The Ford F-150 Lightning.
Slowly but surely, car companies are going electric. More buyers than ever are considering the switch from fossil fuels.The Ford F-150 Lightning.
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What’s great for early adopters is that automakers are using cutting-edge electric models as a testing ground for new and interesting designs and capabilities.The Tesla Model Y.
Tim Levin/Insider
I’ve driven more than a dozen electric cars from Ford, Tesla, Porsche, and others and experienced plenty of cool features, but a handful stand out.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
California upstart Rivian is looking to become the Tesla of rugged pickup trucks and SUVs.The Rivian R1T.
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Its vehicles are jam-packed with interesting features, but the coolest part of the R1T truck has to be its Gear Tunnel.The Rivian R1T.
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It’s a bonus, one-of-a-kind storage area running between R1T’s back seats and bed.The 2022 Rivian R1T.
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The Gear Tunnel opens from both sides. Both doors house extra goodies like a first aid kit.The 2022 Rivian R1T.
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Simply point the seven-seat SUV at a deep creek, steep incline, or mass of boulders, and step on the accelerator. Its four powerful motors, adjustable air suspension, and advanced all-wheel-drive system handle the rest.The Rivian R1S.
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Tesla rejects almost all conventional buttons and gauges in favor of a sleek and uncluttered look.The Tesla Model Y.
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And tech geeks will get a kick out of the big, snappy touchscreen that controls basic vehicle settings and receives software updates.The Tesla Model Y.
Tim Levin/Insider
Fun built-in features like a racing game (which uses the actual steering wheel), drawing pad, and Netflix ensure you’ll never be bored while charging up.The 2022 Tesla Model Y.
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Kia’s spaceship-like EV6 has a trick up its sleeve in the form of bidirectional charging capability.The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line.
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The clever feature involves using an adapter that plugs into the charge port.The 2022 Kia EV6.
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But the best thing about driving the Ioniq 5 is just how cool it makes you feel.The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.
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Its retrofuturistic styling — complete with origami-like angles and lights comprised of dozens of little pixels — makes it stand out from regular blob-shaped SUVs.The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5.
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It can charge at a peak rate of 270 kilowatts, faster than most electric cars, meaning 5% to 80% can happen in just 22.5 minutes.The 2022 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S.
Tim Levin/Insider
That’s a game-changer for long road trips with multiple charging stops.The 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo.
Tim Levin/Insider
The thought of going without regular buttons may repel some buyers. But the sporty sedan’s Google-powered infotainment system isn’t clunky like some other vehicle touchscreens.The 2022 Polestar 2.
Tim Levin/Insider
Instead, both the main display and digital instrument panel are remarkably intuitive, simple, and pretty to look at. Hyper-realistic graphics of the vehicle are a nice touch.The 2022 Polestar 2.
Tim Levin/Insider
The $96,000 iX I drove cocooned me in generous amounts of supple leather.The 2022 BMW iX xDrive60.
Tim Levin/Insider
It had a massaging driver’s seat, a slim, floating screen, and plenty of gold trim.The 2022 BMW iX xDrive50.
Tim Levin/Insider
The Ford F-150 Lightning’s biggest superpower is how normal it feels. Ford took the F-150 and injected it with electric power without sacrificing the familiarity of America’s favorite truck.The Ford F-150 Lightning.
Tim Levin/Insider
But the Lightning brings some big advantages. It has outlets throughout that can provide serious amounts of electricity for power tools and tailgating accessories.The F-150 Lightning Lariat.
Ford
With the right adapter, it can even charge other electric vehicles.The Ford F-150 Lightning charging an E-Transit van.
Ford
It also offers power outlets and a big, wide opening to make loading things even easier.The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning.
Tim Levin/Insider
Likewise, one of the Ford Mustang Mach-E’s handiest features is its frunk.2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Tim Levin/Insider
It’s made of hard plastic and has a drain hole, making it the perfect spot to stow muddy shoes and wet gear. Lots of electric SUVs go without a frunk, giving the Mach-E a leg up.The Mustang Mach-E’s frunk.
Ford
