The ultimate electric rides for land, sea and air in 2021

Electric cars are merely one form of sustainable transport getting a boost this year. Here are the boats, drones, buses and bikes that will join EV autos in 2021

Despite Covid-19’s disruption to the automotive industry, Deloitte has adjusted its forecasts for the global electric vehicle (EV) market upwards to 31.1 million units sold annually by 2030. And, as we become used to electric cars, it’s paving the way for other forms of EV transport, including commercial drones, configurable buses and even eVTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) craft. Here’s our pick of what you’ll see on roads, waves and in the sky in 2021.

Super Air Nautique GS22E 2021

Nautique has partnered with sister company Ingenity Electric to make the GS22E towboat the Tesla of the wakeboarding world, with a battery system that is good for two to three hours of watersports. The Surf System integrated into the hull on either side of the transom shapes the water and creates perfect waves behind the boat.

Price: from $292,711 | Nautique

Audi e-tron GT

This all-wheel drive, full-electric e-tron GT was developed with Porsche. Capable of charging at 350kW, it can top up to 80 per cent in under 20 minutes, giving you 434kW (590hp), 0 to 100kph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 240kph. And if plugs ruin your 2021 aesthetic, it can also get its juice via an optional wireless induction plate.

Price: £TBC | Audi

Anduril Ghost 4 tactical drone

After Palmer Luckey sold Oculus to Facebook, he founded military-tech firm Anduril. The Ghost 4, which ships to the military in 2021, is an autonomous, near-silent VTOL drone with an AI that performs 32 trillion operations per second. It can be carried in a rucksack, assembled in a flash, and its mission modules can be field-swapped in moments.

Volocopter VoloCity

With a calculated range of 35km and an airspeed of 110kph, the VoloCity is designed as an on-demand inner-city air taxi. It keeps the prototype version’s 18 rotors powered by nine lithium-ion battery packs, but has improved on the passengers-only offering with a maximum payload of 200kg – good enough for you and some luggage.

Canyon Precede:ON CF9

Covid’s chilling effect on taking public transport means 2021 will be the year of the e-bike. Canyon’s luxury Precede:ON sets itself apart from the pack with a pedal-assist that’s controlled by cadence (the speed you’re pedalling) – rather than a basic pre-set “power mode”. Just input how fast you’d like to spin, then set off.

Price: £4,699 | Canyon

Bell APT 20 multicopter

Bell’s new APT delivery drone (Autonomous Pod Transport) combines a vertical takeoff with the ability to switch to horizontal winged flight for increased speed and range. The 0.9m x 1.5m APT 20 can carry a payload of up to 32kg over 55km, or about 28km if you want the drone to turn around and make it home without stopping to recharge.

eBussy

This modular light EV with solar panels and recuperating drives can be configured into more than ten different versions, from a pick-up to a campervan. The company claims a daily range of up to 200km, and a maximum range (if you add the larger 30kWh battery option and solar modules) in excess of 600km.

Price: from €19,600 | Electric Brands

Seat MÓ eScooter 125

Small, lightweight and ideally suited to urban driving, scooters will lead the way for EVs in 2021. Seat’s upcoming MÓ uses a zippy 9kW (about 12hp) motor to deliver 50kph in less than four seconds, and a top speed of 95kph. The 5.6kWh lithium-ion battery is swappable if you don’t have time to top up, and it can even charge other devices via USB.

Price: £TBC | Seat

This article was originally published by WIRED UK