In their first rollouts of electric vehicles, AmericaB次元官网网址檚 automakers targeted people who value short-range economy cars. Then came EVs for luxury buyers and drivers of pickups and delivery vans.
Now, the companies are zeroing in at the heart of the U.S. auto market: The compact SUV. In their drive to have EVs dominate vehicle sales in coming years, the automakers are promoting their new models as having the range, price and features to rival their gas-powered competitors.
Some are so far proving quite popular. FordB次元官网网址檚 $45,000-plus Mustang Mach E is sold out for the model year. On Monday night, General MotorsB次元官网网址� Chevrolet brand introduced an electric version of its Blazer, also starting around $45,000, when it goes on sale next summer.
Also coming next year: An electric Chevy Equinox, with a base price of about $30,000, whose price could give it particular appeal with modest-income households. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and VolkswagenB次元官网网址檚 ID.4 in the $40,000s and NissanB次元官网网址檚 upcoming Ariya around $47,000 with a lower-priced version coming.
All start off considerably less expensive than TeslaB次元官网网址檚 Model Y small SUV, the current top EV seller, with a starting price well into the $60,000s.
The new models, which can get about 300 miles per electric charge, are aimed at the largest segment of the U.S. market: Modest-size SUVs, representing about 20% of new-vehicle sales. Industry experts say entering the smaller SUV segment, with its reach into a broader demographic of buyers, is sure to boost electric vehicle sales nationally.
B次元官网网址淕oing to the smaller utility segment gives you the opportunity to access the most customers in one (market) segment,B次元官网网址� said Stephanie Brinley, principal analyst for S&P Global Mobility. B次元官网网址淭o make a transition from (internal combustion engines) to electric, you have to be in more space. You have to be in more price points. You have to be in more sizes.B次元官网网址�
Brinley noted that the small and midsize SUV segments meet many peopleB次元官网网址檚 needs, something that previous electric vehicles did not.
B次元官网网址淚f itB次元官网网址檚 a price you can reach but itB次元官网网址檚 a product that you canB次元官网网址檛 put your kids and your dog in, youB次元官网网址檙e not going to buy it,B次元官网网址� she said.
Chevrolet says the Blazer will get a minimum of 247 miles (398 kilometers) per charge. Pricier high-end versions could go up to 320 miles (515 kilometers). The Blazer will be available with ChevroletB次元官网网址檚 SS performance package with a zero-to-60 mph (97 kilometers per hour) time of under four seconds. There will be a police version, too.
B次元官网网址淓arly on, the demographic composition of an EV buyer was certainly someone that perhaps had higher education, higher household income,B次元官网网址� said Steve Majoros, ChevroletB次元官网网址檚 marketing director. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 very indicative of early adopters. But as we move up that curve, the intention and where weB次元官网网址檙e pricing this product is to certainly make it more available for more mainstream buyers.B次元官网网址�
To attract buyers of modest means, , in the $30,000-to-$35,000 range, GM CEO Mary Barra . Electric vehicles, she said, also have to have the range and charging network so they can be the sole vehicle that some people own.
B次元官网网址淢ost electric vehicle owners today own multiple vehicles, so they have an internal combustion vehicle to jump into depending on their needs,B次元官网网址� .
Automakers have been pushing to fully restore a $7,500 tax credit for people who buy EVs to jump-start sales. But the measure is stalled in Congress. ItB次元官网网址檚 especially important for GM, Tesla and Toyota, which have maxxed out the number of credits they are allowed and can no longer offer them to buyers. Other automakers are approaching the limit, too.
Money for the credits, as well as funding for additional EV charging stations, was in President Joe BidenB次元官网网址檚 $1.8 trillion B次元官网网址淏uild Back BetterB次元官网网址� social and environment bill, which is all but dead because of the objections of Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat.
Last week, that included provisions to combat climate change. He indicated his support for just two items from BidenB次元官网网址檚 broader agenda: Reducing prescription drug costs and bolstering subsidies for families to buy health insurance. His vote in an evenly split Senate would be needed for anything to pass.
Even without the tax credit, the industryB次元官网网址檚 march toward electric vehicles is moving apace. Edmunds.com says electric vehicles now account for about 5% of U.S. new vehicle sales with 46 models on sale. S&PB次元官网网址檚 Brinley foresees the market share rising to 8% next year, 15% by 2025 and 37% by 2030.
B次元官网网址淚t seems like the number of choices are growing exponentially for electric vehicles as we move forward,B次元官网网址� said Erich Merkle, FordB次元官网网址檚 top U.S. sales analyst.
Demand for battery-powered vehicles and gas-electric hybrids has grown as gasoline prices skyrocketed this year. Dealers report that every vehicle delivered is typically already sold or gone soon after it arrives.
Jonathan Chariff, CEO of South Motors, an 11-dealer group in South Florida, said itB次元官网网址檚 impossible to assess just how big the demand for electric vehicles is. ThereB次元官网网址檚 huge interest, especially in electric SUVs, and vehicles are selling fast. But the supply is constrained because automakers donB次元官网网址檛 have enough computer chips to build as many vehicles as they want.
Given the enormous consumer interest in EVs, Chariff said he expects the vehicles to continue to sell even if their prices donB次元官网网址檛 fall.
B次元官网网址淭he real question,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址渋s if and when the supply chain can meet the market demand, what is the true price point?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擳om Krisher, The Associated Press
