Jaguar I-Pace

A Jaguar all-electric SUV. The I-Pace signalled the start of something big when it first launched in 2018 – that mainstream manufacturers, not just Silicon Valley start-ups and BMW, were prepared to invest properly in building new-from-the-ground-up electric cars you might actually want to own, and might be able to afford. Indeed, it was the first credible rival to Tesla’s premium EV dominance, a car that beat its German rivals (and everyone else) to market, remember.

HOW FAR WILL IT GO ON A TANK OF ELECTRONS?
After incremental updates over the years, headline facts are currently thus: the I-Pace uses two concentric electric motors, one on each axle for permanent four-wheel drive, producing 395bhp and 513lb ft of torque, delivered through a single-speed gearbox.

The lithium-ion battery, placed under the floor – de rigueur these days – is sized at 90kWh (85kWh of which is useable), good for up to 292 miles on the WLTP cycle. Give it the berries and 0–62mph in 4.8 seconds and a 124mph top speed is rapid by any measure.

BLIMEY. WHAT ABOUT CHARGING?
The I-Pace will charge at about 22 miles per hour from a 7kW home wallbox. But that doesn’t matter particularly – you’ll just plug it in overnight and leave it to it. What does matter is charging speed away from home and the I-Pace is starting to get left behind. It can charge at a maximum of 100kW on a DC charger, meaning a 5-80 per cent top-up takes around 45 mins. The Porsche Taycan, Tesla Model S and others can charge in less than half that time.