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What’s New With Electric Vehicles for 2021?

ford mustang mach e 2021 02 angle dynamic exterior front red wheel oem jpg 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E | Manufacturer image

Automakers have promised for years that they would soon unleash a flood of battery-electric vehicles. That’s happening now, though it’s still a steady flow more than a gush of new models. EVs are moving from novelty status to mainstream in the 2021 model year as more manufacturers jump into territory that has been dominated by Tesla, and they include the types of vehicles that Americans crave: SUVs and pickup trucks. Rest assured that more are on the way.

Related: Should I Buy an Electric Car or Plug-In Hybrid?

Here are the new EVs on sale for the 2021 model year and some that are scheduled to debut during the year as 2022 models:

BMW i4

img1785669038 1553703108027 jpg BMW iNext (left) and i4 electric vehicles | Manufacturer image

Based on the 3 Series sedan, the i4 is due later in 2021 and was unveiled as a concept. BMW says the production version will have a range of around 270 miles, more than 500 horsepower and a 0-60-mph time of 4.0 seconds.

Another coming attraction from BMW, as a 2022 model: the iX compact SUV, also with a range of more than 300 miles and around 500 hp.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

ford mustang mach e 2021 04 dynamic  exterior  rear angle  red  wheel oem jpg 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E | Manufacturer image

Ford has taken its iconic sports coupe in a direction few even imagined just a few years ago. The all-electric Mach-E is a small SUV available with rear- or all-wheel drive and in versions with 266, 290, 346 or 480 hp and driving ranges from 210 to 300 miles. 

For 2022, Ford plans to give another iconic model, the F-150 pickup, full electric power.

GMC Hummer EV

gmc hummer ev 2022 01 oem jpg 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 | Manufacturer image

Due in late 2021, the Hummer EV will take pickup capabilities — and prices — to the extreme. Horsepower ratings will run from 625 to 1,000, depending on model, and the driving range for the initial model, the Edition 1, will top out at about 350 miles. Available features will include four-wheel steering and Crab Walk, which will allow the truck to move diagonally at low speed. The Edition 1 will start at $112,595 (including destination). Cheaper models will arrive over the following three years, but GMC says the bottom rung will be $79,995.

Mercedes-Benz EQC400

05 mercedes benz eqc 2020 angle  dynamic  exterior  front  trees  white jpg 2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC | Manufacturer image

This compact SUV was supposed to arrive as a 2020 model but was pushed back to the 2021 model year. Mercedes says it will have dual electric motors, 402 hp, all-wheel drive and a 0-60 time of 4.8 seconds. The automaker still hasn’t said what the driving range will be as of this writing, and the EQC has not yet received a mileage rating from the EPA.

Nissan Ariya

nissan ariya 2021 01 oem jpg 2021 Nissan Ariya | Manufacturer image

Due to arrive near the end of this year as a 2022 model, the Ariya is a compact SUV about the size of the Rogue that will be available with front- or all-wheel drive. Front-drive models will have a single electric motor and a 65-kilowatt-hour battery, and the AWD models will have two motors and a 90-kwh battery with a range of up to 300 miles.

Nissan says the front-drive Ariya will have a starting price around $40,000 before federal tax incentives.

Polestar 2

polestar 2 2021 12 angle  blue  exterior  rear jpg 2021 Polestar 2 | Cars.com photo by Aaron Bragman

Polestar is Volvo’s performance electric brand, and the Polestar 2 is its first fully electric model. It was preceded by the 2020 Polestar 1 coupe, a plug-in hybrid. This luxury sedan has all-wheel drive, 408 system hp, a driving range of 233 miles and a starting price of $61,200 (including destination).

Rivian R1T and R1S

img 1875600718 1543600894092 jpg 2020 Rivian R1S | Cars.com photo by Mark Williams

Rivian is an EV startup based in the Detroit area that says it will launch an electric pickup, the R1T, in June with a range of more than 300 miles and a starting price of $67,500. An SUV called the R1S is set to follow in August.

The crew-cab body style of the R1T fits between full-size and midsize pickups. Features will include four electric motors, all-wheel drive and an air suspension. Rivian says it will add a 400-mile range version in January 2022 (the EPA has not certified the range of either Rivian vehicle). 

The R1S will have seats for seven, up to 108 cubic feet of cargo space and a range of more than 300 miles. Prices will start at $70,000 at launch.

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Tesla Cybertruck

tesla cybertruck exterior dynamic desert silver 02 jpg Tesla Cybertruck | Manufacturer image

Leave it to Elon Musk to up the ante on electric pickups. The stainless steel Cybertruck looks like a prop from “Blade Runner,” and Tesla claims the most powerful version will hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. As with everything Musk does, however, the Cybertruck’s specs and arrival are fluid: The original schedule called for the pickup to be on sale by the end of 2021, but that now might only be when production starts.

Tesla says there will be single-, two- and three-motor models, and the driving range will be between 250 and 500 miles. Payload capacity will top out at 3,500 pounds and towing capacity at 14,000 pounds.

Volkswagen ID.4

2021 volkswagen id 4 oem 12 blue  exterior  front  grille  headlights jpg 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 | Manufacturer image

The ID.4 is a rear-drive small SUV with seats for five and conventional styling that gives few clues that it’s an EV. It’s powered by a 201-hp electric motor and has a range of 250 miles. Prices start at $41,190 with destination. A 302-hp version with all-wheel drive is coming, though VW hasn’t said what the range will be.

Volvo XC40 Recharge

volvo xc40 recharge 2021 01 angle  black  exterior  front  white jpg 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge | Manufacturer image

Volvo is moving to a totally electrified lineup, and the XC40 Recharge is the brand’s first fully electric model (others will follow under the Recharge label). The XC40 EV is a compact SUV (derived from the gas-powered XC40) with a 402-hp motor, all-wheel drive and a driving range of 208 miles. Base price is $55,085.

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Rick Popely
Contributor Rick Popely has covered the auto industry for decades and hosts a weekly online radio show on TalkZone.com.
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