This feature was taken from our New Car Launch Guide 2024. Click here to read the full special report.
As the 2030 ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars gets closer, manufacturers are launching an ever-increasing number of new battery electric vehicles.
Here we look at 14 of the most important models for fleets on the horizon.
Audi Q6 e-tron
Available: April
Range: Up to 381 miles
Audi has unveiled the Q6 e-tron as its latest electric SUV and the first of a renewed line-up for the brand.
Set to go on sale at the end of April, the Q6 e-tron will be priced from £68,975.
A 100kWh battery gives the car a range of 381 miles.
It's the first new Audi to be based on the brand's Premium Platform Electric (PPE), developed in partnership with Porsche.
Alongside its new platform, the Q6 e-tron also debuts a new interior architecture and infotainment setup for Audi. The car's driver-focused cabin features a 14.5-inch central touchscreen and Android-based software, paired with a digital instrument cluster. For passengers, there's a separate display above the glovebox.
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BMW i5 Touring
Available: May
Range: Up to 348 miles
Hot on the heels of the i5 saloon, the new i5 Touring will launch this year as the first executive electric estate car.
It will be offered in eDrive40 and M60 guises, with prices starting at £69,040. Sales will commence in May.
The rear-wheel-drive eDrive40 uses a 340PS electric motor, while the M60 variant uses two motors and has a total power output of 601PS.
Both models use an 81kWh battery, giving a range of up to 348 miles in the eDrive40 and 314 miles in the M60. A 22kW on-board charger is fitted as standard and the i5 supports 205kW rapid charging.
The i5 Touring has a 570-litre boot, which expands to 1,700 litres with the rear seats folded.
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Citroen e-C3
Available: Spring
Range: Up to 199 miles
Citroen has unveiled the new e-C3, which will replace the existing C3 supermini in early 2024.
It looks a bit like a small crossover, with plastic cladding and a raised ride height. But this is just the ‘regular’ C3. A C3 Aircross variant will follow.
The car has an anticipated starting price of less than £23,000.
It’s equipped with a 44kWh battery, giving a range of 199 miles. There’s also 100kW DC charging capability, allowing for 20%-80% top ups in 26 minutes.
A modest power output of 113PS is enough to propel the car from 0-62mph in around 11 seconds and gives a top speed of 84mph.
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Cupra Tavascan
Available: Early 2024
Range: 341 miles
The Tavascan will be Cupra's second fully electric model, joining the existing Born in its line-up.
Its sharp looks mirror those of the concept model, first revealed in 2019. The production version carries over the coupe silhouette and aggressive front end design which incorporates air channels in the bonnet.
The interior architecture is also new for the brand, with a large T-shaped central console giving a wraparound cockpit-style feel to the driver.
Based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform, the Tavascan will be available with two power outputs. A single motor variant, using VW Group's newest electric powertrain, delivers 286PS, while a a dual-motor all-wheel drive version - known as VZ - produces 340PS.
Cupra says the Tavascan VZ can reach 31mph in just 2.4 seconds and accelerate from zero to 62mph in 5.6 seconds.
All variants use a 77kWh battery, providing a range of around 341 miles for the single motor and 321 miles for the dual motor variant. An additional 62 miles of range can be added in as little as seven minutes, using a rapid charger. The battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in just under half an hour using a 135kW charging point.
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Dacia Spring
Available: October
Range: Up to 137 miles
The Dacia Spring will be the cheapest electric car on sale in the UK, when it arrives later this year.
Pricing for the compact electric crossover starts at just £14,995.
As a budget-friendly model, the Spring features plastic body cladding and a simplistic interior.
It is available with a choice of mid-range Expression or top-of-the-range Extreme trim levels and offers a WLTP combined range of up to 137 miles.
The Spring comes with a choice of 46PS or 66PS motors, and its 27kWh battery can be charged at a rate of up to 7kW from an AC charger.
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Ford Explorer
Available: Available to order now
Range: Up to 374 miles
The Explorer will join Ford's growing electric line-up as part of its partnership with VW Group, using the same underpinnings as the VW ID 4.
Ford has started taking orders for the car, with first deliveries commencing at the end of the year. Prices start at less than £40,000.
The Explorer is offered with three powertrain options, closely mirroring those offered in the ID 4. The entry-level single motor rear-wheel-drive model produces 170PS and has a range of 218 miles from its 55kWh (52kWh useable) battery. A larger 82kWh (77kWh useable) battery extends the range to 374 miles and boosts power to 286PS.
At the top of the range, a twin motor setup is available with the larger battery. It produces 340PS and has a range of 329 miles.
Ford has given the Explorer its own body and interior, setting it apart visually from the VW. The Explorer is shorter and lower than its counterpart, with a slightly smaller 450 litre boot.
On the inside, a large portrait infotainment screen runs Ford's SYNCMove software and Ford promises high-quality materials. The digital instrument display and gear selector appear to carry-over from the VW.
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Mini Cooper Electric
Available: Spring
Range: Up to 250 miles
The all-new Mini Electric is available from £30,000 and has a much longer range of up to 250 miles than its predecessor.
It retains the iconic Mini shape but integrates new flush-fit door handles and a new, wider tailgate that incorporates the rear lights.
Inside, there's a new central infotainment screen that incorporates the instrument cluster and climate controls.
The Mini Cooper Electric is available in two variants: E and SE. The Cooper E is equipped with a 40.7kWh battery, which provides up to 190 miles of range. It uses a 184PS electric motor.
The Cooper SE has a larger 54.2kWh battery, which gives a 250-mile range. It also feature a more powerful electric motor, developing 218PS.
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Omoda 5
Available: Spring
Range: Up to 280 miles
Omoda, a subsidiary of China's largest car manufacturer Chery Group, has confirmed that it will launch the 5 SUV in the UK this year.
The Omoda 5 blends styling cues from the Cupra Formentor, MG 4 and Nissan Ariya. Its dashboard appears to be heavily influenced by the Kia EV6, with a pair of conjoined 10.25-inch screens and a row of touch sensitive quick keys.
It is equipped with a 61kWh battery and 204PS motor that drives the front wheels, giving a range of up to 280 miles.
The battery can be charged from 0-80% in 30 minutes, using a 110kW rapid charger.
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Peugeot e-5008
Available: Autumn
Range: Up to 410 miles
Following the debut of the smaller E-3008, the new E-5008 makes use of the same fresh underpinnnings from parent company Stellantis.
The new model is set to go on sale in the Autumn, offering a family-friendly seven-seat layout.
The E-5008's powertrain line-up starts with a Single Motor variant. It's powered by a 73kWh battery, giving a range of 311 miles and a 210PS output.
Long Range Single Motor has slightly more power, at 230PS. This version uses a 98kWh battery, enabling a range of up to 410 miles.
For those that want a bit more performance, the Dual Motor uses a pair of motors with an output of 310PS. These are combined with the smaller 73kWh battery, promising the same 311-mile range as the Single Motor.
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Polestar 4
Available: August
Range: Up to 379 miles
Polestar will expand its model line-up this year with the launch of the Polestar 4
Single and Dual Motor models are available. The Polestar 4 is equipped with a 100kWh battery.
The Single Motor is proced from £59,990, while the Dual Motor is available for £66,990.
Polestar describes the 4 as a D-segment SUV coupé. It has no rear-window, instead relying on a digital rear-view mirror.
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Porsche Macan
Available: Late 2024
Range: Up to 381 miles
The next-generation Macan will feature an electric powertrain for the first time. In fact, there are two electric options for the new model.
Both using a 95kWh battery, the Macan 4 delivers 408PS, while the Turbo serves up 639PS.
Rapid charging capability enables a 10%-80% top-up in 21 minutes.
Pricing starts at £69,800 for the new Macan, which shares a plaform with the Audi Q6 e-tron.
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Renault Scenic
Available: Spring
Range: Up to 379 miles
The new Scenic E-Tech shares its underpinnings with the Megane E-Tech and is available with two powertrain options.
Prices for the new model start at £37,495.
It promises a spacious interior, agile handling and a Google-powered infotainment system.
The Comfort Range version uses a 170PS motor and a 60kWh battery pack, giving a range of 260 miles.
In Long Range guise, the Scenic E-Tech features an 87kWh battery, paired with a 220PS motor. It gives a range of 379 miles and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.
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Volvo EX90
Available: Available to order now
Range: 363 miles
The new seven-seat Volvo EX90 SUV has a range of up to 363 miles.
Poised to replace the existing XC90 large SUV, the EX90 was developed alongside the new Polestar 3.
It features the same 111kWh battery and two electric motors, delivering up to 517PS and 910Nm of torque.
Priced from £96,255, the EX90 can charge from 10 to 80% battery capacity in under 30 minutes and will have bi-directional charging capability.
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VW ID 7 Tourer
Available: Autumn
Range: 438 miles
The new ID7 Tourer is VW's first electric estate car.
Based on the ID 7 saloon, it will go on sale later this year.
The ID7 Tourer uses VW's MEB platform and will be powered by its new 286PS electric motor.
Two battery sizes will be offered, with the largest providing a range of around 425 miles (WLTP).
A maximum charging capacity of up to 200kW means the battery can be recharged from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes.
A Guide to Fleet Electrification: a special digital report.
Fleet News has published a digital report offering advice to any business taking those first steps into the world of electric vehicles, while laying out the challenges to those yet to start their transition.
Companies operating fleets of cars and vans have less than seven years until they will no longer be able to buy full petrol and diesel vehicles.
For many, that means a maximum of two replacement cycles.
Yet a large proportion have not started to consider the implications for their businesses; some have no plans to look at electric vehicle scenarios until close to the 2030 deadline, according to Fleet News surveys.
A few still believe the Government will soften its stance and push back the deadline due to the current supply delays.
These businesses are playing a high-risk strategy: transitioning to electric is rarely straightforward.
Among the many considerations are the installation of workplace charging infrastructure, reimbursement policies and the possible reworking of daily workflows and journey plans to accommodate vehicles, particularly light commercial vehicles, with less range.
The Fleet News Guide to Running an Electric Fleet will help companies to take those first steps, offering advice to speed up and simplify the process.
It also details the electric vehicles coming soon from Audi, BMW, Cupra, Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Peugeot, Polestar, Tesla, Vauxhall, Volvo and Volkswagen.
Report sponsors Allstar, ATS Euromaster, Europcar, Northgate Vehicle Hire, Zenith and Webfleet also offer their advice for a smooth and speedy transition.
> Interested in comparing electric vehicle data? Check out our EV tool.
> Interested in ensuring the efficient use of EVs. Check out our dedicated editorial sections: Insight & policy | EV news | Charging & infrastructure | Costs & incentives | Benefit-in-kind | EV case studies | EV road tests
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Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
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