The electric vehicle (EV) space is on the edge of a massive turning point. While EVs are far from being mainstream, every year, more battery-powered vehicles debut in a variety of different body styles and at different price points that make them more compelling for Canadian drivers. EVs used to be niche vehicles for early adopters, but the expansion into different vehicle segments and the quickly evolving technology that is making them more convenient are helping to increase their market share slowly but surely.
Here are a handful of exciting EVs worth waiting for that will be here in the near future. Some are further out than others, but all of them offer something unique and will play a big role in getting more Canadians into EVs.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Regardless of whether or not someone is interested in cars or EVs, most can agree that the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is cool on many different levels. VW has been talking about this vintage Microbus-inspired EV for years now, and it’s finally getting closer to arriving. When it gets here in late 2024, the ID. Buzz should be able to drive about 400 km on a single charge.
The design is retro but the powertrain is modern, and it’s neat to see a brand blending the two together so well. Besides looking cool, it’s also built to be tremendously practical for families and people who like camping or road-tripping. Could this colourful bread-loaf-shaped EV be the public-relations boost minivans need to become cool again?
Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV
Dodge debuted a concept for a future electric vehicle that looks like an EV version of the muscle cars from the past that we all know and love. Rip-snorting V8s are a huge part of what makes muscle cars so fun and packs them full of personality, but this EV looks like it will be able to deliver some excitement for driving enthusiasts too. Dodge has teased that its first EV will be faster than a Hellcat and that it will even provide a convincing muscle car soundtrack, interesting since EVs typically operate in complete silence.
The design is very retro-inspired and there are rumours that the Charger Daytona SRT will arrive as both an EV and a gas-powered model. It’s exciting to see where Dodge, a brand that is defined by its “Brotherhood of Muscle,” will go with its first EV. A production version will likely debut sometime in 2024.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Yet another EV with a wicked retro design, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the brand’s first performance EV. Hyundai has had great success infusing its N vehicles with tons of personality, which makes them engaging to drive and great to look at. It’s exciting to see how this will translate into an EV.
When it gets here in 2024, it will have about 641 hp and a host of meaningful performance upgrades to ensure that it goes beyond simply being fast. Most EVs can go fast, but Hyundai has promised that its Ioniq 5 N will also be engaging in ways that most EVs aren’t capable of today.
Chevrolet Silverado EV
While this isn’t the first fully electric pickup truck to arrive to market, Chevrolet is making up for lost time by ensuring its entry into this segment hits hard. The work truck version of the Silverado EV is rated to drive a generous 724 km on a single charge, which is unheard of currently for EVs in general, but is also significantly more than the Ford F-150 Lightning offers.
Even after a brief test drive, the truck proved to be very impressive. It was easy to manoeuvre, it felt confident and stable, and it didn’t at all drive like a traditional pickup yet also offers all the capability truck drivers expect. Properly equipped, this EV truck is rated to tow 10,000 pounds. The Chevrolet Silverado EV will arrive sometime in 2024.
Volvo EX30
The Volvo EX30 is the smallest SUV ever from the Swedish brand, but despite its small footprint, it’s big inside and is rated to have up to 442 km of range for the single-motor model. The EX30 is defined by its clever, practical, and handsome design, as well as its extensive use of sustainable materials.
Volvo managed to downscale many of the attributes that make its larger SUVs so successful without making major sacrifices, so the EX30 still feels as fresh and thoughtful as other vehicles in the automaker’s lineup. But even more important than that is pricing. Volvo has priced the EX30 in a way that makes it competitive with similarly sized gas-powered models, taking away one of the major hangups people have about getting an EV. The EX30 should arrive in the summer of 2024.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of other exciting EVs on the way, including the Volvo EX90, Kia EV9, Chevrolet Equinox EV, Blazer EV, Honda Prologue, and Hyundai Ioniq 7, to name just a handful, and there are so many worthwhile options already available. The vehicles above represent a cross-section of important segments and will each offer something unique. It’s a great time to consider an EV and it’s only going to get better from here.
