EVs Are Slowly Taking Over the Tiny World of Hot Wheels

Alternative fuels are not off the table yet. And if you think about Asimov's work, what about nuclear-powered cars? Wouldn't that be something? That's a story for another time, though. I've watched EVs slowly try to replace ICE-powered vehicles over multiple classes. It's happening with trucks, hypercars, motorcycles, and even racecars.

And you can be sure Mattel has been paying close attention to the market, too. That explains the constant influx of EVs in the tiny world of Hot Wheels cars. As you'd expect, there's a decent combo of fantasy and licensed vehicles. Going through them all would be lengthy, as there are at least 50 castings. But I'll discuss some of the most exciting ones alongside some notable absentees.

Fantasy Cars

EVs didn't just appear out of thin air a few years ago. Brilliant minds have tried to make electric cars work for decades now. But some were too ahead of their time. As a result, one of the first Hot Wheels that depicted such vehicles debuted in 1975. Larry Wood designed the Aeroflash, which drew inspiration from Italian sports cars.

If you're bent on having the complete collection, that's a challenging task: 43 variations showed up between 1975 and 2014. Some vintage models can easily cost over $50, but it's not the same for all of them. I'll likely have to do a deep dive into all these Fantasy EVs, but for now, let me point you to some interesting castings.

Twin Mill is a legendary name among Hot Wheels enthusiasts and has been for over 50 years now. But did you know Mattel developed the Gen-E version of this casting, which runs on electric power? I can almost imagine seeing the sleek silhouette driving down the road five to ten years from now. Two or three of the six iterations are quite good, and prices aren't prohibitive. Then there's the NHRA-style electric Funny Car that Phil Riehlman designed: Supercharged.

The 2021 iD release is still the nicest one so far, and I wouldn't mind seeing a Premium variation shortly. The Hot Wired casting is also ready for the 1/4-mile, whereas the Batman-like Electro Silhouette might kickstart an appetite for endurance racing. Sci-fi geeks might even appreciate Ryu Asada's Formula Solar despite it looking more like an autonomous vehicle. I know you're eager to see some licensed cars, so let's move on to the most popular EV brand in Mattel's line-up.

Tesla

It is no surprise that Tesla is one of the strongest competitors here. I have already looked at a brief history of its Hot Wheels appearances, but I'll still give you a recap if you haven't read it. Phil Riehlman designed the Tesla Roadster, which debuted in 2008. The Speed Machines iterations are quite popular with collectors, and so is the Super Treasure Hunt version.

Everyone is hyped about the Cybertruck; the diecast manufacturer has been on it for years. We've seen three variations of Riehlman's casting so far, and I'd be surprised if another one doesn't come out in 2024. And this is just the warm-up: the Model 3, Model S, Model Y, and Model X all have 1/64th-scale replicas.

If premium cars are all you care about, you might already know about the Tesla Roadster in the 2022 Car Culture: American Scene set. Talking about tiny EVs made me think of an appropriate diorama: I don't think I've ever seen miniature Tesla Superchargers in one. But someone is bound to have thought about it before I have. The question is: could the Tesla Semi be up next for Mattel's line-up of cars?

GMC/Ford

Although GMC and Ford seem equally represented regarding Hot Wheels EVs, the latter is still much better at playing this game. Think of it this way: it's a Hummer-only street for the Hot Wheels GMC line-up. I'm rarely even remotely interested in Hot Wheels that are not 1/64th-scale collectibles. Other brands do a better job at that.

And a pull-back Hummer makes no exception. Then, there are two almost identical castings. Lindsey Lee designed the GMC Hummer EV, while Fraser Campbell is responsible for the 2024 GMC Hummer EV. The latter has only had one iteration so far, and there's more diversity with the first model.

Blue Oval fans have much more to look for when completing their EV dioramas. We've seen one new casting coming out yearly for the past three: Ryu Asada's Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400 debuted in 2022, Sonny Fisher's Ford F-150 Lightning Custom was up next in 2023, and now we can all enjoy Eric Han's Ford Performance Supervan 4. That's ten different collectibles, some of which are better than others.

The one I like the most is the Pikes Peak Challenger, but I'm sure some enthusiasts are raving about the Mach-E 1400 Treasure Hunt. Getting one for less than $10 is a piece of cake, so don't worry. I want to know now if Mattel plans to release a tiny replica of the road-going Mach-E. I know it has done so with its Matchbox line of cars, but a Premium HW version could be fun, too.

Rimac/ Volkswagen

I'm a huge fan of what Mate Rimac has achieved with his team in Croatia, as I've followed his progress since day one. When I discovered the Nevera will shrink down for the Hot Wheels universe, I was eager for it to show up in stores for months. Mattel had Manson Cheung design the casting for its 2023 debut, and it's a real shame we've only seen two iterations so far.

I hope the big wigs in El Segundo are considering a Car Culture release for 2024, in a mix they could call Electric Hypercar Street. Yes, the Automobili Pininfarina Battista could make the list, too. But it should sport a different livery so everyone can easily tell them apart.

The Nevera can easily crush 99% of all Volkswagen you can think of, except for the I.D.R. This race-ready monster is one minute faster than the Nevera around the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Still, it's ultimately a race car, whereas its Croatian opponent is a production vehicle. Mark Jones designed the tiny replica of VW's Pikes Peak Challenger, and it has had three releases since 2020: all premium ones. If you'd like something a bit more down-to-earth, I recommend the ID. Buzz. I have one in my collection, and it's a great little package!

Single Appearances

Several brands fall under this category, and I'll give you some solid examples. I've met people who dreamt about owning an Abarth 500, but I couldn't say the same about the 500e. So, I'll skip this one in favor of something with a bit more kick. A Premium variation of the Lotus Evija is long overdue, and I could see it next to the Rimac Nevera in Car Culture.

Yes, the Super Treasure Hunt iteration was fantastic, but the first two Mainline Evijas lost many points due to the hideous TRAP5 wheels. The Porsche Taycan Turbo S turned out quite decent, but this is Hot Wheels! Cars like these are great for Matchbox, but we need a tiny replica of the Porsche Mission X or at least the GT4 e-Performance! The same goes for Audi, where we can now enjoy the RS e-tron GT.

I'd almost be willing to give you $20, as the Ken Block's Hoonitron is up next, and there are two liveries to choose from already. The remaining line-up is somewhat boring unless you're into the Silverado EV RST, the XC40 Recharge, or the Leaf NISMO RC 02. Yes, Lucid Air has what it takes to increase your adrenaline visuals, but the same rules don't apply to the 1/64th scale.

Missing Brands

Mattel has come a long way when talking about Hot Wheels EVs. And I've just scratched the surface with this story, as I'm trying to figure out whether you're interested in this kind of castings. One thing's for sure: plenty of brands are not on this list yet. Following my recent interview with Horia Platona, just think of his Pikes Peak project car: the i4.

There's that and the i5, the i7, and the iX. Renault's R5 E-Tech is a perfect fit for Hot Wheels, alongside Honda's tiny e. At least the latter is already part of the Matchbox portfolio. I'm sure Volvo fans can come up with a few more ideas here, including the Polestar cars. I'd much rather have a tiny version of the McMurtry Speirling. But its relative anonymity won't help boost sales anytime soon.