EVs are the stars at this year’s Ford display at the Jacksonville International Auto Show, which runs through Sunday, February 20, 2022. And with good reason. Ford is starting 2022 with record setting electrified sales momentum.
Ford’s electrified sales jumped 167.2% in January, led by the Ford Mustang Mach-E EV.
You might be surprised to learn that electric vehicle sales more than doubled worldwide in 2021, with automakers selling 6.6 million EVs, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Perhaps the most anticipated EV at this year’s Jacksonville, FL show is the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup.
Ford will start Lightning deliveries later this year and already has some 200,000 customer reservations for its EV pickup.
Jacksonville International Auto Show spokesman Lowell Briggs said the traditional automakers have seen been a big increase in the number of customers that are interested in buying an EV.
“You know, in the past 5, 7, 8 years – EV vehicles were typically very expensive, out of the price range of most people. They were presented by fringe manufacturers, new manufacturers, not mainstream ones that people were used to and that obviously is changing now.”
Briggs said what he calls the mainstream manufacturers are going full speed ahead with the development of EVs.
“At the car show this year we have we have more new EVs from traditional manufacturers than we’ve ever had before, and I think that’s generating a lot more interest, and you look at the sales for EVs and it continues to balloon every single year, skyrocket every single year.”
Porsche is also seeing strong EV sales and is hoping to continue the trend with the release of its Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo EV.
The Cross Turismo has the soul of the Taycan but ups the practicality index by adopting a shooting brake wagon-style. It’s also more rugged with an adjustable air suspension for drivers that want to do some light off-roading to campsites and such.
When it comes to go anywhere vehicles, many turn to Subaru, which has its first production EV on display this year in Jacksonville.
The 2023 Subaru Solterra is a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota. It offers 8.3 inches of ground clearance along with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and low overhangs to help it with offroad challenges.
Driving modes that include Hill Ascent and Descent Assist should also help keep the Solterra from getting stuck on a snowy mountain road.
Here at the Jacksonville International Auto Show you’ll find plug-ins on display from most manufacturers.
2022 marks a big year of EV unveils for BMW as well. The German automaker is displaying its first traditionally styled electric sedan, the i4. It’s being rolled out alongside the iX xDrive50 electric SUV.
If you haven’t shopped for a car in a while, get ready for some sticker shock. As an example, the BMW iX xDrive50 has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of more than $103,000.
In many cases you’ll have to custom order an EV with wait times often running more than six months.
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