Electric vehicle lovers are everywhere, including Europe. As one of the biggest and most developed markets for battery-powered cars, EV makers are paying close attention and trying to grab as much market share as possible, thus in this article you can dig into the 2022 EV models in Europe.
There is no reason for the electric vehicle market in Europe not to grow, as many governments are actively pushing for the adoption of electric vehicles. For example, the UK government has announced that it is banning the sale of new light-duty internal combustion engine vehicles from 2030, with hybrid electric cars to follow in 2035. In Norway, ICE vehicles face a more imminent end as the Nordic nation has a ban taking effect from 2025. Even before the ban, the number of new EV registration has surpassed ICE in the country.
As more electric makers jostle for a share of the electric vehicle market, the competition is only heating up to the benefit of the buyers that now have unlimited options to select from. New startups are leading the charge to make the ICE car an endangered species, with Tesla leading the pack. The American EV maker is so serious about securing Europe for itself that it is building a new plant in Berlin, Germany, to serve the market. Its Model 3, the most affordable car on its roster, has become the best-selling EV in the continent and the rest of the world. However, its Berlin plant will start production with the Model Y, another model enjoying incredible sales. It will use Tesla’s new 4680 battery.
Tesla will be competing with another EV startup, notably from China. XPeng already sells the crossover G3 in Europe, boasting 520 km or 401 km (both are NEDC estimates) depending on the trim selected and 145 kW from the front-mounted electric motor. This model will soon be joined by the P5 already selling in China for the equivalent of €21,500 (£18,251). At the lowest trim, the P5 will deliver a range of 460 km.
NIO, another Chinese EV startup is not left out of the European party as it will be in at least six countries by 2022. Its first stop outside China has been Norway, where it is already making deliveries of its large ES8 SUV with at least 400 km range according to the WLTP cycle. Its second car, the ET7, will start selling in 2022 with a 1,000 km range. To combat the problem of long charging times, NIO proposes battery swapping, which involves taking out spent batteries and replacing them with fully charged ones.
Based in Germany, Sono Motors will also try to win the hearts and purses of electric vehicle lovers with its Sion utilitarian car that can harvest energy from the sun with embedded solar panels for an affordable price of under €26,300 (£22,326) before subsidies.
The old guard is not ceding the market easily to the new entrants, however, as they are fighting back by announcing their own plans to transition to making purely electric vehicles. Volkswagen or VW, for instance, plans to beat Tesla by building a modern EV plant within its iconic B facility. It already has well-received EVs like the VW ID 4. Its ID.Buzz that generated lots of positive attention will also become a real product due next year. Across VW’s several brands, the Skoda Enyaq is also getting many positive reviews.
Mercedes-Benz, the purveyor of luxury cars that usually carry high price tags, will also sell its own EQS series. One of its biggest selling points is the side-to-side screen named the Hyperscreen that offers three different screen areas. Also proving Mercedes-Benz’s mettle as an experienced carmaker, the EQS will be upgraded in 2022 to hands-free Level 3 tech in its home country, meaning drivers can allow the car to drive itself but must be prepared to take over if necessary.
Rounding up the big German trio is BMW, which is unleashing the i4 electric sedan in 2022. It is a four-door model that competes with the Polestar 2 from Volvo’s sub-brand and the Tesla Model 3.
Countless other European brands will or already have EVs on sale in Europe, including Renault and Peugeot. There is also the possibility that American brands like Ford and GM will export their battery-powered vehicles to the continent.
The next few years will be interesting for EVs in Europe.
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