John Grifonetti Explains why the Time of the Electric Vehicle has Arrived

The automobile has dominated travel around the world for or a century and has seen many changes. The next decade will be a time of change and evolution in the car markets, according to investment specialist John Grifonetti. The Guardian forecasts the electric vehicle will become as cheap to manufacture as an internal combustion engine vehicle by 2022. The electric vehicle market will reach ten percent of global sales by 2025, with 2021 starting the move to fully electric manufacturer lineups.

The Jaguar I-Pace

The legendary British luxury manufacturer has pledged to become fully electric over the next five years. Over the next five years, the Jaguar brand will release six new electric models as it switches to zero emissions by 2039. The redesign of the I-Pace for 2021 is a gamechanger for luxury vehicle manufacturers, with the all-electric motor bringing performance to the EV sector.

The i-Pace has an EPA-certified range of 253 miles and has a fast-charge capacity. The vehicle sold almost 8,000 in 2020 and will perform strongly in sales over 2021. John Grifonetti believes Jaguar is leading the changes from ICE vehicles to electric for luxury brands.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E

The electric vehicle market has yet to ignite the imagination of U.S. car buyers. The Ford Motor Company has understood the switch to electric vehicles will take place and is releasing several new EV models. The approach taken by several automakers, including Lotus, is to retire their existing models in favor of a host of newly-designed EV models.

Ford is taking a different approach, with the introduction of electric motors for their iconic model range. The model range will expand with a 2022 F150 truck set to join the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Ford is gambling on the performance of the Mach-E as a selling point for fans of the Mustang. Car and Driver report the Mach-E moves from zero to 60 in five seconds, with the GT Performance model slashing this to 3.5 seconds.

2021 Toyota Corolla

The home of car design in the 21st-century, Japan, has a rate of EV adoption as low as that of the U.S. Despite the lack of local adoption, Toyota has introduced a new Corolla hybrid model that is affordable and offers excellent performance. Hybrid engines will be important during the changeover period from ICE to electric vehicles. The Japanese automaker will benefit from the lowering of the price of batteries and battery packs taking place. The drawbacks of the Corolla include the small backseat and the low fuel-efficiency of the four-cylinder gasoline engine.

Bentley Enters the Market

The image of luxury auto brands has always been of powerful engines. The rise of the Formula-E racing series has brought the power of luxury motors to the electric market, with Bentley the latest brand to pledge to eliminate gasoline models by 2030. The company, based in the English town of Crewe, has so far released concept cars in all-electric form. The change to electric production will begin with a new model in 2025, based on the EXP100 GT. The concept EV will form the basis of the new electric model that will be the first from the ultra-luxury brand.

General Motors Shifts

The General Motors brand is seeing a resurgence of interest in its powerful pickup trucks across North America. The automaker has chosen “to completely phase out vehicles using internal combustion engines by 2035” – Chairman and chief executive officer Mary Barraw. General Motors is preparing to release and “ramp up” production on the Chevy Bolt EV and will as a HUMMer EV for the latter part of 2012.

Hyundai Looks to Dominate

The mid-range market is changing, with the Hyundai brand incorporating cutting-edge design. Hyundai is continuing to redesign existing models, with the Elantra undergoing an evolution. The 2021 version of the Elantra includes a hybrid engine that is part of the switch to an all-electric model lineup.

What to Expect in the Future

John Grifonetti explains the 2021 model year will see a change in the way automakers approach the design of their vehicles. The top vehicle manufacturers are changing their focus from power to providing energy savings across the board. A recent article from SlashGear detailed the latest release from Lotus, the ER-9, and its morphing body panels. Lotus began the shift to an all-electric model lineup in 2021, when the Norfolk-based brand halted production of its gasoline engine models.

The technology change will give luxury car buyers the chance to enjoy a vehicle body that morphs to suit the conditions. The ER-9 is a racecar that will provide technology for the Lotus Evija Hypercar. The Evija is the first all-electric offering from Lotus and will adapt the morphing body design of its racecar sister.

Grifonetti believes the coming years in the auto market will be some of the most innovative ever seen. Alongside the introduction of luxury vehicles, iconic models are undergoing a revamp to update them with the latest technology. car enthusiasts are about to enter a golden age of design that will redefine what we expect from cars, trucks, and luxury brands.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes