Electric Vehicles (EVs) were poised to take over the world come in 2020. But then, a little thing called COVID-19 hit and everyone’s plans took a hit. However, automakers kept pushing forward with their schedules and production of their EVs. If anything, while the pandemic did stutter the march, EVs are still steadily being pushed out into the market. 

Here are some of the key highlights of the development of EVs all around the world. 

Tesla Model Y

Tesla is synonymous with EVs, and even with the pandemic going strong, it seemed like Tesla were doing well for themselves. The long-awaited Model Y started production, and in a twist for the company most famous for not meeting deadlines, Tesla announced that the production for the hotly anticipated EV was ahead of schedule. They also started making a profit, which gives them a huge boost as a traditional automaker. 

Lucid Air

Lucid, created by an offshoot of Tesla engineers, changed the game with an 832km battery pack. That is a huge difference from traditional battery packs, as it almost runs a quarter more compared to the rest. Not only is this a big deal for EVs all around the world, but the company’s own Lucid Air sedan is also targeted to be completed in 2021. 

Ford Mustang Mach-E 

The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a sleek electric crossover SUV that has been pushed heavily by the automaker. In fact, it is during this time that Top Gear managed to set up a drag race between the Mustang Mach-E and the Tesla Model Y. Results of the race are up in the air for discussion, but it really can be said that the Ford Mustang Mach-E is a great step forward for the company’s path to electrification. 

Honda E

Honda e, Honda's first mass-market, pure-electric car is a big deal, as it is the automaker’s first entry into EV since the Honda EV Plus back in 1997. It won’t turn any heads, but for a cute, small car, it works wonders as an urban wonder with spacious legroom for up to 4 adults. Currently only available in Japanese and European markets, we wonder if this car will be making its way to Malaysia anytime soon. 

The Mercedes EQS

The Mercedes-Benz EV stable grew a bit this year with the EQS being teased and expected to show up next year to replace the delayed EQC. The automaker intends to launch four new EVs on the EVA platform including the EQE and EQE SUV and the company intends to throw a battery in everything from the A-class to the S-class. This is definitely the way forward for Mercedes in the future. 

VW ID.4

The all-new Volkswagen ID.4 EV is truly something to behold. On the outside, clean aerodynamic lines make for a striking presence on the road. On the inside, plenty of room makes for a spacious, comfortable cabin. It is VW’s answer to transforming how you think about electric cars. Though, with COVID-19 still lingering around, it seems like we might have to wait a little bit longer for production to be completed. 

Volvo XC40 Recharge

The Volvo XC40 Recharge gives you power balanced with responsible driving. A fully electric compact SUV, this EV is designed for modern urban living and beyond. It’s exciting to see Volvo’s take on the EV market and the XC40 Recharge is definitely a great contender. 

A Toyota EV

After focusing on hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles for most parts of their business, Toyota is finally accelerating the popularization of battery electric vehicles, with more than 10 models available in world markets by the early 2020s. This is even after Toyota president Akio Toyoda has said that EVs are overhyped. We’ll see where this leads...

Audi e-trons

Audi shared details about the Q4 e-tron and Q4 Sportback e-tron going into production next year as it expands its electric lineup. But more importantly, we learned that the beautiful e-tron GT will get an RS version and will go into production looking nearly identical to the show car. It is touted to be available in early 2021. 

BMW iX3

BMW's iX3 is the automaker’s second full-electric car. It’s built a little bit more traditionally, as  the aim is to create a pragmatic EV that can go a long way on a charge. But in addition to that, BMW revealed that it will offer electric versions of the X1 and 5-series as part of its push to get over 25 EVs on the road by 2023. That’s some dedication to EVs. 

Looking at it, EVs are definitely here to stay. Even with the pandemic, automakers’ unwavering focus on pushing out their EVs to compete in an increasingly saturated market is commendable indeed. Here’s looking at the future of EVs and beyond.

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