2022 is another year during which we are expecting and anticipating new models to enter the market. So we brought in our in-house expert, social media EV influencer, Derek Reilly, to give you his take on how he thinks 2022 will be enriched with some beautiful and environmentally cars.

DR: Is 2022 going to be the year of the EV? What I mean by this is will we see more EVs launched this year in the Irish market than previous years and it looks like we just might. Below, please find a list of nearly 20 models we know of launching into the Irish market this year. I’ve also added another 5 at the end that will/maybe announced this year but we may not see on Irish roads until 2023.

The models we are hoping to see are the following (I’ve reviewed a good few of them if you can hyperlink them, that would be much appreciated).

BMW i4 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVJplwrqQBI

BMW iX – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JviIc8biPzI&t=6s

Citroën AMI – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGGmrzGkaQk&t=68s

CUPRA Born – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tscz2bbXQf8&t=43s

FIAT 500e

Mercedes-Benz EQB

Mercedes-Benz EQE

Mercedes-Benz EQS

MG ZS EV Long Range –
Review 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7INZlru0Qo
Review 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRBzY7pZSr8

Nissan ARIYA

ORA Cat

Polestar 2

Renault MEGANE E-TECH

Skoda ENYAQ COUPE iV

Tesla Model Y – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh9nCTU-Lnk&t=7s

Volvo C40 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp_CBIqFyT4

VW ID.5

The manufacturer models we are expecting to be announced this year for release in 2023 and beyond are 

• Audi Q6 e-tron
• BMW iX1
• Polestar 3
• Volvo EMBLA
• VW ID.Buzz (March 9th 2022)

The Top 5, I am most excited to see in no particular order are:

1. BMW iX – An amazing EV and not to everyone’s taste aesthetically. This is BMW’s flagship for where it sees the future of it’s brand going both in design and with technology. A very good car to drive but with a hefty price tag to match. The tech will eventually roll down to future BMW models.
2. CUPRA Born – A better looking ID.3? Sure why not. I only had this car to review for a few hour to get a 1st impression and in that time, 3 people stopped to ask me “what was it”. I like the exterior and interior look to this car and if CUPRA can get enough of them, in my opinion it may sell even better than the ID.3.
3. MGZS EV Long Range – I’m a big fan of what MG are doing here in Ireland. They seem to have hit the sweet spot with regard to style, range and price with the latest MG ZS EV. Internationally this car is also a big hit already. The only problem now it seems it getting your hands on one. PS it’s also becoming the “go to” for taxi drivers. If it’s good enough to be on the road all day every day, then that’s a good sign.
4. Renault MEGANE E-TECH – A brand and model we all know and maybe even love. When the mainstream start seeing the cars they have grown up with turning to EV, then we will really see this mass market start to adopt EVs. This has already started with the PEUGEOT e208 and e2008 and this French model will only add to the move into electrification.
5. Tesla Model Y – It wouldn’t be a list about EVs without including Tesla. I think this will be a huge success in Ireland this year. So much so that I claimed the Model Y will be Ireland’s best selling EV in 2022. A bold claim but from the reaction to the Irish launch, order numbers I’m hearing through the EV grapevine and finally with Giga Berlin production coming online, I’m looking forward to seeing lots of them on Irish roads. 

As some of you know, I run EV Review Ireland on YouTube along with accounts on Twitter and LinkedIn. All subscribers and followers are welcome. Remember, if you think an EV is for you, leave it to me and I’ll review.

Derek Reilly