While there are plenty of headlines about the big carmakers rolling back on the “we’re going all-EV by the end of the decade” promises, the fact is there’s a huge number of new electric cars that are going to hit the market in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe very soon. Here’s what’s coming up …
Quite apart from launching the new Chinese brand, Leapmotor, to the Irish market, the vast Stellantis Group (Peugeot, Citroen, Opel, Fiat, Jeep, Alfa Romeo etc …) is on the cusp of a huge new line-up of very high-tech EVs, some of which come with ranges that would have been pure science fiction not so long ago.
For family buyers seeking a green stripe on their 261 number plate, the Peugeot e5008 offers up to seven seats and an official electric range of over 500km.
Then coming next year is the new DS No 8, a luxury French SUV-coupe with more than a hint of Rolls-Royce about it, and boasting a potential 750km range for the big-battery 98kWh model.
RM Block
That same long-range platform will also be used by the new Citroen e-C5 Aircross and Jeep Compass SUVs, which stand at opposite theoretical ends of the family SUV and rugged off-roader azimuth, but both of which should be able to cover at least 550km even on their smaller 73kWh batteries.
The there’s the tantalising prospect of Alfa Romeo’s next-generation Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV, both of which will get hybrid petrol versions but also long-range EV models, and massively powerful electric four-wheel drive Quadrifoglio versions. Still want that Porsche Taycan?
At the cheaper end of the scale, Fiat will shortly put the gorgeous new electric Grande Panda on sale in Ireland (which should definitely be high up your electric shopping list) while Peugeot has a powerful 280hp 208 e-GTI on the way, and Opel has a similarly powerful Mokka crossover in sporty GSE form.
Electric cars are starting to break away from the everything-has-to-be-an-SUV thing too, with Kia’s new EV4 arriving just about now with a 600km range, and a choice of conventional hatchback or striking fastback bodies.
Volvo too is going to bring along an electric saloon, but the new ES90 – also capable of more than 600km – is going to be rather more expensive than the Kia.
Then there is the BYD Atto2, a compact crossover which will give the Toyota Yaris Cross hybrid a thing or two to think about, and which, like the newly arrived BYD Dolphin Surf, will be really sharply priced.
Much less sharply priced, but way more gorgeous and exciting is the coupe version of the MG Cyberster sports car, the Cyberster GTS.
Smart will be expanding its line-up – literally – with the massive new #5, a large all-electric SUV that includes a sporty Brabus version packing 646hp.
While the #5 is fast, but not actually all that sporty to drive, the new Alpine A390 should be both – it combines three electric motors for blistering performance, but with (hopefully) the kind of sweet, engaging driving experience that we’ve seen in Alpine’s other models.
Of course, if its range you want, turn to the Germans. You can already order BMW’s high-tech new iX3 SUV, which uses its next-generation Neue Klasse electric car platform, and which has a claimed range of 805km.
Mercedes can’t quote match that, but the incoming new GLC EQ can still manage a claimed 713km in one go, and has an optional full-width one-metre touchscreen (the replacement cost for which doesn’t bear thinking about).
Having launched the EV4 hatchback, Kia’s next big electric model will be the EV5 SUV, which you can think of as an electric Sportage, and given the huge success of both the regular Sportage and Kia’s long-range EV6 and compact EV3, we’d expect this to become one of Ireland’s bestselling EVs in pretty short order.
Meanwhile, Leapmotor – a Chinese brand which just arrived in Ireland with the ultra-affordable T03 EV city car and the larger, more luxurious C10 SUV – will be quickly expanding its line-up with the B05 hatchback and a roomy B10 SUV, which will be a rival to the likes of that same Kia EV5.
Toyota is also fast expanding its EV offering, and having just updated the bz4X with more range and an upgraded cabin, will be adding to the fleet with a new bz4X Touring (a larger, longer, roomier bz4X basically), a compact Urban Cruiser (which shares its structure and batteries with the new Suzuki e-Vitara), and the new long-range C-HR+ as well as a much-improved Lexus RZ electric SUV, and an all-new Lexus ES saloon which will become the brand’s first low-slung EV.
If it’s power you want, Polestar is on the cusp of launching its Polestar 5, which gets a big battery, two electric motors and more than 900hp. Not enough? Don’t worry, Porsche has an all-electric Cayenne SUV about to go on sale with as much as 1,100hp for the top-spec Turbo S model.
If that’s all a bit too much for you, Nissan has just shown off its all-electric Micra alongside the sleek new Nissan Leaf, which looks set to offer an almost ideal combination of space, quality and a 600km driving range.
At the recent Munich motor show, Volkswagen Group showed its hand when it comes to compact, affordable EV models with both Cupra (the Raval) and Skoda (the Epiq) showing up with compact urban crossovers boasting a 400km+ range and sub-€30,000 price tags, which will be joined in due course by a VW equivalent called the ID.Cross.
Skoda has more EVs on the way too, with a large seven-seat electric rival to the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and a dramatic-looking (if the concept is anything to go by) all-battery Octavia estate, although that car probably won’t arrive until 2028 at the earliest.
Speaking of Hyundai, it has a cute and sleek new Ioniq 3 hatchback on the way, as well as an ultra-fast Ioniq 6 N version of its sleek EV saloon.
Big, small, cheap, pricey, long range, short range, fast, slow – whatever your budget, and whatever your taste, in the next year or two, there will almost certainly be a new electric car that’s right for you.
