Are Electric Vehicles Going to Take Off?

Nissan, the maker of the Leaf EV, has sold half a million of them in the world, making it one of the first mass-market electric cars. The company's next electric model to hit North America is the Ariya small SUV, and the company will continue to refine lithium-ion battery technology. By 2028, it plans to launch a solid-state battery EV.

Toyota plans to build 3.5 million battery-only electric vehicles per year by 2030

Toyota is one of the world's largest carmakers, and the company has announced plans to build 3.5 million battery-only EVs a year by 2030. The automaker pioneered hybrid vehicles that have a gasoline engine and battery, but the company has lagged behind its rivals in developing battery-only electric cars. General Motors, on the other hand, plans to phase out all gas-powered vehicles by the year 2035.

The Japanese automaker is also looking for new battery technologies. By the end of 2025, Toyota plans to build 70 electrified models around the world, including 70 BEVs. By 2030, the Toyota lineup will feature 15 dedicated BEVs, seven of which will be branded bZ. The company's diverse portfolio of electrified models will move it toward carbon neutrality by 2050.

Toyota is currently producing 46 gigawatt hours of battery capacity, and aims to produce 280 gigawatt hours by 2030. Toyota's ambitious plan involves investing $13.6 billion in battery technology over the next decade. And while the company has made big plans for electrified cars, it is still lobbying in Washington, DC. It also opposes President Joe Biden's efforts to promote electric vehicles.

The announcement comes at a time when global electrification has taken a new turn. Volkswagen and Nissan have both announced plans to invest $100 billion in battery-only EV development, and Toyota is also committing $35 billion to make 3.5 million battery-only electric vehicles.

Nissan plans to build a plug-in hybrid

Nissan is planning to build a plug-in hybrid model to be sold in European markets. Although the Japanese automaker has been slow to adopt battery-electric technology, it thinks that hybrids are a bridge to fully electric vehicles. According to Takashi Shirawa, head of Nissan's European research and development department, the plug-in model will likely use technology that it has acquired from Mitsubishi.

The new vehicle will be built at the Canton, Mississippi, manufacturing plant. It is expected to have a range of about 300 miles. It will be sold under the Nissan and Infiniti names. A production version is expected to be unveiled in July 2020. The carmaker is aiming to sell 23 electrified models globally by 2030. Nissan currently only produces one electric car, the Leaf, which costs less than $30,000. The Leaf is scheduled to be replaced by a new SUV by 2025.

Nissan plans to sell more battery-powered vehicles in the United States. It is targeting a 40 percent market share in 2030. But this percentage is still uncertain and Nissan is not yet revealing a specific number. The Leaf is currently the only battery-electric model offered by the automaker, and the company has not released any plans to build a plug-in hybrid.

The Nissan Leaf has been the only mass-produced battery-electric vehicle on the market. But it has been outsold by Tesla cars in recent years. Tesla did not start mass-producing EVs until 2017, but as of the end of last year, the company had sold more than 940,000 EVs in the U.S.

Kia plans to build an electric version of their popular three-row crossover

A new electric version of Kia's Telluride SUV is in the works, and it will be the company's first three-row electric vehicle. The company has promised an electric range of 300 miles. However, they have not provided any details about the battery or electric motors.

The Kia EV6 will hit the market in early 2022 and will be offered in all states. It will have a 576-horsepower electric drivetrain and an estimated 0-to-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. The company also plans to phase out animal leather from its vehicles in the future.

With the rapid development of EV technology, it's not surprising to hear that Kia plans to build an electric version of its popular three-row crossover. The company has also announced plans to increase production of its EV9 model, which will become its flagship model. The EV9 could be the vehicle that changes the way large electric SUVs are made. With a range of up to 300 miles, it could be the car to beat for the market share.

With the rising cost of batteries, Kia plans to expand the GT lineup and make it available on all of their Kia BEV models. With this strategy, the company is investing heavily in battery technology. It estimates that battery demand will increase from 13 GWh in 2017 to 119 GWh by 2030. Additionally, the company plans to continue outsourcing cell production to global battery suppliers to reduce costs.