Skoda’s electric Epiq will have a 248-mile range and an attainable price tag – as EV costs are predicted to fall soon

Skoda’s newest version to its all-electric lineup has been teased – and it is an electrical automobile (EV) extra individuals ought to have the ability to afford.

The Epiq crossover is because of be absolutely unveiled in 2025, however we already know a few of its very important statistics, together with its proposed value.

It’s anticipated to ring in at €25,000 – which works out at simply over £21,000 – which can make it Skoda’s most cost-effective electrical automotive by some margin.

With current stories suggesting that EVs will likely be cheaper to provide than petrol automobiles by 2027, and the upcoming arrival of Dacia’s first electrical mannequin in October with a low value of £15,000, may we be seeing the primary wave of inexpensive next-generation battery-powered autos? 

Is the Epiq one other signal of EVs turning into extra inexpensive? 

At the moment, the least costly all-electric mannequin from the Czech model is the Enyaq household SUV, which begins from a comparatively bank-busting £38,970.

It means the Epiq may virtually half the entry value of a Skoda EV when it emerges subsequent yr. 

Its arrival may see Skoda deal with head-on one of many greatest hurdles that’s stopping Britons from switched to EVs en masse. 

Alongside issues a few sparse, unreliable public charging community and vary anxiousness, the premium up-front value of electrical automobiles has seen public demand for them drop considerably in current months.

Official figures present that gross sales of EVs to extraordinary drivers fell by virtually a fifth within the first two months of 2024.

Of practically 40,000 new electrical automobiles registered in January and February, simply 6,500 had been bought by people.

The remaining 33,500 (which represents round 84 per cent of all registrations within the two months) had been snapped up by fleet and leasing firms on account of profitable tax advantages, together with the wage sacrifice scheme.

However market analysis enterprise Gartner this month predicts EVs may change into extra interesting to non-public automotive patrons from 2027, when decrease manufacturing prices ought to translate to extra inexpensive EV costs.

It claims that new manufacturing strategies will cut back manufacturing prices beneath these for a comparable automotive with an inner combustion engine throughout the subsequent three years. As such, EVs ought to have value parity with petrol automobiles ahead of predicted. 

The expected fall in EV costs could not come quickly sufficient. 

At the moment, Britons will wrestle to seek out many electrical automobiles when procuring with a good funds.

In reality, there are simply seven electrical automobiles (not together with the £8,495 Citroen Ami quadricycle) on sale within the UK right now priced £30,000 or much less.

This consists of the Vauxhall Corsa Electrical (from £26,895), BYD Dolphin (from £25,490), MG4 (from £26,995), Fiat 500e (from £28,195, although dropping to £25,195 with Fiat’s e-grant scheme), Nissan Leaf (from £28,495 whereas shares final), Mazda MX-30 (from £28,995) and next-generation Mini Cooper E (from £30,000).

Nonetheless, Dacia is ready to decrease the pricing benchmark for EVs with the arrival of its first battery-powered automotive this yr.

The Spring EV is because of arrive in UK dealerships in October. And the budget-friendly model has already confirmed it’ll begin from £14,995. 

That may make it Britain’s sixth least costly new automotive throughout all gasoline sorts and will – in principle – power the hand of rivals to slash their very own EV costs so as to compete.

Volkswagen has additionally previewed its forthcoming ID.2, which is predicted to reach in 2026 with the identical €25,000 beginning value because the Epiq. 

The Epiq follows Skoda’s new ‘Fashionable Strong’ design language that ‘combines robustness, performance and authenticity’ – and is minimalist and glossy with some funk options

The compact EV must also be sensible. It’s going to handle about 248-miles of vary and have bi-directional charging 

What we all know concerning the Skoda Epiq…

It is going to be the second of six new EVs scheduled for launch within the coming years to rework the producer’s all-electric lineup.

Skoda naturally need the Epiq to be targeted in direction of households, however is hoping to hit the all-important lifestyle-oriented buyer, too. 

Regardless of being a metropolis automotive, the Epiq can have rather more vary than is required for city driving.

Skoda is quoting a single-charge distance of 248 miles. 

Usefully – and effectively – the Epiq will even helps bidirectional charging, so the automotive can feed extra electrical power into the shopper’s residence or energy home home equipment.

As a crossover SUV you’ll be able to anticipate family-friendly area with 490 litres of boot capability. It’s kind of shorter than the Enyaq – at 4.1 metres lengthy – however there ought to nonetheless be loads of area for 5 individuals. 

Whereas Skoda is not historically the model you’d go to for glamorous design and head-turning appears, the Epiq is surprisingly fashionable. 

Following its new ‘Fashionable Strong’ design language that ‘combines robustness, performance and authenticity’, the Epiq can have a sculpted bonnet with the brand new Skoda wordmark, a ‘Tech-Deck Face’ – the newest Skodaism for a grille – in addition to swooping strains to its profile, roof and rear-window pillars.

The lights, each back and front, are in an all-new T-shape and the entrance bumper has rectangular minimize outs to present a further funky really feel, as does the contrasting-trim wheel arches.

There’s going to be a big floating touchscreen and the Epiq will include wi-fi charging, in addition to a cell digital key so homeowners can have a sensible machine expertise

The ‘Flashy Orange’ accents on the sprint and seats mimic these on the skin, and the two-spoke steering wheel has the identical new Skoda lettering as the outside

‘Merely Intelligent’ cubbies for flexi overpacking are dotted round inside and within the boot. This can be a highly regarded characteristic throughout the Skoda vary to spice up versatility

Skoda has mentioned it’s following a ‘minimalist’ search for the Epiq, particularly its cabin. 

The model is turning into a market chief for futuristic tech, and its most cost-effective EV is because of have a big floating touchscreen show in addition to the addition of wi-fi charging.

A cell digital key can also be set to debut to present homeowners a sensible machine expertise.

Sturdy, sensible and sustainable supplies line the cabin. It has sibling overlaps with different Skoda EV fashions, but it surely’s undoubtedly rather more open, clear and crisp. 

The cabin appears to be one large space for storing with many open compartments, a floating centre console, and the ‘Merely Intelligent’ cubbies for flexi overpacking are dotted round inside and within the boot – at all times a agency household favorite characteristic.

The ‘Flashy Orange’ accents proceed inside, and the two-spoke steering wheel has a mixture of bodily buttons in addition to haptic scrolls – the latter not proving all that widespread in different VW-Group fashions on sale right now, such because the Mk8 Golf.

Whereas the Epiq is not because of be showcased in full manufacturing type till 2025, the brand new Elroq – a bigger electrical SUV – would be the first automobile to be launched as a part of the upcoming electrical mannequin marketing campaign, with its debut scheduled for later this yr.