The plug-ins are coming. Will anyone buy them?
Tesla's electric vehicles, plus the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt make up a tiny fraction of U.S. light-vehicle sales. But they'll have plenty of competition in the next two years, with more than 60 electric and plug-in hybrid models slated to reach dealerships through 2020.
Ford Motor Co. is making a serious push into electrified vehicles, committing to spend $11 billion on a product blitz beginning with a Mustang-inspired crossover EV due in 2020. It seeks to have 40 hybrids and EVs on the market by 2022.
General Motors, meanwhile, has laid out plans for more than 20 EVs globally by 2023. Nissan plans to launch eight new EVs by early 2023 and electrify most of Infiniti's lineup starting in 2021.
Plenty of startups are trying to horn in on the fledgling EV market as well. Faraday Future seeks to begin production of an ultraluxury EV early next year, and Lucid Motors last month secured a $1 billion investment from Saudi Arabia to help make a 1,000-hp car with a 400-mile range a reality in 2020.
Here are nearly 100 plug-in vehicles that Automotive News has reported to be in the product pipeline and expected to debut through 2022.
Audi Q8: The new five-seat crossover sportback appearing in U.S. dealerships late this year will offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain. It's likely to be freshened in 2022.
Hyundai Kona: The brand's first "cute ute" hit stores in the first quarter. An electric version will get a targeted rollout in the fourth quarter, looking slightly different from its gasoline counterpart. Instead of using Hyundai's cascading grille, the electric Kona gets a closed-up front with a debossed design. A freshening of both versions may happen in 2021.
Jaguar I-Pace: The luxury crossover EV lands in showrooms in November. Waymo has ordered 20,000 for its self-driving fleet. It has a 0 to 60 mph time of less than 5 seconds, off-road capability and a range of nearly 240 miles on a charge. A higher-performance version is rumored for around 2021.
Subaru Crosstrek: Subaru's increasingly popular subcompact crossover will be available as a plug-in hybrid for the 2019 model year. It will feature partner Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid system combined with Subaru's four-cylinder, direct-injection boxer engine, all-wheel drive and a new transmission. It will also have unique styling, Subaru says. The Japan-made vehicle, expected to debut next month at the Los Angeles auto show and go on sale by year end, initially will be sold only in U.S. states that have adopted California's zero-emission vehicle regulations.
Volvo S60: The revamped S60 will be available this year with a range of four-cylinder gasoline engines as well as two versions of its gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain and a diesel engine.
Aston Martin Rapide E: Aston will turn its four-door model into an EV. The Rapide E is set to launch by the end of 2019 with just 155 units planned. The company has not released performance data or prices for the Rapide E, but CEO Andy Palmer has said the car will cost around $260,000.
Audi A6/S6: The sedans are due to be redesigned in 2019, and an e-tron plug-in hybrid version is expected to be available in the U.S.
Audi e-tron: The awd crossover EV will go on sale in 2019 in the U.S. to lead Audi's bid to capture EV market share in the premium segment. Audi says the e-tron, which is similar in size to a Q7, will have a range of nearly 250 miles from its 95-kilowatt-hour battery and start at $75,795 for the base trim. The e-tron Sportback, with a more raked rear roofline, will arrive in late 2019, followed by a four-door GT version.
