Electrical autos (EVs) are slowly however certainly turning into extra of a norm in Australia, the place extra new fashions are being launched seemingly each week.
That mentioned, EV gross sales progress has slowed in 2024, each final month and thus far this yr, following the arrival of key new fashions from Tesla, BYD and MG final yr, when many early-adopters purchased their shiny new battery-electric automotive, SUV or LCV.
However many carmakers are actually pledging to make them much more mainstream. Subsequent yr alone, nicely over 20 new or up to date EVs are because of arrive in Australia, excluding people who haven’t been revealed but.
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Some examples are as follows:
Alfa Romeo JuniorAudi Q6 e-tronBYD Sealion 7Cadillac LyriqCupra Born VZDeepal S07Updated Genesis Electrified G80Hyundai InsterKGM SsangYong Torres EVXUpdated Kia EV6LDV eTerron 9Leapmotor C10Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ TechnologyNissan AriyaSkoda ElroqSmart #5Volvo EX90Zeekr 009
There are lots extra EVs launching subsequent yr that aren’t included on this checklist. To get a fuller image try our EV calendar, which is often up to date.
Within the meantime, nonetheless, here’s what the CarExpert editorial workforce is wanting ahead to driving most subsequent yr.
Marton Pettendy: TBC
The EV I’m wanting ahead to driving has 1000km of vary, prices and weighs not more than an equal ICE mannequin, and has a battery that may be recharged to 100 per cent in two minutes, through fast-chargers which are by no means damaged, haven’t any queues and are as conveniently positioned as service stations.
Sadly none of that appears like occurring in 2025, so I’ll wait.
William Stopford: LDV eTerron 9, MG Cyberster
There’s an enormous checklist of EVs developing, however the two I’m most wanting ahead to driving are each Chinese language and are available from the identical dad or mum firm… and but couldn’t be any extra completely different.
Whereas electrical pickups have gotten increasingly widespread within the US with the likes of the flashy Tesla Cybertruck and GMC Hummer EV, Australia has been caught with simply the LDV eT60. It’s a reasonably rudimentary conversion of a diesel ute to electrical energy and is massively overpriced and terminally unpopular.
The LDV eTerron 9, subsequently, is a positive guess for any “most improved” award in 2025. There doesn’t look like a single little bit of the hapless eT60 in it, with good-looking, square-rigged styling in and out and new powertrains together with – lastly – a dual-motor all-wheel drive choice.
Payload seems to have taken a dive, however at the very least on paper (and in footage) the eTerron 9 appears to be like like one thing personal consumers may need to personal, as a substitute of being one thing foisted on staff by metropolis councils making an attempt to fulfill inexperienced targets. Now, let’s see if it’s fairly priced…
The MG Cyberster, one other car from SAIC Motor, might hardly be referred to as low-cost. As an electrical roadster, nonetheless, it’s launching right into a (for now) non-existent phase. It appears to be like improbable, however have MG engineers created a sporty EV that’s enjoyable in additional than simply the visitors gentle grand prix? We’ll see…
James Wong: Hyundai Inster
I do know we have already got comparatively low-cost Chinese language EVs just like the BYD Dolphin, GWM Ora and MG 4, however the Hyundai Inster indicators the arrival of mainstream manufacturers into the reasonably priced EV motoring area in Australia.
The actual fact it’s so cute and cuddly is already a plus, then there’s the good packaging courtesy of the prolonged wheelbase over the Casper on which it’s based mostly, offering correct seating for 4 adults in a car barely the dimensions of a big washer.
I’m determined to drive one and, if my colleague Jack Fast’s worldwide drive evaluate is something to go by, it could possibly be an absolute peach.
Jordan Mulach: BYD Sealion 7
BYD’s arrival in Australia was met with skepticism by many – myself included – when it launched with the Atto 3, an EV that has nicely and actually discovered its place within the native panorama, even when it isn’t a real competitor to the Tesla Mannequin Y.
That mantle will as a substitute be taken up by the Sealion 7, the electrical sibling to the Sealion 6 PHEV and, by all accounts, fairly a great factor.
That is most likely essentially the most legit rival to the Mannequin Y that we’re but to see, though you might argue the Xpeng G6 can even be in that class – nonetheless, the latter will want extra time to arrange an area presence.
BYD retains going from power to power, with the Shark 6 ute additionally proving to be a scorching subject. Time will inform if the Sealion 6 follows go well with however, if the Seal’s value is something to go by, it could possibly be a real contender to place a spark again into the hearth of native EV gross sales.
Jack Fast: Kia EV3
After spending a while in South Korea not too long ago for the worldwide media launch of the Hyundai Inster, I noticed a good few Kia EV3s on the roads over there.
This isn’t shocking given the automotive has been on sale there for just a few months now, nevertheless it’s not anticipated to reach in Australia till the early levels of 2025.
I feel the EV3 appears to be like nice within the steel and it isn’t practically as small as I initially thought. Positive, it’s an entry-level EV for the model at the moment, nevertheless it’s extra Seltos-sized than Stonic-sized.
I’m but to get behind the wheel of 1, however from the specs alone it appears to be like moderately promising. In Lengthy Vary guise there’s a whopping 81.4kWh battery pack that’s claimed to supply virtually 600km of vary, in keeping with WLTP testing.
It’s unclear precisely the place Kia will value the EV3 regionally simply but however, utilizing UK pricing as a information, the vary might probably begin at round $50,000.
Josh Nevett: Cupra Born VZ
I’m a self-confessed scorching hatch fanboy, and it’s a phase that appears set to thrive as electrification takes maintain.
Given my enthusiasm for the style, I jumped into the usual Born earlier this yr assuming that it might be a slam dunk, a trailblazer for compact efficiency automobiles to come back.
Nonetheless, I used to be left a bit underwhelmed. It was a bit larger than I anticipated, rather less athletic. And the worth is difficult to swallow when you think about the combustion competitors.
However the upcoming VZ might clear up all that. Energy jumps to 240kW and, extra importantly, torque practically doubles, lowering the 0-100km/h dash time right down to the 5s.
Now we’re in correct scorching hatch territory. If Cupra can discover a option to maintain a lid on the worth of the VZ, it could possibly be the smash hit that the unique Born promised to be.
Max Davies: Polestar 5
Polestar has all the time been a bit obscure. Volvo ties and clones apart, its small native vary and comparatively area of interest fashions have made it tough for me to take a position robust curiosity within the model.
The Polestar 2 fastback stays the mannequin I’ve seen most within the wild, which isn’t any shock given the massive Polestar 3 SUV was solely launched in Australia in late September, and the Polestar 4 mid-sized SUV doesn’t arrive till later this month.
However different Polestars will comply with and the 5 is the one which catches my eye.
I like sedans, even when such automobiles are a dying breed, and the smooth futuristic styling of the Polestar 5 on prime of that physique form alone was sufficient to get me . It options the newest in Polestar’s design language with that aggressive headlight signature, and it simply appears to be like like one thing that’d be actually pleasing on a protracted drive via the nation.
We don’t know official native particulars but, nevertheless it’s anticipated to pack 650kW of energy and 900Nm of torque from its dual-motor electrical powertrain, which is definitely nothing to sneeze at. Sure, it’s much more highly effective than the Porsche Taycan however, being a Polestar, there’s nonetheless a level of novel thriller that I like in a automotive – even when it might be a bit unproven.
Because it seems, it’s one of many EVs slated for Australian launch someday subsequent yr following the upcoming starting of manufacturing, so once we get our arms on one I’ll be the primary in line to get behind the wheel.
