Revealed: Every electric and hybrid car that will be on the Irish market over the next five years

Published on 12 July, 2017

Overview

Virtually every make here will have an 'electric' model of some sort on the market within a couple of years, a survey by Independent Motors reveals today.

Some already have several all-electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrids on the market or due over the next couple of years, the survey shows.

And the results confirm how hybrids and plug-in hybrids are increasingly viewed as major 'stepping stones' away from pure petrol/diesel engines and, ultimately, towards full electric vehicles.

The survey shows how the swing to 'electric' in some shape or form is gaining significant traction - certainly in terms of what car makers are planning between now and 2020/2025.

Opel for example say their electric Ampera-e will be here by 2019 and expect it to account for 7pc of their entire fleet within a year.

A number of others are expecting exponential growth over the next three to five years.

A number of those who participated emphasised how important government strategy and policy will be in encouraging more people to take the first steps towards electrification, as current buying levels are low.

Here is what individual marques told Independent Motors:

AUDI

They are bringing their first production fully electric vehicle to the market next year with an e-tron Sportback following the year after. By 2020, they will have three all-electric vehicles. And from 2021, all core-model series will be electrified: plug-in-hybrid (PHEV), full electric (EV) or Mild Hybrid (MHEV).

BMW

Worldwide they aim to sell more than 100,000 (electric and PHEVs) this year. They say: "We are systematically electrifying all brands and model series within the group. This includes new fully-electric vehicles like the BMW X3 and MINI. At the same time, we are expanding the BMW i portfolio."

BMW currently have nine electrified models in their portfolio (i3, i8, 225xe, 330e, 530e, 740e, X5 40e, X1xDrive 25Le and MINI E Countryman.

There will be a fully-electric MINI for 2019 and a BMW X3 version for 2020, a PHEV BMW i8 roadster for 2018 and a full electric iNext for 2021.

And they insist there is more to come as future car platforms will be built to accommodate full-electric and PHEV as well as petrol/diesel power.

CITROEN

Between now and 2020 they expect to unveil a C5 Aircross PHEV (late 2019), DS7 Crossback PHEV (Spring 2019) and a full-electric Multispace (late 2017) as well as a full-electric Berlingo (late summer 2017).

FORD

The Transit Custom PHEV (end of 2019) and a fully-electric SUV (480km range) will each be sold here, but it is difficult to predict sales volumes at this stage.

The company says it will introduce plug-in hybrid, hybrid-electric and full electric vehicles in Europe by 2020 as part of its plan to bring 13 new electrified vehicles to global markets. Included is a hybrid Mustang (2020/21).

JAGUAR/LAND ROVER

They have already shown their first electric vehicle, the I-PACE Concept. They say lean diesels and petrol engines, (battery electric vehicles) BEVs, PHEVs and MHEVs (mild hybrids) are all in its plans.

They say: "By 2020, half of all Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will have the option of electrification." They will announce how they plan to reduce C02 further in 'due course'.

KIA

By 2020 they will have their Niro, Optima, Soul and cee'd models with EV/PHEV or hybrid options. Their Niro hybrid is on sale here now. The Soul EV is under consideration for next year as is the Optima PHEV. Expect a hybrid cee'd on the market in 2019.

LEXUS

Hybrids will continue to power the vast majority of their models. They have a new 3.5-litre multi-stage hybrid with lithium-ion battery coming in the new LC coupe and LS salon later this year.

They expect their sales mix to 2020 to be 99pc hybrid, the only exception being the 5.0 V8 sales of LC or RCF.

MAZDA

They plan to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) in 2019 and are now looking at plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) for launch in 2021. They are also "studying collaboration" with Toyota for electric-motor drive technologies.

MERCEDES

They expect 15pc-25pc of all passenger cars they produce by 2023 will be fully electric. They anticipate having 10 EV models by 2023.

In 2019, they will introduce their full-electric brand (EQ - Electric Intelligence). It is expected the first model will be the EQC (an electric GLC crossover/SUV) with a range of between 500km and 600km. Between now and then, they intend to bring a series of plug-in hybrids to market.

At the moment they have four on sale here: the C350E, E350E, S500E and GLE500E. They also plan on introducing a few diesel plug-ins late in 2018/early 2019.

MITSUBISHI

Due to their Nissan-Renault alliance connections they expect further product plans in October. But one core aim is to have a new fully electric SUV by 2020. After that they will move towards having an EV or PHEV version of all SUVs.

They say growth will depend on Government actions and timing, but with support they expect the 'market norm' to be EV or PHEV in five years' time.

NISSAN

They are focusing on pure EVs - with a new Leaf (the biggest seller here) in the offing later this year/early next.

They say the current EV trajectory is 7,000 by 2020, but "with any sort of commitment on the part of government and local government 20,000 is eminently achievable".

OPEL

Their five-seater full-electric Ampera-e will arrive on the Irish market in 2019. It can cover up to 520km under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) on a single charge of the 60kWh lithium ion battery.

Significantly, they expect the Ampera-e will make up 7pc of the total Opel fleet by 2020.

PEUGEOT

The all-electric e-CMP format (financed by PSA Group and DFM) is the springboard for a new generation of electric vehicles with a claimed range of up to 450km as well as super-fast charging (12km/per minute of charging). The first EV is expected in 2019 with four anticipated by 2021.

Seven plug-in hybrids will be introduced between 2019 and 2021.

RENAULT

Their new Zoe EV recently went on the Irish market and there will be a Master ZE van early next year. There are also Scenic and Grand Scenic 'mild hybrids' which link electric motors to the dCi 110 diesel engine.

SEAT

They will start introducing electric mobility vehicles in 2020. Whether that will be full electric or a combination of electric plug-in hybrids has to be confirmed.

SKODA

They will have two fully electric cars on the market by 2020.

Meanwhile, a Superb hybrid will be around in the later half of 2019.

SSANGYONG

They are currently working on a pure electric vehicle based on the new Korando platform (compact crossover). They are aiming for a 300km range. Expect to see it by late 2019/early 2020. It will be followed by a Tivoli EV.

They have no plans to make hybrids as they feel pure electric "is the future".

SUZUKI

Their focus for now is on developing their Boosterjet and SHVS (light-hybrid) cars which will be developed further for models in the line-up by 2020. They already have a SHVS hybrid in three models (Ignis, Swift and Baleno).

They say the 'electric' market will grow quickly over the next five years. However, they claim: "The mass market for clean, efficient petrol and diesel cars will not disappear quickly as they will still make economic sense for most car buyers".

TESLA

It has just recently opened an outlet here (in Sandyford, Dublin) and, amid a lot of interest, expects growth for its full-electric Model X and Model S vehicles. The newly-unveiled Model 3 (Page 2) is a likely 2019 arrival.

TOYOTA

They expect electric-hybrids to account for 40pc of their overall sales by next year and are aiming for 50pc by 2019. But based on current consumer demand and incentives they expect demand for EVs to remain low until 2020. They reckon most people looking to move from diesel will opt for a hybrid as a first step, rather than a major transition, into a full EV.

VOLKSWAGEN

The new e-Golf is just getting here now. It has a potential range of 300km. Already here are the Golf GTE and Passat GTE plug-in hybrids.

Alongside the EVs they say we can expect to see more hybrid versions across their range.

They have already provided 'practical insights' into their electric-car future with the ID, ID BUZZ and ID CROZZ concepts.

All are based on a new electric vehicle architecture - and go on sale from 2020.

Their aim is to be the world market leader in e-mobility and to sell one million electric cars a year from 2025.

VOLVO

Hybrid-electric accounts for approx 20pc of their Irish sales mix, with their top-of-range T8 Twin Engine already in the XC90, S/V90 and XC60.

They anticipate a 10pc/15pc increase on this by 2019.

As you know, Volvo created quite a stir last week when they announced that between 2019 and 2021 they will launch five fully electric cars: three Volvo models and two high-performance electrified motors from Polestar.

* What will your next car be? Diesel, petrol, hybrid, PHEV or full-electric?

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @cunningham cars