The first quarter of 2020 has not been kind to us. With lockdowns happening in Australia and the rest of the world, we'd probably be staying home for some time more. While the prospects seem gloomy for the car industry and enthusiasts, we need to seek out things to look forward to, something to be excited about. Doing this helps us keep our morale up as best as possible.

For car enthusiasts who are fond of electric vehicles, there are plenty of things to be excited about in 2020. However, with the way things are going, new releases are likely to be postponed. It applies not only to electric cars but also new movies and such. No industry has remained unaffected by what's going on in the world right now.

Still, these vehicles will probably find their way onto Australian streets sooner or later, and that is something that we can all look forward to. So, here are five new electric vehicles that are coming to Australia soon.

MG ZS EV

Chinese-owned carmaker MG kicks off this list with its upcoming ZS EV. This vehicle is a small SUV that many are already claiming is the cheapest electric vehicle in all of Australia. Not many details have been released about this neat-looking vehicle at the moment. Yet, the first 100 Australian customers were quick to pre-order the car for a special price of $46,990.

In terms of specs, the MG ZS EV carries a 44.5kWh lithium-ion battery that can take the car roughly 260 km on a single charge. The vehicle has a maximum output of 105 kW of power and an excellent 353 Nm of torque. This one's relatively light at 1,500 kg kerb weight and can do 0-100 in 8.5 seconds.

Porsche Taycan EV

On the other end of the spectrum, you have the luxurious Porsche Taycan EV. There was a lot of hype around this car when it was announced in 2019, mainly due to its mind-blowing performance numbers.

Take the Taycan Turbo S, for example, which could get up from 0 to 100 km/h in only 2.8 seconds! Behind that performance is the 560 kW maximum power output and 1050 Nm maximum torque. All in all, the Taycan EV is said to go as far as 420 km on a full charge.

The Porsche Taycan EV is set to hit Australian streets in October 2020. Seeing as how that's later in the year, we can hope that nothing will delay its release. When it does come out, it'll be available in three trims: the 4S, Turbo, and Turbo S. Their price tags will be somewhere around $200,000, $300,000 and $350,000, respectively.

Mini Cooper SE

Mini is also in the mix, with its Mini Cooper SE that's set to come out sometime mid-year. Also known as the 'MINI Electric', it's not yet clear how much this one might cost. Some enthusiasts are estimating that it'll cost somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000.

This Mini Cooper boasts 135 kW of power and can go from 0-100 km/h in about 7 seconds. In terms of range, the car could go between 235 and 270 km on a single charge.

The drive train used in the Mini Cooper SE will utilise a technology that was initially made for the BMW i3. It comes as no surprise since the Mini is manufactured by BMW.

I expect some delays in this car's release, which was slated around this time. Given how many countries are still struggling with the global pandemic, I wouldn't raise my hopes too high about seeing this car on Australian roads anytime soon.

Audi E-Tron

Say hello to Audi's first mass-produced electric vehicle. In Australia, this car has been a long time coming. It was initially released in 2018, and it's already available in New Zealand. This car was supposed to be released in Australia last year but was postponed to the first quarter 2020 and then again to late 2020. These delays are due to regulatory challenges and the car’s demand in other parts of the world. When it finally does come out in Australia, its expected cost is around $140,000, positioning it for premium car buyers.

Its battery pack powers three motors that give it a maximum output of 320 kW of power and 800 Nm of torque. On a single charge, the Audi E-Tron has a range of 450 km.

Volvo XC40 Recharge

Volvo's XC40 Recharge is the electric variant of the XC40, which won as the 2019 Car of the Year. Overall, this SUV is designed for the urban driver.

With two motors, the XC40 Recharge boasts a maximum output of 300 kW. With a fast charger, its battery can be charged to 80% in just 40 minutes! That's impressive, especially when combined with a range of 400 km on a single charge.

This model is already available in the UK and has been received well. Australian buyers will have to wait a little later this year for it to be available.

These are just five great examples of electric vehicles coming out in 2020. As many carmakers are racing to produce their own EV models, buyers like you and I would be spoilt for choice. Visit our website regularly for more updates about electric vehicles and the latest news in the motoring world and the car part industry.

By Ray Hasbollah