This year has been the most fruitful one when it comes to electric vehicle technology improvements and general market growth. The initial growth happened in 2020, but the number was unreliable due to the COVID outbreak. In 2021, things have finally calmed down, all the while big companies focused on tweaking their vehicles and offering the best bang for the buck. As a result, we now have faster charging capabilities, vehicles with longer range and better safety ratings. Also, charging stations are more frequent than ever. This was the year Tesla opened its first Superchargers in Africa.
2021 has been a year of new heights. In the first half of 2021, there have been 2,65 million new EV owners, showing an increase of 168%. The industry leaders were Tesla with 386,000 units (BEVs only) followed by the Volkswagen Groups 332,000 units (out of which 172,700 were BEVs). With projected sales of 6.4 million by the end of the year, the adoption of electric vehicles has never been as rapid as it is now.
“Including these, we expect sales of 6,4 million EVs in 2021, a growth of 98 % over 2020, with BEVs reaching 4 million units and PHEVs 2,4 million units. Growth rates will come down from the +168 % seen in H1, as volumes compare to a higher base during the 2020 H2 recovery. By the end of 2021 we expect over 16 million EVs in operation, counting light vehicles, 2/3 BEVs and 1/3 PHEV. ” – Robert Irle, Co-Founder of ev-volumes
Because the future for the EV space looks bright, we decided to give you a small list of the best electric vehicles for 2022. If you haven’t switched from your petrol engine yet, 2022 might just be the year you do that. We are going to choose one hatchback, one SUV and one sedan. Hopefully, we can help with your next purchase!
Best Electric Hatchback: Volkswagen ID.3
Runner ups: Nissan Leaf, BMW i3
Initially presented at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, Volkswagen ID.3 had a bounce in popularity early on. It is one of five new vehicles based on the MEB platform. Smaller automobiles with the ID.1 and ID.2 designations are predicted, whereas larger models with the ID.4 through ID.9 names are expected. Volkswagen has also sought trademark protection for a second “X,” possibly for a sport utility vehicle. On the 8th of May 2019, reservations for the ID.3 launch model in the amount of €1000 were opened.
The smallest ID in the family, Volkswagen ID.3 offers a great balance between practicality, design and price. As the second most sold car from Volkswagen in 2020 (right after VW’s Golf), ID.3 is based on VW’s MEB platform, which provides the possibility of implementing different wheelbase lengths. The exterior does not pose an aggressive look, while the alloy wheels make for a good aftertaste.
The ID.3 is 4,261mm (167.7 in) long and it offers 385 liters of cargo space in the back. Looking at the vehicle from the front, it is almost completely covered, except for the small vents that are located under the plate. No need for vents all over the front, because obviously, this neat little hatchback is packing an electric motor!
- 200 horsepower with 310 Nm of torque (there is also a 148 hp version)
- top speed 160km/h
- 0-100 in 7.3 seconds
- cargo volume – 385 liters
- Length x Height x Width – 4,261 x 1,568 x 1,809 mm
- 10-inch infotainment screen with voice commands and wireless app connectivity
- DC fast charging up to 100 kW
- a total of 5 trims available: Life, Style, Family, Max and Tour
The ID.3 is offered in three battery options: 45, 58 and 72 kWh, with a range of 330-550 km. As for the price, it starts from around $39,000 (34,000 €) all the way up to $54,000 (47,190 €) for the Pro S Tour Edition.
Best Electric Sedan: Tesla Model 3
Tesla Model 3 is an electric vehicle that changed the game. Tesla has been setting the electric vehicle industry standards ever since it started operating, and the Model 3 did not come empty-handed. It has a distinct minimalist interior cabin, which is a departure from what most customers are used to.
Model 3 is offered in three different trims: Standard Range Plus, Long Range and Performance. And in this instance, you’re not just buying a car. You’re buying a whole infrastructure, the most sophisticated driver-assist features(because the software gets better the more miles it covers, and Tesla has had more miles covered than any other EV), over-the-air updates, and some a bunch of other cool little features such as “Dog Mode”. As for the entry model starting at around $42,000 (40,000 €), this is what it offers, performance-wise:
- top speed: 210km/h
- 200 horsepower with 350 Nm torque
- EPA range of 340 km (220 mi)
- 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 4694 x 1933 x 1443 mm with 1611kg of gross weight
The Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive Performance variant is excellent for those searching for the maximum driving experience. With tremendous off-the-line performance and smooth overtaking, acceleration is astonishing. In most daily conditions, there’s enough power on tap to breeze over some of the quickest performance saloons on the market. Because of this, our sedan pick for the best electric vehicle of 2022 is the Tesla Model 3.
Best Electric SUV: Hyundai IONIQ 5
Runner ups: Volkswagen ID.4, Volvo VX40 Recharge
A retro new crossover SUV that has won 6 different awards at the Offenbach 2021. show, and it has been awarded as the car of the year at Auto Express New Car Awards 2021. We could not name all the awards this car has won, but we will also mention the “Green SUV of the Year” by Green Car Journal. You can all about it at this link.
Hyundai IONIQ 5 can charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes thanks to a 350 kW charger. According to WLTP, owners of the IONIQ 5 only need to charge the car for five minutes to gain 100 kilometers of range. It’s got 3000 mm of wheelbase out of 4,635mm of length. That means plenty of interior seating space, along with a “Universal Island” feature – a moveable center console that can go back up to 140 mm.
- top speed of 185 km/h
- cargo capacity of 527 litres + 57 litres in the front trunk (frunk)
- battery capacities of 58kWh and 77kWh
- entry model 0-100km/h: 8.1 seconds / performance model 0-100km/h: under 5 seconds
Lane Follow and Lane Keep Assist technologies are included in the standard package, as well as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Highway Drive-Assist, and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist. A total of seven airbags and recall, a feature that automatically calls emergency services if the car is engaged in an accident, are among the passive features.
With a starting price of $50,000 (43,700 €), the value you get out of the Korean SUV is substantial, therefore we think the best electric vehicle in 2022 in this category goes to Hyundai IONIQ 5.
