Vulcan Post

Overtaking Tesla: Upcoming EVs That Will Make Everyone Ditch Last-Gen Rides

Prices are estimates based on car prices at the time this article was published. 

In January 2024, more EVs were registered in Singapore than Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars, which shows that Singapore is well on its way to mass EV adoption.

A Bloomberg Green analysis set the Tipping Point, which indicates the transition between early adopters and mainstream acceptance of EVs in a country, at 5%. We are likely to see EVs comprising more than 25% of new vehicle registrations in Singapore this year.

So, if you are looking for your next ride, here are seven upcoming EVs to entice you and turn you away from the last-generation fossil fuel machines.

Polestar 4

Volvo-owned Polestar, while not yet a major player in the Singapore EV market, presents a compelling blend of Swedish design aesthetics with Geely’s advanced electric vehicle manufacturing expertise from its Hangzhou Bay factory.

Expected Arrival: August/September 2024

The Polestar 4 is a compact crossover SUV that fuses the design styling of a Scandavinian coupe with the functionality of a 4-door SUV. It has room to comfortably seat 5 people, though only the front seats have a massage function.

Pricing: $195,000 – $245,000 (without COE)

The Polestar 4 is now available for preview, and indicative prices have been disclosed as $195,000 for the Long Range Single Motor, and $245,000 for the Long Range Dual Motor. Both prices are without COE. The Polestar 4 is expected to go on sale in August or September 2024.

(Updated 14/06/2024)

ModelLong Range Single MotorLong Range Dual Motor
MotorSingle RWDDual AWD
System Power200 kW400 kW
0-100km/h7.1 sec3.8 sec
Battery100 kWh100 kWh
Range (WLTP)620 km590 km
DC Charging10-80% in 30 min (200kW max)
InfotainmentAndroid Auto OS, Apple CarPlay 15.4” display, 8 speakers, 5G eSIM, front seat massage function
Source: Polestar Singapore

Ora 07 Lighting Cat

Chinese EV brand Ora, which debuted in Singapore last year with the 03 Good Cat compact, is set to expand its lineup with the Ora 07 Lighting Cat, a coupe sedan that just launched in Malaysia.

Expected Arrival: Q3 2024

Ora’s rounded design makes it stand out against its competition, especially when its goal is to compete with the Tesla Model Y and BYD Seal, the top two best-selling EVs in Singapore, in Q3 2024. Add in a plush PU leather interior, Android Auto and a comprehensive list of driver aids and safety sensors, including a 360-degree surround camera, and you can see why this EV is hotting up its market sector.

Estimated Pricing: $180,000 to $230,000+

If Singapore follows Ora’s global pricing trends, we expect the 07 Lighting Cat to be priced above the smaller 03 Good Cat, which is currently priced at $160,999, but just below the BYD Seal (priced at $199,888 to 240,888), so around $180,000 to $230,000, depending on model.

ModelLong RangePerformance
MotorSingle FWDDual AWD
System Power150 kW300 kW
0-100km/h7.9 sec4.3 sec
Battery83.5 kWh83.5 kWh
Range (WLTP)620 km590 km
DC Charging30-80% in 30 min (88kW max)
InfotainmentAndroid Auto OS, Apple CarPlay 12.3” centre display, 11 speakers
Source: Ora Malaysia (local specs unconfirmed)

BYD Sea Lion 7

In the first quarter of 2024, 1,804 BYD EVs were registered in Singapore, accounting for 15% of all new vehicles registered during this period. This popularity is down to BYD‘s innovative marketing campaigns, competitive pricing for feature-rich vehicles, and discount deals for charging. 

Expected Arrival: Q4 2024

The upcoming Sea Lion 7 is an electric SUV that launched in China in May 2024. Built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 Evo, it is designed to rival the Tesla Model Y, boasting similar dimensions and four models, though Thai motoring media recently conducted a preview on a right-hand drive variant and stated that three export models may be available.

Estimated Pricing: $220,000+

The BYD Seal is currently priced between $199,888 and $240,888, and as the Sea Lion 7 is a larger SUV model based on an upgraded Seal platform, it should be priced accordingly, which we estimate to be $220,000 to $270,000.

Model550 Standard610 Long Range610 Smart550 4WD Smart
MotorSingle FWDSingle FWDDual AWDDual AWD
System Power170 kW230 kW230 kW390 kW
0-100km/h7.3 sec6.7 sec6.7 sec4.2 sec
Battery71.8 kWh80.6 kWh80.6 kWh80.6 kWh
Range (WLTP)550 km610 km610 km550 km
DC Charging10-80% in 30 min (180 kW max)
InfotainmentAR-HUD, 15.6” centre display, 12 speakers
Source: China launch (local specs unconfirmed)

BMW i4 Grand Coupe

The BMW i4, BMW’s most popular EV worldwide, is set to make waves. The 2025 model has just entered production and is expected to arrive in Singapore by December.

Expected Arrival: December 2024

The 2025 i4 grand coupe will be offered in two rear-wheel-drive eDrive variants and two AWD xDrive models, including the stonking M50 xDrive, which has 400 kW total power.

Price Estimate: $326,000 – $460,000+

The 2024 i4 eDrive35 is priced at $326,888, and the 2024 i4 M50 goes for $452,888, so there shouldn’t be a major price difference as the 2025 model is a slight update and facelift.

ModeleDrive35eDrive40xDrive40M50 xDrive
MotorSingle RWDSingle RWDDual AWDDual AWD
System Power210 kW250 kW295 kW400 kW
0-100km/h6 sec7.7 sec5.1 sec3.9 sec
Battery67 kWh81.3 kWh81.3 kWh81.3 kWh
Range (WLTP)500 km600 km546 km520 km
DC Charging10-80% in 30-31 min (180/205 kW max)
InfotainmentBMW OS 8.5, Curved Display, Intelligent Personal Assistant, Apple CarPlay Android Auto, 5G eSIM
Source: BMW Asia (local specs unconfirmed)

Kia EV3

Kia’s EV9 is a hard act to follow, having recently won the World Car of the Year 2024 and the World Electric Vehicle 2024 awards, but the just-announced Kia EV3 compact EV SUV may just follow up on its sibling’s accolades. Kia has again combined a bold design with innovative technology, positioning the EV3 as a potential market leader.

Expected Arrival: Q4 2024

When the EV3 reaches our shores, we can expect two models, both equipped with the same 150 kW FWD electric motor. The standard EV3 will feature a 58.3 kWh battery, while the Long Range variant boasts an 81.4 kWh battery, enabling it to achieve a class-leading range of 600 km (WLTP). 

Price Estimate: $150,000+

As the smallest EV SUV in Kia’s lineup, the EV3 should be priced just below the older EV6, which is currently priced at $150,999.

ModelStandardLong Range
MotorSingle FWDSingle FWD
System Power150 kW150 kW
0-100km/h7.5 sec7.5 sec
Battery58.3 kWh81.5 kWh
Range (WLTP)500 km600 km
DC Charging10-80% in 30 min (105kW max)
InfotainmentAndroid Auto OS, Apple CarPlay, 30” ultra-wide display, genAI Assistant, Harmon Kardon speakers. 5G eSIM, Kia Streaming service
Source: KIA EU (local specs unconfirmed)

Audi Q6 e-tron

The Q6 e-tron is the first vehicle based on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) that Audi developed in-house alongside Porsche. This platform was created specifically for high-volume EV production and integrates a newly developed lithium-ion battery with electric motors and an 800-volt electric architecture, which allows the Q6 e-tron to reach 641 km (WLTP) with a 100 kWh Li-ion battery.

Expected Arrival: December 2024

A new electronic architecture integrates vehicle electronics and software, and the Audi MMI 14.1” panoramic touchscreen display has been updated.

Estimated Price: $400,000+

The new Q6 e-tron is projected to arrive in Singapore by the end of this year and should slot between the Q4 e-tron ($332,800) and the Q8 e-tron ($456,640) in Audi Singapore’s lineup.

ModelQ6 e-tron quattroSQ6 e-tron
MotorDual AWDDual AWD
System Power285 kW380 kW
0-100km/h7.1 sec4.3 sec
Battery100 kWh100 kWh
Range (WLTP)625 km598 km
DC Charging10-80% in 21 min (270kW max)
Infotainment14.5” touchscreen display,10.9” front passenger display, Audi Voice Assistant, optional 20 speaker Bang & Olufsen Premium Sound
Source Audi Global (local specs unconfirmed)

For electric motorcycle fans, a new electric motorbike brand finally brings commercial battery swapping to Singapore.

NIU NQi GTS

Out of the 143,992 motorcycles on Singapore’s roads, just 191 are EVs (and 175 are owned by SingPost).

This number should change now that Evotion Labs Singapore, a local company backed by Mah Pte. Ltd., has launched Singapore’s first commercial battery-swapping service for electric motorcycles. The company currently has one battery swap station at Mah’s business premises but plans to expand to 22 stations by the end of 2024 and 400 stations within two years.

The battery swap stations are designed for NIU electric motorcycles, and the NIU NQi GTS model is now available for purchase alongside this new service.

This smart electric scooter, fully approved by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), has two removable lithium-ion batteries and a range of up to 110 km on a full charge.

Price$17,500 (including COE)
Max Range110 km
Power3.5 kW
Top Speed80km/h
Display6.2” colour display

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