Wednesday, 15 December, 2021 UTC
Summary
There'll be electricity in the air in 2022.
Some of the most hotly anticipated EV models of all time are scheduled for release, including a trio of groundbreaking pickups: the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, and the GMC Hummer EV. But it's also looking like 2022 will bring us many automakers' — both new and old — first EVs. The new year will bring the Mazda MX-30 and the sustainably focused Fisker Ocean SUV. The supercharged Lucid Air will finally offer a more reasonably priced version of its ultra-high end debut product.
If 2022 looks anything like 2021 — during which EV sales more than doubled — demand for EVs will continue to grow.
So while we've all learned in recent times to tamp down our sky-high expectations for the new year, it looks like an exciting 2022 is pretty much locked-in, EV-wise anyway. Here's a quick rundown of what the next 12 months have in store:
1. Lucid Air PureExpected arrival: By the end of 2022
Range: 406 miles
Price: $77,400
A Pure version of a luxury EV. Credit: Lucid
A cheaper Lucid Air will soon arrive. But it's all relative. "Cheap" means the Pure model is not $169,000 like the first Dream Editions of the luxury EV. But even if it's a more basic version, its battery will still hold an exceptionally long charge for over 400 miles. It's not 519-miles of range, but it's more than the longest-range Tesla.
2. Tesla CybertruckExpected arrival: End of 2022
Range: Up to 500 miles
Price: Starting at $39,900 (possibly)
At long last. Credit: Tesla
Tesla's dystopian take on an electric pickup truck has been a long time coming. It was first announced in 2019, but production hasn't even started. Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted at a quad-motor version arriving by the end of next year. Tesla used to have configuration and price details on its website, but back in October all those details were wiped.
3. Ford F-150 Lightning
Expected arrival: Mid 2022
Range: Up to 300 miles
Price: Starts at $39,974
Charging up the F-150. Credit: Ford
EV pickup supremacy is still up in the air as the battle between Tesla and Ford plays out, but Ford has one major advantage: the non-battery version of their entry is the best-selling car in America. With a massive power frunk where the engine used to be and heavy towing capabilities up to 10,000 pounds, it's an electric beast. It's also supposed to arrive well before Tesla's first e-truck.
4. Fisker Ocean
Expected arrival: Production starts November 2022
Range: 250 to 350 miles
Price: $37,499 to $68,999
The Ocean is Fisker's first. Credit: Rachel Kraus / Mashable
Fisker's first car will be a "sustainable" EV because it uses recycled plastics and has a solar roof to generate extra energy. It'll be a true West Coast SUV with karaoke in its sound system, a rotating dash display, and a "California mode" that opens all the windows including the rear windshield.
5. GMC Hummer EV
Expected arrival: End of 2021 and throughout 2022
Range: 350 miles
Price: Up to $112,595
Dubbed a "supertruck" by GMC, the first electrified Hummer is technically coming at the very end of 2021. But most of the actual vehicles will first arrive in 2022. Customers will initially see the most expensive version, followed by more basic versions in the coming years. A slightly more modest electric SUV version should be here by the end of 2023.
6. Hyundai Ioniq 5Expected arrival: By the end of 2021 with more models arriving into 2022
Range: Up to 303 miles
Price: $40,925 to $55,725
The Ioniq is almost here. Credit: Hyundai
Hyundai is starting a new line of EVs called Ioniq, and the first to debut will be the 5. It's a compact SUV that boasts fast charging and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just over five seconds. It also has bidirectional charging, meaning it can power-up other Ioniqs. The base version will arrive only after the more premium cars make it to the U.S.
7. Kia EV6
Expected arrival: Beginning of 2022
Range: 303 miles
Price: Not yet announced
A new EV for the new year. Credit: Kia
Kia's first truly all-electric car model is part of the Korean carmaker's plans to have 11 new EVs by 2026. The EV6 is the first in the lineup with fast charging and backup charging for a generator in case of a power outage at home. It has a panoramic touchscreen display, and AR projections on the windshield. The EV6 is built on the same battery platform as its compatriot, the Hyundai Ioniq, so the two cars will have similar performance.
8. Mazda MX-30Expected arrival: Early 2022 for California drivers
Range: 100 miles
Price: $33,470
A small SUV, but it also has a small battery. Credit: Sasha Lekach / Mashable
Mazda finally went electric, but the MX-30 only has a 35.5 kWh battery with 100 miles of range. Other EVs of its size have 64 kWh batteries with double the range. At least the limited-release EV looks good as a small but roomy SUV with styling similar to its gas-powered counterpart, the CX-30.
9. Rivian R1S
Expected arrival: Early 2022
Range: 316 miles
Price: Starts at $70,000
The SUV version. Credit: Rivian
It was always the plan for an electric SUV to follow Rivian's electric pickup. The SUV version, designed for camping adventures, is just as rugged as the truck, which was just dubbed MotorTrend's "Truck of the Year" for 2022. So expect more of the same, except with up to three rows of seats.
10. Nissan AriyaExpected arrival: Fall 2022
Range: 300 miles
Price: Starts at $47,125
The Leaf has some sleek competition. Credit: Nissan
The Ariya started as a concept car, meant to show that Nissan sees itself as in competition with the likes of Tesla and its Model Y crossover utility vehicle. Now Nissan really is adding this sleek SUV to its EV lineup. The Ariya is expected to be a step up from Nissan's OG electric hatchback, the Leaf.
11. Volvo C40 Recharge
Expected arrival: Early 2022
Range: 200 miles
Price: $55,000
The Volvo C40 Recharge is an electric SUV. Credit: Volvo
The C40 Recharge SUV is Volvo's first EV model with no gas-powered counterpart. It's a slightly more expensive — and slightly better-performing in terms of speed and range — answer to Volvo's XC40 Recharge, which is the counterpart to a gas-powered vehicle. The C40 is also distinguished from the XC40 Recharge by a snazzy wing on the back windshield above the back Volvo logo, so Volvo snobs will know you're driving the latest and greatest.
12. Mercedes EQS
Expected arrival: Late 2021 into 2022
Range: 350 miles
Price: $102,000
Now that's a luxury EV. Credit: Mercedes-Benz
The EQS is a luxury sedan, and part of the first line of fully electric Mercedes cars. The wider EQ series is also going to include an electric SUV and even a minivan. A high-performance AMG version of the EQS is coming out later in 2022, with more details (and pricing) to be released soon.
13. BMW i4
Expected arrival: Mid 2022
Range: 300 miles
Price: Starts at $55,400
A zippy electric sports car. Credit: Sasha Lekach / Mashable
The i4 is an electric sports sedan that's part of BMW's electrification strategy. Its going up against the Tesla Model 3 as an all-electric option that's not an SUV.
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14. BMW iX
Expected arrival: Early 2022
Range: Up to 300 miles
Price: Starts at $83,200
The iconic front BMW grille. Credit: Sasha Lekach / Mashable
The first electric SUV from BMW started as a concept car. Not everything made it into the car, but plenty of cool tech like self-healing material on the front grille (you can't scratch or dent it!) make this a unique EV. It'll have fast charging and "shy technology" that doesn't appear until you need it, like a hidden rear-view camera behind the BMW logo.