

Medium SUVs

 

This is where the action is in sales terms as buyers flock to models that can fulfil multiple roles and Japanese manufacturers begin to flex their muscles with the Subaru Solterra plus its co-developed Toyota bZ4X and Lexus RZ450e siblings all arriving in quick succession.

 

A performance version of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 bearing ‘N’ nomenclature, Porsche will debut a new-generation, all-electric Macan and Skoda’s Enyaq will make an appearance, while Volkswagen finally enters the BEV fray this year with the ID.4 and its coupe-styled ID.5 derivative.

 

These will compete with existing BEVs too including the Genesis GV60 and Electrified GV70, BYD Atto 3, BMW iX3, Mercedes-Benz’s EQB and EQC and, of course, the Tesla Model Y for which shipments of the delayed Performance variant will soon commence.

 

All are up against a plethora of petrol, diesel, HEV and PHEV models starting with Toyota’s extraordinarily popular RAV4 Hybrid followed by other notables like the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Subaru Forester Hybrid, soon-to-launch Nissan X-Trail e-Power, Mazda CX-60 PHEV, Lexus NX HEV and PHEV and Range Rover Evoque PHEV.

What’s coming:

 

Large and upper large SUVs

 

Kia’s large EV9 is a starter this year after extensive testing – including in Australia – with confirmation coming through of a 430kW version with powertrain bits borrowed from the Kia EV6 GT. The blocky seven-seater is a potential EV alternative to Carnival for family bus duties.

 

Mercedes-Benz continues down the EQ path with two large SUVs in the EQS and EQE due this year while the Polestar 3 is due in the second half of the year to take on the Porsche Macan and arriving in a similar time frame as the Volvo EX90 with which it shares a platform and parent company.

 

A revised version of the Jaguar i-Pace is on its way but the latest version of Tesla’s segment-defining Model X with crazy-quick Plaid variant remains at pre-order stage with no official indication of arrival timing.

 

In electrification terms, the segment is already well catered for with the likes of the Audi E-Tron, BMW iX, Porsche Cayenne PHEV and a bunch of Land Rover and Range Rover PHEVs.

 

Even more electrified models exist at the more affordable end, including the Toyota Kluger Hybrid, Kia Sorento HEV and PHEV and Hyundai Santa Fe HEV. 

What’s coming:

 

Light commercial vehicles

 

All three electric vans confirmed for Australia this year are from Europe, including Ford’s E-Transit in two sizes, a new Peugeot electric Partner and a new Renault Kangoo electric model.

 

LDV will bring another as-yet unnamed van to Australia this year, although an electric version is not yet confirmed.

 

Nothing is confirmed in terms of electric one-tonne utes for 2023 apart from rumblings out of VW about an Amarok EV sometime in the future, while other manufacturers would be looking at HEV and PHEV options – particularly those with European links.

 

Look to the Chinese as a source for electric one-tonners, with BYD increasingly likely to bring one here in the next 12-18 months and Geely reputedly looking for an Aussie distributor for is Radar RD6 ute.

 

We might see some of the big North American pick-up in BEV format, such as the Chevy Silverado, but given demand for such vehicles in their home market a rush to Australia is unlikely. 

 

That means the LDV eT60 remains the only electrified one-tonner on the local scene for the time being, an interesting situation given one-tonne utes are Australia’s most popular new-vehicle.

 

A lack of progress from manufacturers to this end has spawned a number of specialist companies in Australia that are already converting diesel-powered utes into BEVs, primarily for the mining sector.

 

 

What’s coming: