Skip to main content

Big EVs are almost here: 7 upcoming electric SUVs we’re excited for

SUVs are all the rage. So are EVs. It makes sense, therefore, that the Tesla Model Y is the world’s best selling car. But that begs the question — how much of the Tesla Model Y being so popular is just because of the fact that it’s one of the very few large-size electric cars out there?

Well, we’re about to find out. A number of electric SUVs have been announced, and many will be released in the very near future. This is far from a list of all the upcoming electric SUVs — but it is a list of the ones we’re most excited about.

Recommended Videos

Lucid Gravity

Lucid Gravity
Lucid Motors

The Lucid Air is one of the most exciting electric cars of the last few years — and the Lucid Gravity could be even better. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the Lucid Gravity, but we do know that it will be a two-row SUV with an option for a third row and that it’ll enter production in late 2024. That means that it’s still probably a while before the car is available to the masses. The Gravity is expected to offer the same luxurious interior and high-tech features as the Air but in a larger body.

The car won’t be in Model Y price territory, though. The company is following the Tesla model — which means launching expensive, luxury cars before affordable ones. That puts the Gravity on par with the Model X. We don’t yet know exactly how much the Lucid Gravity will cost, but we expect it to be north of $100,000.

Kia EV9

Kia EV 9
Kia / Kia

If you’re looking for something a little more affordable, then the EV9 might be more interesting to you. To be clear, the EV9 barely qualifies as “upcoming” — it’s already available in South Korea, and will roll out to the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The EV9 is essentially the larger version of the much-loved EV6. It’ll offer three rows of six, equating to either six or seven seats, depending on your model. Of course, it’ll also bring that large SUV design, with more cargo space, and a higher ride. It’s expected that the car will offer up to around 300 miles of range, and will charge at a super-fast 350kW.

Chevrolet Equinox EV

Front three quarter view of the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV.
Chevrolet

The EV9 may be more affordable than the Lucid Gravity, but if you’re truly looking for an affordable electric SUV, then the Chevrolet Equinox may be the new car for you. The Equinox EV is expected to start at around an impressive $30,000, while still boasting a good-looking design and a decent range. That range has yet to be announced, but we’re expecting up to 300 miles — which puts it on par with many of the other best electric cars out there.

Ford Explorer EV

Ford Explorer EV
Ford

The much-loved Explorer is getting the electric treatment too. Ford is launching an electric Explorer for the 2024 model year, and it’ll offer five seats and a high-tech interior for less than $50,000. Unfortunately, little information about the Explorer EV’s range and battery, and it has really only been announced for Europe. That said, it’s very likely to make its way to North America at some point, even if that’s still a few years away.

Hyundai Ioniq 7

Hyundai Ioniq 7 concept
Hyundai / Hyundai

The Ioniq 7 is to the Ioniq 5 what the EV9 is to the EV6. In other words, it’s a highly anticipated electric SUV that builds on one of the most-loved electric cars out there. The Ioniq 7 is expected to offer a relatively interesting and unique design, with three rows of seats and the same E-GMP platform that gives the Ioniq 5 up to 300 miles of range. We’ll have to see how much range the Ioniq 7 offers in the end, and if it truly offers the “living room on wheels” aesthetic that Hyundai promises.

Lotus Eletre

Lotus Eletre
Lotus / Lotus

Maybe you’re looking for a little more luxury, in which case the Lotus Eletre may be the SUV for you. The Eletre is a high-performance SUV that’s built for a luxurious experience and excellent power under the hood. The top-spec R model of the car offers an impressive 905 horsepower, and will likely hit 60 miles per hour in under 3 seconds, making it a pretty zippy car around town. The Eletre has a maximum range of 373 miles, too, which is quite impressive.

Volvo EX90

Front three quarter view of the 2024 Volvo EX90.
Volvo

For something a little more practical, the Volvo EX90 may be worth considering. The EX90 comes with seven seats, making it a great choice for larger families, plus it boasts that much-loved Volvo design. The car offers up to 300 miles of range, which is quite good — however, you’ll likely have to upgrade to get that much. It also has a ton of tech features, and it’s the first to feature Volvo’s new advanced driver-assist system, which should allow it to self-drive on the highway.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Stellantis’ 2027 Dodge Charger Daytona might feature solid-state battery tech
Front three quarter view of the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona sedan.

The battle to use cheaper, more efficient, and safer EV batteries is heating up among automakers. At the heart of this battle, the development of solid-state battery technology, an alternative to highly flammable and costly lithium batteries, is garnering more and more attention.For proof, Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, is betting on the technology for its next generation of electric vehicles. The Netherlands-based company announced that it will launch a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs that will feature solid-state battery tech made by U.S. startup Factorial.The demo fleet, expected to launch by 2026, will provide a real-world assessment of Factorial’s technology. Factorial has been partnering with Stellantis since 2021 and is also partnering with the likes of Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.Besides Dodge, the technology would eventually be deployed on the Stellantis STLA Large multi-energy platform, which includes brands such as Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.Stellantis said that the integration of solid-state battery technology will yield “improved performance, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times in the coming years.”Factorial, meanwhile, says its technology provides higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance, and the potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time. Stellantis, Daimler, and Hyundai aren’t the only ones to bet on solid-state battery tech. Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, has heavily invested in the technology. It also created a coalition with Nissan and Panasonic to boost its production in Japan. So far, making solid-state batteries has remained an expensive endeavor. But steps such as the Stellantis demo fleet and production at scale by the likes of Factorial are expected to improve manufacturing processes and costs over time.Other automakers, meanwhile, are working on ways to improve lithium batteries. Volkswagen, for one, is developing its own unified battery cell in several European plants as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.

Read more
Costco partners with Electric Era to bring back EV charging in the U.S.
costco ev charging us electricera fast station 1260x945

Costco, known for its discount gas stations, has left EV drivers in need of juicing up out in the cold for the past 12 years. But that seems about to change now that the big-box retailer is putting its brand name on a DC fast-charging station in Ridgefield, Washington.
After being one of the early pioneers of EV charging in the 1990s, Costco abandoned the offering in 2012 in the U.S.
While opening just one station may seem like a timid move, the speed at which the station was installed -- just seven weeks -- could indicate big plans going forward.
Besides lightening-speed installation, Electric Era, the Seattle-based company making and installing the charging station, promises to offer “hyper-reliable, battery-backed fast charging technology in grid-constrained locations.”
Its stalls can deliver up to 200 kilowatts and come with built-in battery storage, allowing for lower electricity rates and the ability to remain operational even when power grids go down.
If that sounds like it could very well rival Tesla’s SuperCharger network, it’s no coincidence: Quincy Lee, its CEO, is a former SpaceX engineer.
Costco also seems confident enough in the company to have put its brand name on the EV-charging station. Last year, the wholesaler did open a pilot station in Denver, this time partnering with Electrify America, the largest charging network in the U.S. However, Costco did not put its brand name on it.
In an interview with Green Car Reports, Electric Era said it was still in talks with Costco about the opening of new locations. Last year, Costco said it was planning to install fast chargers at 20 locations, without providing further details. It has maintained EV-charging operations in Canada, the UK, Spain, and South Korea.
Meanwhile, the wholesaler’s U.S. EV-charging plans might very well resemble those of rival Walmart, which last year announced it was building its own EV fast-charging network in addition to the arrangements it already had with Electrify America.

Read more
The UK’s Wayve brings its AI automated driving software to U.S. shores
wayve ai automated driving us driver assist2 1920x1152 1

It might seem that the autonomous driving trend is moving at full speed and on its own accord, especially if you live in California.Wayve, a UK startup that has received over $1 billion in funding, is now joining the crowded party by launching on-road testing of its AI learning system on the streets of San Francisco and the Bay Area.The announcement comes just weeks after Tesla unveiled its Robotaxi at the Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California. It was also in San Francisco that an accident last year forced General Motors’ robotaxi service Cruise to stop its operations. And it’s mostly in California that Waymo, the only functioning robotaxi service in the U.S., first deployed its fleet of self-driving cars. As part of its move, Wayve opened a new office in Silicon Valley to support its U.S. expansion and AI development. Similarly to Tesla’s Full-Self Driving (FSD) software, the company says it’s using AI to provide automakers with a full range of driver assistance and automation features.“We are now testing our AI software in real-world environments across two continents,” said Alex Kendall, Wayve co-founder and CEO.The company has already conducted tests on UK roads since 2018. It received a huge boost earlier this year when it raised over $1 billion in a move led by Softbank and joined by Microsoft and Nvidia. In August, Uber also said it would invest to help the development of Wayve’s technology.Just like Tesla’s FSD, Wayve’s software provides an advanced driver assistance system that still requires driver supervision.Before driverless vehicles can legally hit the road, they must first pass strict safety tests.So far, Waymo’s technology, which relies on pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar), is the only of its kind to have received the nod from U.S. regulators.

Read more