It’s safe to say electric vehicles are taking over. While the overwhelming number of cars on the road remain gas-powered, luxury car companies are leading the way in an industry-wide shift towards all-electric. Whether specializing in high-end models or economy class options, most car companies are committed to going completely electric sometime within the next 20 years.
With so many EV brands to choose from, we decided to zero in on the top manufacturers responsible for producing the very best in electric vehicle design and performance. These companies provide the most luxurious automotive experience available today and set the example for electric car designs of the future.
1. Audi
According to recent press releases, Audi plans to have one-third of its lineup fully electric by 2025. Currently, the company sells three fully electrified vehicles: the e-tron, e-tronSportback, and e-tron GT. The first two are SUVs comparable to the Porsche Taycan, whereas the GT is a sports model that hugs closer to the ground.
2. BMW
Top Gear declares the BMW i3 to be “the best premium small EV out there.” Unfortunately, the German automaker recently said they would be discontinuing US production of the i3 in 2021. Models remain on sale and are expected to be available for the rest of the year. With that said, BMW has its sights set on an entire fleet of electric cars and SUVs ready for market by 2025.
3. Tesla
Say what you want about the company’s eccentric CEO, Tesla remains the gold standard of electric vehicle innovation. After all, most of the other automakers on this list owe their rapid EV development to Tesla’s willingness to share trade secrets for the sake of making EVs more popular. What’s more, Tesla charge time and range remain the best in the business. The one potential risk of going with Tesla vehicles is participating in a work-in-a-progress; in their quest to push the envelope, Tesla is always tinkering and tweaking. Now and then, that leads to headaches for owners. However, given the company’s reputation for excellent customer service, these issues are typically resolved within a short amount of time.
4. Volkswagen
The proud makers of the “people’s car” are committed to providing consumers with several innovative and exciting EVs. Currently, the automaker is proud of its ID.3 model. While a bit less luxurious than the other electric cars mentioned in this article, Volkwagen’s signature EV is comfortable, reliable, and a sign of better things to come.
5. Volvo
Few European automakers are as committed to going fully electric as Volvo. The Swedish car manufacturer has a reputation for innovation, being the company that first developed the modern three-point seat belt back in 1959. Their hybrid models remain some of the best on the market. Currently, Volvo’s fully electric offerings consist of just one model: the XC40. Considered one of the most luxurious SUVs on the market, the XC40 Recharge gets up to 223 miles on a full charge and goes from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds.
While these five automakers represent the leading high-end EV manufacturers, they aren’t the only contenders vying for a top spot. Fiat, Lexus, and Mercedes are just some of the others hoping to someday lead the luxury EV market. Even Chevrolet and Ford don’t want to be left behind.
Electric cars are the future. There’s no doubt about that. But it won’t happen overnight. It’s taken decades to get us to this point, and there’s so much work left to do. At the helm of innovative electric car development are a handful of automakers specializing in refinement as well as research and development. After all, they all seek to be the first at something. The first to sell an EV that sweeps the globe? Time will tell, but chances are it will be one of the companies mentioned above.
Article Submitted By Community Writer