A few decades ago, electric vehicles were inaccessible to the public. But today, they’re a viable option for more and more people and companies. Most modern automotive manufacturers are currently working to create some form of an electric vehicle model.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the largest manufacturers to see how they’re approaching EVs and when you might get your hands on one.
BMW
BMW is a brand that most drivers associate with luxury and innovation — but not generally one that gets lumped in with Ford and Tesla when talking about electric cars. That’s slowly changing, as BMW has a plan to get 25 electrified models on the road by 2023. This doesn’t mean they’re planning to go fully electric, though several EVs are in the works.
BMW dipped its toes in the EV trend in 2013 by introducing of the i3 and i8 plug-in hybrids. These have evolved over the years, with the i3 shifting to a fully electric engine while the i8 sports car remained a plug-in hybrid.
With only two years left before BMW’s planned goal, it remains to be seen how many electric and hybrid vehicles we’ll see roll off assembly lines in the future.
We’ll likely see more plug-in hybrids to start, with the brand making the transition to a full roster of electric vehicles in the years ahead. At this point, it’s easier to convert to a hybrid assembly model than it is to convert to a fully electric one.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet is no stranger to the electric car market since introducing the Chevy Volt back in 2007. The brand has moved in and out of the EV market, creating cars like the Volt for a few years before dropping them and moving on to something else.
In 2019, the brand surprised us with the new mid-engine C8 Corvette — something Corvette fans had been waiting for decades. In 2020, they surprised us again, this time with rumors that they might be working on converting that Corvette into a fully electric vehicle.
It may be a while before it rolls off the assembly line, with all indicators pointing toward 2023 as the targeted model year. But the fact that Chevy is willing to take one of their flagship sports cars and turn it into an EV is promising for the EV market.
Ford
2021 is a great time to be a Mustang fan with interest in EVs. Ford is moving into the electric vehicle revolution with the Mustang Mach-E — but it doesn’t look like the muscle car you’re used to seeing. The Mach-E is actually an SUV, despite carrying a title usually reserved for smaller sports cars. It even shares the Mach title that usually belongs to Mach 1 sports cars.
It might not have the power you expect from a Ford SUV, but it’s still an accessible and affordable entry into the EV game. It’s so affordable that it’s expected to cut into Tesla’s market dominance, directly competing with the Model X and Model Y SUVs.
For the European market, Ford is committed to converting its entire product line to electric vehicles by 2026. They’re currently investing $1 billion in their vehicle assembly facility in Cologne, Germany, to stay in line with their EV goals.
Looking Forward
Eventually, we may reach a point where electric vehicles are more common than gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles, but it will be some time before we meet that goal.
Meanwhile, it’s a race to see which manufacturers will dominate the EV market in the coming years. We can’t wait to see if someone manages to steal Tesla’s thunder.
Martin Banks is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Modded. He covers the world of cars, driving, tech, and more.
