Alternative Fuel Vehicles Are Racing Toward Mainstream Adoption
Not sure if an electric vehicle is right for you yet? Concerned about selection, performance, or charging? If you haven’t looked lately, that favorite truck, high-performance sports car, or SUV you’ve had your eyes on likely has an all-electric (EV), hybrid, and/or plug-in hybrid option ― with power output and performance that may very well stun you. Car makers around the globe are rolling out alternative fuel models and engine options at a much more rapid pace. Innovation is riding high throughout the car manufacturing industry.
Maybe it’s time to seriously consider “going electric” with your next vehicle. If you’re ready to take that next step, you won’t be alone. According to MarketWatch (Market Insight Reports), the global alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) market is expected to generate $228,950 million in revenues by 2025.
Read on to learn about how this marketplace has evolved here in the United States in recent months. Keep in mind that it’s only a small piece of the story.
1,000 Horsepower. 11,500 Pound-Feet of Torque.
Remember the Hummer? Well, it’s back, under the GMC brand, with your choice of an SUV or pickup truck body type. All electric, the Hummer EV pickup is expected to roll out its 2023 offerings in late 2022 (with a first edition model arriving sooner) and add to its lineup in subsequent model years. The Hummer EV SUV is slated for production sometime in 2023 with a trim lineup available for 2024.
A bold shift like this taking a road beast and equipping it with electric power can come with risk in terms of audience appeal and acceptance. But, apparently, Hummer enthusiasts are ready for it. According to electrek, the “entire first year’s production of the Hummer EV pickup was claimed in one hour” in 2020, while reservations offered this Spring for the limited edition Hummer EV pickup “sold out in 10 minutes,” according to Fox Business.
Worried about performance? Charging ability? General Motors (GM) bills the Hummer EV as the “world’s first zero emissions, zero limits, all-electric supertruck.” GM estimates power and strength output for the Hummer EV pickup to be up to 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of torque, with 830 horsepower on the SUV version. In addition, GM estimates the pickup can achieve zero to sixty MPH in three seconds 3.5 seconds with the SUV.
There is not one typo anywhere in that paragraph. Mind blown.
Competing in the Hummer pickup space will be the unique looking, future-forward Tesla Cybertruck, which also offers a full self-driving option. America’s best-selling pickup, the Ford F-150, just debuted the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning and received incredible response, and the Chevy Silverado 1500 also has an electric truck in the works. The Ram 1500 pickup is expected to introduce a hybrid option soon.
Guinness Book of World Records™ Land Speed Record
The Porsche name is synonymous with exceptional engineering and high-performance luxury. When they introduced the new all-electric Taycan sports sedan in late 2019, sports car enthusiasts may have wondered: “Can it deliver the goods?” You decide: the Porsche Taycan boasts a top track speed of 161 MPH, puts out 750 horsepower and 774 pound-feet of torque, and achieves a 278-mile driving range.
In late 2020, the Porsche Taycan entered the Guinness Book of World Records™ by achieving the longest drift for an electric vehicle. And the Taycan didn’t stop there. In early 2021, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S set another record for inclusion into the Guinness Book of World Records: an indoor land speed record of 102 MPH.
Check out the WondersList of the top ten fastest electric cars in the world for 2021. Some brand names you’ll recognize others you may not.
Legendary Takes on the Future
The Jeep Wrangler has long enjoyed a reputation for rugged, 4×4 capabilities and exhilarating off-roading performance. In 2021, the Wrangler ventures into the plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) space with the all-new Jeep Wrangler 4xe. The plug-in hybrid turbocharged engine on the Wrangler 4xe is set to deliver 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of instant torque with an acceleration rate from zero to 60 MPH in six seconds. Go ahead and climb those rocky hills and tear up those well-worn trails.
In 2022, Jeep is bringing back the Grand Wagoneer as a luxury plug-in hybrid vehicle.
Other notable luxury-class brands that currently offer all-electric SUV models include the Audi e-tron® and Mercedes-Benz EQC400. The BMW iX is set to debut in late 2021.
Going the Distance
One of the key concerns consumers have had with transitioning to an electrified or all-electric vehicle is charging availability especially when driving long distances. Today, charging outlets and charging stations are popping up across the country. According to evadoption.com, more than 96,500 charging points are currently in operation, representing over 30,450 U.S. locations. California, Texas, New York, and Florida lead the country in the number of public charging points.
Through its PlugShare program, Walgreens stores are being equipped with charging stations where consumers can juice up for a fee. Walgreens anticipates 800 of these stations will be active by the end of 2021.
At-home or private charging points comprise a significant amount of electric vehicle power consumption and accessibility. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 80 percent of electric vehicle charging is done at home.
Just how far can you go in an alternative fuel vehicle? Here are a few examples of highway-rated driving distances:
- Honda Accord Hybrid – 602 miles
- Tesla Model S – 190-400 miles (depending on trim)
- Jeep Wrangler 4xe – 375 miles
- GMC Hummer EV – 350 miles
- Ford Mustang Mach-E – 230 – 305 miles
- Audi e-tron – 218-222 miles
- Taycan 4S – 200-227 miles
- Volkswagen ID.4 – 260 miles
- Hyundai Kona Electric – 258 miles
- Kia Niro – 239 miles
- Chevy Bolt – 259 miles
- Hyundai Ioniq – 170 miles
- Nissan Leaf – 149 miles
Aronson Advertising has been at the forefront of helping automotive dealers succeed in the digital space. We can help you get the word out on these new vehicles and advanced technologies and help your audience better understand what they have to offer. Talk to us about how we can help you. Give us a call at (847) 297-1700.
