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Jun 21, 2023

10 Exciting EV Companies That Have Slid Under The Radar

The EV revolution brought about a lot of new startups, but not all of them could survive and ended up fading away into oblivion. While Tesla has dominated the headlines, several other exciting EV

The EV revolution brought about a lot of new startups, but not all of them could survive and ended up fading away into oblivion.

While Tesla has dominated the headlines, several other exciting EV companies have impressed but flown under the radar while making significant contributions to the industry. Most of them happen to be Chinese automakers that focus on affordable EVs with impressive range and performance. They mostly boast ranges of over 250 miles with advanced driver-assistance systems and cutting-edge technologies. Excellent autonomous driving capabilities and over-the-air updates further enhance the convenience of their vehicles. There are compact and stylish models, subcompact crossovers, pickup trucks, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, lifestyle vehicles, and even electric buses.

They all start from the foundation of providing eco-friendly options for urban dwellers seeking convenient mobility solutions. Some offer high-performance electric models that do not skimp on sustainable luxury. Impressive acceleration and cutting-edge battery technology will make them eventually significant players in the EV market. Some of these models will rival the big dogs in terms of off-road capability while combining practicality with sustainability in offering spacious interiors and cargo spaces. These EV manufacturers may have less brand popularity than Tesla, but their innovations and exciting options will further propel the EV revolution. Their commitments to sustainability, performance, and advanced technologies will reshape the automotive industry and propel a greener and more electrified future.

Related: 10 Electric Cars That Are Infinitely Cooler Than Any Exotic Car

Aiways is an emerging Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2017, which focuses on innovation and sustainability. The Aiways name comes from the Chinese phrase "Ai is on the way". "Ai" means "love". The company quickly gained attention in the global automotive market through one of its standout products, the U5.

Running on a 201-horsepower electric motor that can accelerate the vehicle from 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds, it has an impressive 249-miles range (400 kilometers) per charge from a 63 kWh battery pack according to the WLTP cycle. Unveiled in 2019 and released in 2020, it is sold in China and some parts of Europe. The company also has a compact crossover SUV, the U6, which generates the same power output and runs on the same 63 kWh battery pack.

Smart Motors was founded by Daimler AG in 1994 and in 2019, a joint venture was established with Chinese auto manufacturer Geely. It is known for its compact and stylish vehicles. The Smart EQ ForTwo, an all-electric vehicle designed specifically for city driving, started in 2007 as Smart Motors looked to electrify their lineup and since then has had four generations. Its compact size makes it very maneuverable and helps with effortless navigation through crowded urban streets. It can travel up to 81 miles on a full charge, making it ideal for short commutes.

Another notable product from Smart Motors is the Smart EQ ForFour, which is a four-seater electric vehicle. The joint Smart venture between Mercedes and Geely has produced the Smart #1 and #3 subcompact and compact crossover SUVs built on Geely's SEA platform.

Related: 10 Hybrid Cars That Are Deceptively Faster Than They Look

Faraday Future is an American electric vehicle manufacturer that was founded in 2014. In 2016, the company unveiled a concept car, the FF Zero1 which it said would have 1,000 horsepower and could accelerate from 0-60 mph in three seconds. It was to be powered by four electric motors, each attached to a wheel. However, it never materialized.

That aside, the company's standout product is the FF91, which is an all-electric full-size luxury SUV that offers breathtaking 0-60 mph acceleration of 2.27 seconds from a power output of 1,050 horsepower as well as a range exceeding 380 miles. The FF91 combines exhilarating performance and practicality. Its sleek design doesn't hamper its spacious interior that provides a luxurious driving experience for all six to seven passengers. It is built on Faraday Future's cutting-edge Variable Platform Architecture.

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Karma Automotive was born when the Chinese company Wanxiang Group bought up the assets of the defunct Fisker Automotive. The Revero is the company's standout product. The sleek and sporty PHEV sedan offers impressive 404 horsepower from two electric motors merged with an ICE and a luxurious interior.

When it combines electric power with its gasoline range, it gets a total range of just almost 300 miles. It gets 50 miles of all-electric driving range. The 2017 GT base version has a 5.4-second 0-60 mph acceleration capacity while the 2020 base version pushes its acceleration to as fast as 4.5 seconds. The Revero GTS and GS-6 also produce 536 horsepower and offer 360 miles of total driving range. A few concept vehicles are in the works like the Karma GT, SC1 Vision Concept, and SC2 Concept.

Related: 10 Used Electric Cars With Great Range

Xpeng is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer founded in 2014. It has been rapidly making waves in the global automotive market. Xpeng started with the standout G3, an all-electric compact crossover SUV. The G3 hit the market in 2018 with a 194-horsepower electric motor and up to 320 miles (520 kilometers) on a full charge according to the WLTP cycle. It received a mid-cycle facelift in 2021 which was named the Xpeng G3i. This featured a new front facia.

In 2021, Xpeng partnered with Livox to create lidar equipment for its autonomous driving system called the XPILOT. In addition to the G3, Xpeng has the P7 and P5, which are midsize and compact sedans respectively, and the G9 and G6 midsize crossover SUVs. The P7 can run for 439 miles (706 kilometers) of range.

Lordstown Motors was an American EV manufacturer, founded in 2018. It purchased a General Motors former assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, in 2019, to produce sustainable, zero-emission vehicles. GM was a major partner. Lordstown Motors gathered EV enthusiasts' attention with its flagship electric pickup truck, Lordstown Endurance, which debuted in 2020. The Endurance was fitted with impressive features, including a powerful electric drivetrain and an all-electric range of approximately 250 miles.

Lordstown sold the former GM plant to Foxconn Technology Group and both companies formed a joint venture in 2022. In 2021, GM sold its stake in Lordstown and ended their relationship. To fast-track the production of the Endurance, Foxconn promised a huge investment into Lordstown. However, Lordstown declared bankruptcy in 2023, suing Foxconn for failing to fulfill its promise.

Related: ​​​​​​​10 Things Nobody Tells You About Charging An EV

Hozon Auto is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, established in 2014 to develop innovative EV technologies. It has made significant strides in the Chinese market. A Hozon Auto notable product is the Neta brand, which encompasses a range of electric vehicles. This EV lineup comprises compact cars, sedans, and SUVs, that cater to different customer preferences and needs. They feature advanced technologies that include intelligent connectivity, autonomous driving capabilities, and sustainable powertrains.

The Neta U is a compact electric hatchback released in 2019 for urban commuting with a maximum range of 186 miles. The Neta V is an all-electric sedan with a range of up to 311 miles and accelerates from 0-60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. The Neta S sedan and Neta GT sports car were released in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

WM Motor was founded in 2015 as a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer. Since then, WM Motor has aimed at innovative mobility solutions. One of WM Motor's notable products is the EX series of SUVs, which includes the EX5 and EX6 models. The EX5 is an all-electric compact SUV launched in 2018, with a range of up to 249 miles and a power output of 215 horsepower. The EX6 is a midsize crossover electric SUV with a range of over 250 miles and a power output of 214 horsepower.

In addition to the EX series, WM Motor also offers the W series, which includes models like the W5 and W6. The W6 is an electric midsize SUV delivering over 320 miles of range. The company sold over 44,000 vehicles in 2021 alone.

Related: 10 Reasons Why We’d Love To Have A Saab EV

Lightyear is a Dutch solar electric vehicle manufacturer, which was founded in 2016 by a group of Solar Team Eindhoven alumni. The team had won the World Solar Challenge with the Stella solar car. Lightyear's flagship product was the Lightyear One, which in addition to being a sleek and futuristic SEV, could harness the power of the sun through its integrated solar panels to extend its range.

With a range of 388 miles on the WLTP scale, the Lightyear One was a viable long-distance travel option by combining solar power with an efficient design and innovative technology. The name was later changed to Lightyear 0 and production began in 2022. Production was later halted in 2023 when Atlas Technologies building it went bankrupt and the company decided to focus on Lightyear 2.

Proterra is an American electric bus manufacturer, established in 2004 to create emission-free and sustainable buses. Proterra started its lineup with the EcoRide. Unveiled in 2008 at the APTA Expo in San Diego, the EcoRide entered production in 2010. It could charge to 80 percent in 10 minutes in a Proterra Fast Fill charging station.

Proterra also built the Catalyst all-electric transit bus between 2014 and 2020 with a maximum range of up to 426 miles on a full charge to replace the EcoRide. Charging speeds ranged from 60 kW to 350 kW depending on the fast-charging station used. The Proterra ZX5 electric bus was introduced in 2020 to replace the Catalyst. It was the third generation of buses made by the EV company since the EcoRide and the Catalyst.

Before entering into the freelance automotive content writing universe, Ebenezer had a diverse background. He has had a long history in the automotive industry in various capacities, during which he learned to appreciate the value of attention to detail and good communication skills. During this time, he's had a career in writing, editing, transcribing, and ghostwriting. He has also always believed that volunteering is not just an excellent way to give back to the community but also the easiest way to get experience, so has been actively involved in several volunteer positions over the years. His diverse background has given him a unique perspective that he brings to all his content writing projects.