Five Emerging Electric Vehicle Trends to Watch For in 2017 – Part one of two

 Performance Utility Vehicles
Tesla Model X rewrote the book on utility vehicles in 2016. On top of the falcon-wing doors and blistering performance specs, the electric SUV can seat seven and features some of the most advanced self-driving capabilities on the market. The auto industry has never seen such a product, and established luxury automakers are reacting to the statement from Silicon Valley.
Both Audi and Mercedes-Benz introduced utility models as their long-range EVs of the near future. At the L.A. show, Jaguar entered the game with I-PACE, an all-electric crossover that seats five and delivers the type of power we’ve only seen in a Tesla before. I-PACE features 400 horsepower and the ability to hit 60 miles per hour (100 km/h) in four seconds.
While attempts to copy or best the Tesla Model S have yet to succeed, European luxury brands have a legitimate plan in place to challenge the field with SUVs.
Plug-in Hybrids with Greater Range
Of the 17 plug-in hybrids on sale for the 2016 model year, only four offer more than 19 miles of electric range. As a result, the green driving benefits are limited unless owners have a place to charge at work and at other places they visit on a regular basis. For the 2017 model year, the market will get more PHEVs with solid electric range.
Here are a few key additions:
• Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid (30 miles)
• Cadillac CT6 Plug-in Hybrid (30 miles)
• Kia Optima PHEV (27 miles)
• Toyota Prius Prime (25 miles)
By establishing a new standard between 25 and 30 miles, these models become much more useful to owners. Most will be able to drive electric over 50 percent of the time, cutting down on gas use and saving on operating costs in the process. In the case of Pacifica’s plug-in hybrid, U.S. consumers will be able to claim the full federal tax credit ($7,500) off the base price of $41,995.
Look for the continuation of this article in the July issue of The Magazine of Santa Clarita.