Electric cars are now a must in a manufacturer’s line-up, and as these eco-friendly vehicles become the norm rather than a look into future, some marques are now looking to make cars as exciting as they are sustainable.
With the Geneva Motor Show fresh in the minds of motorists and the motor industry alike, let’s take a look at the most promising electric cars of the near future, from 200mph supercars to retro-style hatchbacks.
Peugeot e-208
Announced in tandem with the second-generation 208, this EV supermini is set to boast a 211-mile range and 134bhp. The e-208 is the first in a series of all-electric Peugeot variants, and given it is to share PSA’s CMP platform with the upcoming Vauxhall Corsa, it provides a good idea of what the upcoming e-Corsa will be too.
Pininfarina Battista
The famous Pininfarina design house is going into business for itself, and it seems intent on hitting the high notes early on in its solo career.
The Battista hypercar is set to be the most powerful production road car ever, delivering 1874bhp via an electric powertrain that shares its basic architecture with the upcoming Rimac C_Two; the similarity between the pair of projects is said to be less than 50 per cent.
With almost 1700Nm of torque, a sub-two second 0-60 time and, so far, we know the top speed will be more than 217mph, this could be one of the most spectacular cars – electric or otherwise – to hit the road to date.
Honda e Prototype
If you want to endear your electric car to the masses, sprinkling some retro styling on it seems to be a good strategy.
Harking back to the original Civic from a styling perspective, the as-yet-unnamed prototype is set to have a 120-mile range.
While this car is not quite the final offering, it is being touted as extremely close to what will ultimately enter production; expect the final product to be launched before the end of the year.
Polestar 2
Volvo’s performance-turned-electric subsidiary has revealed its second standalone car, which looks to merge the selling points of saloon, sports and SUV. Aiming to the line of performance and sustainability, Polestar has even gone to the effort of making interior materials vegan-friendly.
The all-wheel drive Polestar 2 is to receive 402bhp and a range of 275 miles.
Seat el-Born
Set for a 2020 debut, the el-Born is Seat’s answer to its parent firm’s upcoming I.D. – with which it will share a platform. A 260-mile range is being touted for the el-Born, alongside a 202bhp power output and the ability to fast charge from flat to 80 per cent in 47 minutes.
Like many Seat products, the el-Born looks somewhat sportier than those it is to compete with, notably because of its 20-inch wheels and boot spoiler.
Volkswagen ID. Buggy
Certainly, few electric cars are going to be as fun as this.
Harking back to the Beetle-based buggies that epitomised the 1960s California surf scene, this concept is mooted as having a 155-mile range and 201bhp, which sounds like a lot in a vehicle with no doors.
The ID. Buggy is not confirmed for production, but Volkswagen is refusing to rule it out, with some speculation suggesting that a third-party firm could be licensed to produce the MEB platform-based beach toy.
Lagonda All-Terrain Concept
The revival of Lagonda as an electric off-shoot of Aston Martin looks to be gaining steam.
Following on from the Vision Concept debuted at Geneva in 2018, the sub-brand returned with a more SUV-centric version this year. While it is still rather far from a genuine production example, it seems as though the general design language on display here will be the basis for the first production car from the new Lagonda, which is set to arrive in 2022.
Audi Q4 e-tron
Following on from the Q7-sized offering that was Audi’s first electric car – simply dubbed ‘e-tron’ – the Q4 e-tron concept has now been revealed.
Part of the eventual 12-car electric line-up Audi is aiming to have on sale by 2025, the Q4 is to have a 280-mile range and 302bhp.
With few deviations from Audi’s traditional styling regime, the Q4 e-tron concept is all but certain to be an honest interpretation of the production car to follow.
Fiat Centoventi
Another retro-styled supermini was the Fiat Centoventi, a car echoing past generations of the Panda from a styling perspective, and doing so with good reason.
While many cars on this list aim to push the limits of electric vehicles, be it in terms of range or performance, the Centoventi looks to bring electric propulsion to the masses, just as the car it takes inspiration did for mobility overall.
The Centoventi is going to form the basis of a production vehicle – expected to be the next Panda – within the next three years.