Manufacturers across the world have been busy revealing their electric and hybrid cars of the future.
Motor shows throughout 2017 have been dominated by alternatively fuelled vehicles and with the year coming to a close, we’ve picked 10 you need to know about.
BMW i3s
German manufacturer BMW has been onto a winner with its halo i8 sports car, and will be looking to capitalise on its success with a freshly tweaked i3. As well as revealing a new look for the standard model and range extender version, the manufacturer uncovered a tuned version, the i3s, which boasts 181bhp, new lower suspension and sportier looks.
The refined electric hatch will hit 60mph 6.7 seconds — just 0.4 seconds quicker than the standard model with a top speed improved by 6mph, now up to 99mph. Prices are up £1,000 across the range, starting from £34,070.
Mercedes EQA
The EQA Concept signals the start of Mercedes’ electric car onslaught and is one of ten electric cars the Stuttgart-based outfit plans to have on sale by 2022. The EQA is predicted to be the biggest seller in the Mercedes EQ electric line-up, with an expected price tag of less than £36,000 when it goes on sale in 2020.
The EQA will have a range of around 250 miles, will produce more than 268bhp and 500Nm of torque.
Honda CR-V Hybrid
With the exception of its NSX supercar, there has been a noticeable lack of hybrid models in the Honda range of late. That’s about to change, though, with the introduction of a hybrid CR-V, the first volume electrified model from the Japanese firm since the Jazz Hybrid in 2011.
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the CR-V features a 2.0-litre iVTEC petrol engine and two electric motors – one powers the front wheels while the second can recharge the batteries.
The car works out itself how to use fuel and electric energy the most efficiently and switches between EV, hybrid and engine drive when needed. It is due to arrive in late 2018.
Smart Vision EQ
Since it was first introduced in 1998, Smart’s two-seater models have become a staple commuter choice in clogged up cities thanks to compact dimensions and a brilliant turning circle. Now, city-goers of the future will be able to look forward to a fully autonomous option with zero emissions — should Smart give its Vision EQ concept the green light.
The German manufacturer reckons most members of the public will share ownership of cars by 2030, rather than own them, and is heavily investing in its Car2Go programme to prepare itself for this future.
Mini Electric
Built in Britain and guaranteeing 4,500 jobs at the firm’s Oxford plant, the Mini Electric is BMW Group’s gamble on an emissions-free future. Few details of what lies underneath the iconic Mini body work have been revealed, but expect it to share much of the technology from the BMW i3. That car has around 180 miles of range.
While the details may be sketchy, the design you see here is likely to be very close to the production model slated to arrive in 2019.
Volkswagen ID Crozz
This is Volkswagen’s crossover (Crozz, get it?) electric car concept that’s set to spearhead the maker’s foray into EVs. The high-riding SUV-style car will be just one of 23 all-electric vehicles arriving from the VW Group by 2025 as it invests £5.4bn in alternatively fuelled cars.
This concept apparently produces 302bhp and is claimed to have a range of 311 miles. Scheduled to arrive in 2020, it can be charged to 80 per cent in 30 minutes using a fast charger.
Mercedes-AMG Project One
Worried the future of electrified cars will be boring? Think again!
This is the Mercedes-AMG Project One, which features the same drivetrain used in the firm’s Formula 1 championship-dominating cars. It produces 992bhp, has a top speed of 217mph and can hit 124mph in just six seconds.
Four electric motors give the plug-in hypercar four-wheel-drive and an electric range of 16 miles. However, much like the Porsche 918 and McLaren P1 that went before it, most of the electric power will be used to boost performance. All this comes at a price – £2m at current exchange rates. Before you rush for your cheque book, though, calm the excitement – they’re all sold out.
Nissan Leaf
It was the car that arguably took EVs mainstream – now, as the rest of the motoring industry unveils its EV future, Nissan is busy taking the wraps off its second-generation Leaf. Unveiled in Japan in October, the new Leaf will feature ProPilot autonomous tech which can drive the car in single-lane traffic and park for you.
Built at the Japanese firm’s UK factory in Sunderland, the new car features a fresh look and a range of 235 miles. That’s 111 miles more than the 24kW base version of the outgoing car and beats the current top-of-the-range 30kW model by 80 miles.
Jaguar E-Type Zero
Meet the most beautiful electric car yet to be made – the Jaguar E-Type Zero.
It’s based on an original chassis built in the 1960s, but rather than a straight-six engine and barebones technology, it features an electric motor, a smart infotainment system and LED headlights.
Sacrilege, you may cry. But do bear in mind it’s faster than the original too, with a 0-60mph time of just 5.3 seconds, all while boasting an impressive real-world range of 170 miles. Still too much? Well, Jaguar says the electric components have been built to fit exactly where the original internals did, meaning it can be reverted to its usual spec at any time.
The Coventry-based firm is said to be currently investigating ways to bring the model to market.
BMW i Vision Dynamics
BMW has released an electric saloon concept which previews a forthcoming i5 saloon – which would sit neatly between the i3 hatch and i8 sports car. The i Vision Dynamics is a four-door concept, with a body style similar to its Gran Coupe model.
BMW claims it has a range of 373 miles, a top speed of over 120mph and a 0-60mph time of 3.8 seconds.
By 2025, the German manufacturer will have electrified 25 models in its range, 12 of these being fully electric. The i5 is expected to reach showrooms by 2021.