Manufacturers plug in to green SUV market
People want environmentally-friendly vehicles without compromising space
The Sport Utility Vehicle segment represents one of the fastest growing sales categories in today’s auto sector.
As of the end of 2015, the truck segment — which includes SUVs, pickups, minivans and crossovers — represented more than twothirds of vehicles sold in Canada, according to Des Rosiers Automotive Reports.
However, SUVs are behind in one respect: electrification.
A few manufactures have started to breach the gap by releasing hybrids. The forerunner was the Ford Escape hybrid crossover SUV, produced from 2005 to 2012. Toyota released the RAV4 Hybrid crossover in 2016.
On the luxury level, brands such as Volvo, Lexus, and Porsche have all come out with crossover hybrids. And of course, the muchhyped Tesla Model X released this year stands as the only allelectric SUV.
As buyers make it ever more clear they want environmentally friendly vehicles, other manufacturers have begun to jump on this relatively untapped market.
Last year, website Autocar revealed Jaguar was developing a radical, all-electric SUV slotted for 2017. BMW and Hyundai are also rumoured to be releasing electric SUVs in the coming years, while green giant Nissan has indefinite plans for an electric crossover.
Many upcoming SUVs are also expected to offer hybrid options, including the next generation Honda CR-V and a Mitsubishi followup to its successful Outlander model.
It has taken manufacturers a while to join the green SUV train for a number of reasons. Crossovers and SUVs tend to be heavier and less aerodynamic than cars. This means they need more power to go at the same speeds, equalling bigger batteries and, in theory, an unreasonably high price point.
Brands have got around this by sticking to crossovers for their hybrid models. Because they use a car’s platform, crossovers have higher potential to get good mileage. The Tesla Model X provides more than a 400-kilometre range, due in part to aerodynamic improvements.
Many experts also question whether large electric SUVs would have the towing and hauling power owners sometimes require. Though these problems are far from solved, consumers may soon see the small trickle of hybrid and electric crossovers entering the market turn into a flood.
Corporate average fuel economy standards (CAFE) are a progressive series of fuel efficiency goals set by the U.S. government to help lower emissions and cut down on greenhouse gases. Canada has already aligned with the U.S. on these goals, aiming to achieve an average of less than 4.3 L/100km in new vehicles by 2025.
Manufacturers’ efforts to develop their electric and hybrid car lines and work on the mileage of larger vehicles will only go so far. To meet CAFE standards, companies will have to tap into the huge, mostly untouched market SUVs represent.
With a race to release all-electric, an increase in new hybrids, and ever-tighter emissions standards, the future of green SUVs looks promising. This past week in Montreal at the EVS29 Symposium, delegates from around the globe discussed the future of electrification of vehicles.
If you’d like to do your part for the environment and jump on the trend, visit your local New Car Dealer to see what current or upcoming hybrid or electric SUV options may be right for you.