The Future of Electric Cars 2025: Electric vehicles (EVs) not only own the fast lane with Porsche and Tesla whooshing by, but EVs are also going to be a common sight on backroads and rugged terrain. Ford, Chevy, Hummer, Tesla, and the upscale Rivian are among the car manufacturers seeking to cash in on the massive SUV and pickup truck market with new electric models.

The introduction of heavy-duty EVs is turning pickup truck loyalists into “accidental environmentalists,” judging from the volume of preorders and interest in soon-to-be-released models. Simply put, the future of electric vehicles is bright and broad.

Buyers are captivated. There are hundreds of thousands of preorders for the Hummer EV, Rivian’s electric pickup truck, and the futuristic Tesla’s Cybertruck, which looks like it has bounded out of a video game. But what has main street buzzing are the electric versions of the Ford F-150, due for release in Spring 2022, and Chevy Silverado pickup trucks.

Large vehicles are the most lucrative U.S. auto segment. SUVs and crossovers accounted for half of all vehicles sold in the U.S. for the first time in 2020, and pickup trucks captured an additional 20 percent of the U.S. auto market.

The Future of Electric Cars 2025

While questions about electric vehicles and their ability to serve mainstream consumers remain, there’s no denying the automotive industry’s increasing focus on electrification and the inevitable crossover from internal combustion to electricity as the powertrain of choice. This doesn’t mean we’ll all be driving electric models next month, next year, or even next decade. But government regulations from countries like China and the U.S., as well as localized requirements across cities in Europe and states like California, are forcing every automaker to plan for a fully electric future.

In the near term we’ll likely see an uptick in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, as these can offer zero-emission, all-electric driving for between 10 and 60 miles of range, and high EPA efficiency ratings; all while still providing a long range solution for owners that don’t want to deal with EV chargers on an extended road trip. But PHEVs aren’t fully electric, so they don’t get the latest EV tax credits just enacted by congress and they ultimately won’t be legal to sell in several markets by the mid-2030s. To bridge this gap, and save money, several automakers have designed modular platforms allowing both hybrid and electric versions of a vehicle to be built on the same chassis.

The Future of Electric Cars: Battery Technology is Key

Battery performance is key to the electric vehicle experience, from driving range and charging time to the car’s lifetime. According to Stanford University, artificial intelligence has made recharging an EV in the time it takes to stop at a gas station a more likely reality. Stanford developed a machine learning program that is reducing battery testing times by 98 percent. Before, new battery technologies had to be tested for months or years to determine how long they would last.

The new SUVs and pickups feature a long battery range, high-towing capacity, and all the extras typical of mid range luxury vehicles. For example, Ford’s all-electric F-150 Lightning has a targeted EPA-estimated range of 300 miles. Chevy’s electric Silverado claims 400 miles.

Costs are Equalizing

The Wall Street Journal speculated that many people would switch to an electric vehicle to save money once the total cost of owning an electric vehicle is lower than a comparable gasoline-powered one. Consumer Reports asserted that the price in the U.S. has already crossed that threshold, while Car and Driver says federal tax credits play a significant role.

A basic Ford F-150 Lightning EV will cost about US$42,000, and the XLT will be around US$55,000. The starting price for a Rivian is US$67,500, Tesla’s Cybertruck is US$39,900, and the GMC Hummer is US$79,995. Of course, options and other charges can change these figures substantially.

Charging Infrastructure has to Keep Pace

Building charging infrastructure has been a “chicken or the egg” question regarding expanding beyond fleet vehicles, which return to a central location to recharge. But there are signs that public charging stations are becoming more plentiful. A report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory said during the first three months of 2020, public electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) grew 7.6 percent. Of that, direct-current fast chargers, which enable rapid battery charging, expanded by 10.6 percent. California was one of the national leaders in this expansion, growing its charging infrastructure by 9 percent.

But it’s still not enough to meet anticipated EV demand. According to a recent article in Forbes, a lack of charging infrastructure could limit EV adoption, stalling the future of electric vehicles.

There are 3 Different Types of Charging Stations

Level 1, Level 2, and DC fast chargers (DCFC).

• Level 1 chargers are the slowest. They use a 120V AC outlet (in the U.S.) to add around 2-5 miles of range per hour of charging.
• Level 2 chargers use a 240V AC outlet and add about 10-60 miles of range per hour of charging.
• DCFCs are 480V DC and can add around 180-240 miles of range for each hour of charging.

Currently, 80 percent of EV drivers in the U.S. charge their cars at home, typically using either Level 1 or 2 chargers. But as demand grows for EVs, especially for those not living in single-family homes, public charging station networks will need to expand.

Utilities Shepherd Charging Expansion

Utilities are going to play an active role in EV charger expansion and the future of electric vehicles. Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Charge Ready Program helps business and property owners deploy the infrastructure and equipment for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in multifamily buildings, the public sector, and business locations. This program provides financial incentives, infrastructure, and technical support. Last year, the pilot made significant progress, obtaining 1,360 MW of energy storage and installing 1,442 new vehicle charging ports in 2020.

This year, Charge Ready received a considerable boost from the California Public Utility Commission, which approved $436 million to support the installation of 38,000 charging ports over the next four years. The initiative supports the state’s ambitious sustainability goals and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order to have all vehicles sold in the state be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

According to EV Connect, SCE’s Charge Ready aims to install 50 percent of the chargers in state-designated disadvantaged communities. As EVs become more affordable — the Tesla Model 3 is less than $40,000, and the Toyota plug-in Prius is less than $30,000 — every community will need charging stations.

A Powerful Career Advancement Opportunity

The growth of home charging stations, batteries, and clean vehicle technology present a wealth of opportunities for professionals skilled in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Simplilearn offers professionals an avenue to upskill their talents with its Applied Machine Learning Certification Program with Purdue University. It provides insights into data science and machine learning. The course content includes data analytics, Python, data wrangling, feature engineering, feature selection, statistics, time series modeling, supervised and unsupervised learning, recommendation systems, ensemble learning, and decision tree and random forest.

Shifting Gears to Electric Vehicles

Automakers are preparing to phase out cars powered solely by internal combustion engines (ICEs) as governments look to tackle fuel emissions. The growth in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is climbing and by 2025, EVs and HEVs will account for an estimated 30% of all vehicle sales. Comparatively, in 2016 just under 1 million vehicles or 1% of global auto sales came from plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs).

This will rise close to 8.4 million vehicles or a 7.7% market share. While this jump is significant, it doesn’t compare to the kind of growth expected in HEVs – cars that combine a fuel engine with electric elements. This sector is forecast to swell from just 3% of global market share to more than 25 million vehicles or 23% of global sales over the same period.1 This leaves pure-ICE vehicles with around 70% of the market share in 2025, with this falling to around 40% by 2030, predominantly in emerging markets.

For both North America and Europe, hybrids and BEVs are set to lead over the next decade as plug-in hybrids are not proving too popular in either region. In Europe, plug-in electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) will rise from roughly a 2% share of total new sales in 2017 to around 9% by 2025, nearly eclipsing 1.5 million vehicles by the middle of the next decade. A dramatic move away from ICE-only vehicles is expected and by 2025 only plug-in electric vehicles and HEVs will likely be sold.

Over that time period sales of plug-in electric vehicles in Japan and Korea will reach 384,000 vehicles, representing a market share of 6%, while HEVs will approach 1.8 million vehicles or 27% of total sales. Meanwhile in the U.S., tougher fuel economy regulation will likely push automakers to expand their EV offerings, but not with the same degree of urgency as in Europe, where there are looming carbon dioxide emissions targets and fines. Nevertheless, overall EV sales – including BEV, PHEV and hybrids – are estimated to account for over 38% of total sales in 2025.

The power of electricity

For some people, the most important reason to buy an EV is environmental. Carbon emissions from electric vehicles are around 30% lower than petrol or diesel competitors – even if the electricity used to power them is produced from fossil fuels.

And as countries continue to green their electricity supply through renewable energy, electric vehicles will only get cleaner and greener – perhaps as much as 90% less carbon-intensive than petrol models.

Health impacts are important too, especially in dense urban environments where air pollution from traffic is becoming a real concern for many residents. Exhaust emissions from fossil fuel transport cause 53,000 premature deaths per year in the US alone, and are especially harmful to children, the elderly, and low-income communities.

But for most, the biggest argument for going electric will be price. And here’s where electric cars start to stack up serious advantages for the cost-savvy consumer.

Saving Money Saving The Planet

For starters, fully electric vehicles are exempt from road tax in the UK, and don’t have to pay congestion or emission charges currently in place in London and being considered for many other towns and even some motorways in the next few years.

 

EVs are mechanically much simpler machines than internal combustion engines, meaning their service & maintenance costs are roughly half those of a petrol car. EVs retain more of their value over time, with healthy second-hand markets meaning a used Nissan Leaf has actually risen in value by 20% in the past 12 months.

But the biggest factor is fuel cost. Go Ultra Low claims that a full charge could cost as little as £3, working out at approximately 3p per mile, compared to about 13p per mile for the average petrol car – more than four times as expensive. Over the lifespan of a car, this difference could save drivers tens of thousands of pounds.

 

Of course, EVs are currently more expensive to buy up-front than traditional fossil fuel vehicles. But with major manufacturers piling into mass production, battery technology improving all the time, and governments keen to encourage uptake through subsidies and grants, costs are expected to keep on falling.

We’ve seen a major uptick in new car EV offerings from traditional brands over the past 2 years, including models from Ford (Mustang Mach E), General Motors (Cadillac Lyriq), Hyundai (Ioniq 5), Mercedes-Benz (EQS), and Porsche (Taycan). We’ve also seen startups like Lucid (Air) and Rivian (R1T) release their first production models, while both traditional and start-up brands  assure us more are on the way.

Let’s take a look at what the next 12-24 months looks like for future electric cars.

Acura Precision EV

That name may or may not hold for the production car, but Acura just showed an all-electric SUV concept that previews a soon-to-arrive production model. Likely borrowing its platform from parent company’s Honda Prologue (see below) Acura’s first electric vehicle is set to launch.

Audi Q6 e-Tron

Following up on its recently released Q4 e-Tron, Audi will release the 2024 Q6 e-Tron in two body styles, extending the brand’s electric SUV offering with a larger, more luxurious model featuring Audi’s trademark exterior and interior styling (which we quite like).

Audi Sphere Concepts

If the Q6 e-Tron is still too traditional for your tech-oriented eyes, Audi has released three “Sphere” concepts over the past year, and all of them look pulled from a Buck Rogers movie set. We really like the SkySphere and GrandSphere, and Audi has suggested a production version is coming…

BMW i7

As a follow up to its entry-level i4 models, BMW is planning a full-fledged, no-compromises luxury sedan with its upcoming i7. Expect all of BMW’s latest interior and driver assist tech…along with all of its most aggressive front-end styling.

Chevrolet Silverado

Chevrolet will launch its first electric pickup next year, riding on GM’s Ultium platform (also used by the Hummer EV) while offering all-wheel drive and up to 400 miles of driving range. The Silverado looks good on paper and should give Ford’s F-150 Lightning some competition.

Fisker Ocean

Henrik Fisker has proven, repeatedly, he can design a beautiful car. He’s also proven (at least once) he can’t launch a successful car company. But he’s at it again with the Fisker Ocean, a sleek electric SUV that is supposed to be built by Magna in Austria and arrive soon.

Ford E-Transit Van

Promising lower maintenance, an on-board power supply (to run worksite equipment), and multiple configurations, Ford’s new E-Transit van is an all-electric cargo hauler for business or personal use. But be wary of your route distance – they top out at 116 miles of range.

Genesis G80 and GV70

Genesis has a proven track record of appealing style, advanced tech, and high-quality materials. And it’s already launched the all-electric GV70 crossover. Next up: electric versions of the brand’s sleek G80 sedan and GV70 SUV.

Honda Prologue

Honda hasn’t done much in the all-electric world. Yet. But the 2024 Prologue is meant to change all that with a fully electric SUV. Honda claims it will offer a range on par with its conventional SUVs and it will have a long wheelbase to maximize interior space.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Hyundai is taking a different approach with its next EV. Rather than the utilitarian hatchback shape of the Ioniq 5, the 2023 Ioniq 6 will be a streamlined sedan with premium styling cues inside and out. It will come with a single or dual motor drivetrain, and have a range up to 379 miles.

Hyundai Ioniq 7

If the sleek looks of the Ioniq 6 don’t appeal to you, the 2024 Ioniq 7 will go the complete opposite direction. An upright, boxy utility device meant to offer a maximum (and high tech) interior space, the 7 should have a 300-plus-mile range.

Jeep Wrangler EV

The success of Jeep’s hybrid 4xe models has confirmed a ready and willingness for Jeep buyers to go all electric. It makes sense when one considers the instant torque that comes from an electric motor and how it aids four-wheel-drive endeavors when off roading.

Kia EV6 GT

This is basically a sports car version of the EV6, so it looks almost identical but it has waaaaaay more horsepower (577!) and accelerates to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 161 mph. Did we mention it was fast? Because it’s fast. Really fast.

Kia EV 9

If you think the EV9 is just Kia’s version of the Hyundai Ioniq 7…well…you’re right. But electric vehicles are expensive to produce and sell, so saving money by spinning two models off one nearly-identical chassis is smart business. Plus the EV9 looks even cooler than the Ioniq 7.

Lexus RZ450e

Was it time for an electric version of Lexus’ perpetual top-selling RX? Maybe past time? Well her it comes, riding on the same platform as Toyota’s bZ4x and the Subaru Solterra. Advanced all-wheel drive (AWD) and interior controls should give it a high-tech-luxury look and feel.

Lotus Eletre

One might expect Lotus’ first EV to be a svelte roadster that finally breaks the “all EVs are heavy” rule. But even Lotus can’t deny physics, so its first electric car is an SUV that still manages some impressive performance figures, including 0-60 in 2.9 seconds and 370 miles of range.

Maserati Grecale Folgore

Get used to seeing the “Folgore” attached to Maserati’s future models, as the term means “thunderbolt” and it’s the designation for the brand’s electric models. The Grecale already exists as a luxury SUV with traditional and hybrid drivetrains. Soon an all-electric model will debut.

Mercedes-Benz EQE

Following in the footsteps of the larger, pricier EQS, the EQE will be Mercedes’ midsize luxury sedan featuring many of its big brother’s styling cues and technology features. Its 90 kWh battery pack should provide more than 400 miles of driving range.

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

Bringing the style (and platform) of the EQS sedan together with the increased interior space of an SUV is pretty much what the name says, right? The EQS SUV will seat up to seven and offer lots of power (536 hp), lots of torque (633 lb-ft) and at least 400 miles of range

Nissan Ariya

After being one of the first automaker to produce a high-volume electric vehicle (the Leaf), Nissan has sort of fallen off the lead in the electric vehicle race. The Ariya SUV should set things straight, with attractive styling and a 310-mile range.

Polestar 3

The Polestar 1 was an interesting performance coupe, and the Polestar 2 offered effective utility in a compact package. But the Polestar 3 will be a true SUV, with all the interior space and functionality that term promises. Range is predicted at 372 miles, and it looks cool, too.

Porsche Macan Electric

The 2024 Porsche Macan will offer an all-electric drivetrain and an advanced 800-volt electric charging system to fill the battery as quickly as possible. Rumors of 250 miles capture in 20 minutes sound promising, as does an active rear spoiler and Porsche-worthy driving dynamics.

Rivian R1S

As a follow-up to the well-received R1T truck, the R1S is Rivian’s SUV, featuring much of the same styling and innovative tech. A zero-to-60 time of 3 seconds, and a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds are intriguing, as is 3 rows of seating and 316 miles of range.

Tesla Cybertruck

Even allowing for “Elon Musk Time” this Tesla model is way late. Lucky for Musk, his latest Model Y offering has proven quite popular, and there’s apparently no end in site (yet…) to Tesla’s demand. Still, he’s letting everyone from Ford to Rivian beat him to market in the pickup truck segment.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

Is there a more appropriate successor to the original VW Microbus than an electric version called the VW ID. Buzz? We don’t think so, and with electric power this version will actually get out of its own way. We’re hoping the early reports of a 250-mile range prove pessimistic.

Volvo XC90

Platform sharing strikes again, this time in the form of Volvo’s all-electric XC90 and the aforementioned Polestar 3. But again, that’s okay if each model has its owner personality, and the Volvo XC90 will likely share much of its exterior with Volvo’s Concept Recharge.