What’s Next for Electric Vehicles in 2019?
The EV industry in the United States hit a major milestone in October 2018: one million plug-in electric vehicles sold. Sales continue to climb — four of the five best-selling months of all time for EVs occurred in 2018. Now, more than 40 plug-in and hybrid models are available in the U.S., with more coming available every year. Here are a few of the new EVs coming online or going into production in 2019.
Audi e-tron
Audi’s fully electric
Hyundai Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona
Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar is staking its claim in the luxury EV market with the Jaguar I-Pace, a five-seat SUV with 234 miles of range and a starting price tag of $69,500. Its two electric motors deliver 394 horsepower, going from 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds. The I-Pace has earned strong early reviews, with publications noting its elegant interior, nimble handling and exciting driving performance.
MINI E
MINI will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2019 with the unveiling of the MINI
Nissan LEAF Plus
With a 62kWh powertrain, the new LEAF Plus has a range of up to 226 miles. The high-capacity battery and more powerful motor combine to offer more torque and power, allowing for faster acceleration at high speeds. With the ability to use CHAdeMO chargers up to 100kW (compared to 40kW on the last model), charging is faster too. Scheduled to arrive in spring 2019, the LEAF Plus is expected to start around $36,000.
Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan’s most impressive feature may not be its eye-catching design or 250-mile base range, but its capability to gain an 80 percent charge in just 15 minutes with an 800-volt format. (It’s also rumored to be able to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a blistering 3.5 seconds.) The vehicle is expected to go into production in late 2019.
Tesla Model Y
In the same way the Tesla Model 3 offered a more affordable alternative to the Model S, the Model Y crossover SUV is set to be a cheaper version of the Model X. Much is still unknown — even the name is unconfirmed — but reports indicate it will have a third row and X-wing doors. Tesla has indicated the Model Y will be unveiled to the public as early as March 2019, with a starting price around $80,000.
Volvo XC40 Electric
Volvo has pledged to offer an entire electrified line by the end of 2019, starting with the smaller, sport-utility XC40 Electric. Volvo also has a traditional gas-powered XC40, and the electric version is likely to take design inspiration from that. The EV is expected to be unveiled in late 2019 or early 2020, and could carry a starting price of approximately $50,000.Some of these models may not yet be available in the areas the Clean Charge Network area serves, but contacting individual dealerships or the manufacturer to request inventory can make a difference. What model are you most excited about for 2019 and beyond?