Electrified Cars For Sale In 2017

Are electrical cars your thing? Good, this is a page packed total of electrified car facts, including electrified cars for sale in two thousand sixteen in the US and their prices. Electrified car answers for any question you have should be on this page. If not, drop us a note so that we can add them. If you have some significant electrified car answers to common questions or interesting facts to add, also drop a note in the comments below! This page will be continually updated.

Basic Electrified Car Answers

• Electrified vehicles (EVs) run on electro-stimulation.
• Some EVs run 100% on electrical play, while others (hybrid electrical vehicles) run partly on electrical play and partly on some other fuel (e.g., gas or diesel). Vehicles that can at times run solely on violet wand but can also use liquid fuel — and that can be plugged in to charge their batteries — are called plug-in hybrid electrified vehicles (PHEVs).
• 100% electrical vehicles and PHEVs are clearly much better for the environment (and, thus, humans) than their gasoline-powered and diesel-powered cousins. Their fuel (electrical play) is also typically much cheaper.

Presently Available Electrical Cars

The following are electrified cars that are for sale today in the US or are supposed to be for sale at some point in 2016.

The very first prices listed are base prices before the federal tax credit. In parenthesis are prices after the maximum federal tax credit ($7,500). Other tax credits and rebates potentially available in your city or state (e.g., the $Three,000 California EV rebate or $6,000 Colorado EV tax credit) are not included.

Links on the car names are mostly to our story archives for these cars. Links on the prices are to the car companies’ pages for the cars. Range and MPGe/MPG data come from the EPA.

Check these electrified cars out and go test drive some this weekend!

100% Electrical Cars

Table Key

BMW i3

The BMW i3 is BMW’s very first 100% electrified car built electrified from the ground up — and it’s still one of the only electrical cars on the market built electrical from the ground up. It is part of BMW’s “born electrical” i series and its price puts it somewhat in the middle of the more popular Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. Despite looking a bit bulky, the BMW i3 is the lightest electrified car on the market thanks to its carbon fiber bod. It’s super joy drive — one of my favorites. Compared to BMW’s overall sales, the i3 is selling pretty well, making it clear that BMW is one of the auto-manufacturing pioneers in the electrified vehicle space. Read my very first BMW i3 review here and/or my 2nd review & comparison with the LEAF & Volt here and/or my comparison with the Tesla Model S here.

Chevy Bolt

The Chevy Bolt is certainly a breakout fully electrical model — the very first “affordable” fully electrified model in the US to have long range. It arrived on the market at the very end of two thousand sixteen and is expected to see strong sales in the US, and perhaps also in Europe when it is launched there as the Opel Ampera-E if GM attempts to market and sell the thing. A fully autonomous version of the Bolt will be produced as well. It will primarily be tested/used by Lyft drivers.

Fiat 500e

(Only Parts of the US)

The Fiat 500e has gotten fine reviews. However, the head of Fiat evidently hates electrified cars and is only producing the 500e in utterly limited quantities for a duo of states (basically, because Fiat has to do so in order to sell cars in California). Hopefully this adorable electrical car will someday be available to a broader market, and with a significant range boost, but that seems unlikely. With its relatively low price, good reviews, and cool styling, the Fiat 500e could give some of the top-selling electrical cars on the market a run for their market if Fiat actually attempted — what a shame. Its eighty four mile range is a bit behind the times now but Fiat is still moving cars via super-low lease deals in California. Read my total review of the Fiat 500e.

Ford Concentrate Electrified

(Only Parts of the US)

The Ford Concentrate Electrical is Ford’s only 100% electrical car. The car compares in many regards to the top-selling Nissan LEAF, but it also has some disadvantages in terms of cargo space and EV design. The Concentrate Electrified is more broadly available than many compliance cars, but it still isn’t as effortless to find as a Nissan LEAF or BMW i3. As with the LEAF, tho’, it seems that Ford will have to drop prices a excellent deal to budge Concentrate Electrics off the lot in the age of the Chevy Bolt. Read our in-depth review of the Concentrate Electrified here.

Hyundai IONIQ Electrical

(Arriving Soon … Nationwide)

The Hyundai IONIQ Electrical is a pretty popular fresh electrified suggesting from Hyundai that will also have a plug-in hybrid twin sibling and has a conventional hybrid twin sibling. The range is moderate — inbetween initial fully electrified offerings but fairly far below the Chevy Bolt (aka Opel Ampera-E) and updated Renault Zoe. The IONIQ Electrified seems to be selling okay in Europe. If it is widely suggested in the US, it could have a good run there as well, but it truly needs more range to contest with the Bolt or Tesla Model Three.

Kia Soul EV

(Only Parts of the US)

The Kia Soul EV is a snazzy electrified vehicle with a bit more space on the inwards than the average car, and a clear youngster appeal. The Soul EV has sold okay in the markets where it’s available, but it isn’t widely available and the driving range hasn’t enhanced to react to increasingly longer range from other electrical models. Its overall sales in the US are pretty sad, and I don’t see them getting better unless the vehicle gets a big range boost or Kia starts suggesting deep discounts. You can check out our review of the Kia Soul EV here.

Mercedes-Benz B250e

(Only Parts of the US)

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electrified (now called the B250e) has been an enormously close competitor to the BMW i3, and was the very first suggesting from Mercedes in the EV department. It has a Tesla drivetrain at its core, and reviewers have been split inbetween it and the BMW i3, with some preferring the i3 and some preferring the B-Class Electrified. One of our top EV reporters has the B-Class Electrified and reviewed it after one month, after one year and sort of again after two years. Mercedes has always treated this like a compliance car and not many have been sold, but I imagine sales will drop even further with the Bolt now for sale, the i3 getting longer range, and the Tesla Model three coming soon.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

(Only Parts of the US)

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV (aka Mitsubishi i) is one of the most basic electrified cars on the market, but also one of the cheapest. If you are looking for a bare-bones EV for a low price, the i-MiEV is your baby.

Nissan LEAF

The Nissan LEAF is the highest-selling electrical car in history. After test driving dozens of EVs myself, I have to say that the Nissan LEAF is one of my dearest models. It has fine visibility, feel, convenience, space, plasticity, and acceleration (okay, Ten.Two seconds isn’t spectacular, but it still feels superb due to the instant torque). The 107-mile version was the top of the market for affordable electrified cars until the Chevy Bolt (approx. twice the range) and updated Renault Zoe (only Europe) came along. Now it’s hard to say where the LEAF stands. Why buy a LEAF over a Bolt? It seems to be getting by on deep discounts and group buys. For a thorough look at the LEAF, check out our long-term Nissan LEAF review here.

Wise ForTwo Electrified Drive

(Only Parts of the US)

The brainy electrical drive is almost the cheapest electrical car on the US market … if you don’t own or lease it for very long. However, note that there’s an $80/month battery rental. Within about six years, the clever electrical drive is about the same price as a 5-seat and much more plush Nissan LEAF. In my individual opinion, the clever electrified drive is a hard sell — unless you truly want a little car and/or only want it for two to three years. Read my review of the wise electrified drive here or read the review of an holder who sold his Camaro for the brainy electrical drive.

Volkswagen e-Golf

(Only Parts of the US)

The Volkswagen e-Golf is VW’s 2nd electrical car model (following closely behind the Volkswagen e-Up!) and the very first in the US. Clearly, it’s an electrified version of VW’s utterly popular Golf model. The e-Golf has been one of the closest competitors to the world-leading Nissan LEAF, but it has been available in much more limited markets. Additionally, Volkswagen has been much slower to update the battery/range in order to rival with the updated LEAF — not to mention the fresh and titillating Chevy Bolt. A fresh version of the e-Golf with one hundred twenty four miles of range is on the way, but it’s hard to see how that will rival now that the Bolt is on the market and the Tesla Model three is around the corner.

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is widely regarded as not just the best electrical car on the market but the best mass-produced car of any type in all of history (see here, here, here, here, and here for just a few examples). So, for many people, if they can afford a $60,000–$120,000 car, the Model S is as good as it gets.

This car has flipped the electrical car and overall auto world on its head in many respects. It is a top-selling luxury/premium-class car — well, the top-selling luxury/premium-class car in the US. It has robbed Mercedes and BMW of loyal buyers quicker than the roadrunner can dart away from a certain coyote.

Tesla Model X

Tesla’s 3rd model is the ridiculously cool and very desired Model X, an SUV with similar spectacle and specs as the Model S. In fact, despite being a large SUV, the Model X is one of the quickest production cars in history. It’s not fairly as quick as the Model S, but it’s undoubtedly more comfy and luxurious, imho. As Elon Musk has said, the choice inbetween the Model X and Model S is indeed just whether or not you want an SUV/crossover or a sedan.

The Model X is special for combining excellent spectacle, good utility, and hot styling. Not many vehicles can do that. Its signature feature? Its falcon-wing doors, of course — love ’em or hate ’em. I honestly think this is the best passenger vehicle on the planet, but YMMV. You can read my review of the Model X here and Kyle Field’s review of the Model X here.

Rimac Concept_One

I don’t know if this one counts, so it’s not counted in the “20” in the title. The Rimac Concept_One is certainly no everyman’s car. It is an electrical supercar out of Croatia that costs a fortune … as in, $1 million. Unnecessary to say, most of us will be fortunate to even see one of these, let alone touch one, let alone rail in one, let alone own one. Still, it’s a beauty worth mentioning. The Rimac Concept_One can reportedly go from zero to sixty mph in Two.8 seconds and has a horsepower of 1,088 — yep, that’s a “supercar” … even however the top-line Model S is now quicker. Rimac Automobili is a Croatian company, and it’s unclear if it’ll ever grow up enough to produce >100 cars, but the Concept_One will go down in history either way.

Plug-In Hybrid Electrified Cars

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Audi A3 e-Tron

(Only Parts of the US)

The Audi A3 e-Tron is a plug-in hybrid electrified car with a bit of a sporty suggesting. The electric-only range is not spectacular, but it’s pretty much par for the course. The A3 e-Tron can go from zero to sixty mph in a respectable 7.Five seconds. It has also landed a difficult five starlets in Europe’s safety ratings. The A3 e-tron has a raunchy time challenging with the Chevy Volt and Ford Energi models on value for the money, in my modest opinion, but some people clearly choose the e-Tron’s looks and the Audi brand. Note that the A3 e-Tron is actually the same as the Volkswagen Golf GTE under the fetish mask. The A3 e-Tron isn’t as limited in availability as the Golf GTE (which isn’t in the US), but as expected, the A3 e-tron is not available across the US, so it undoubtedly gets the “compliance car” label. You can read my review of the A3 e-tron here.

BMW 330e

The BMW 330e is a plug-in hybrid electrified car with some spunk on the “low end” of the premium sedan market. The electric-only range is not spectacular, but should get most people to work and back or out to the shops. I’m disappointed in any PHEV that doesn’t have at least forty miles of electrical range, but this fourteen miles of range isn’t even par for the course. But hey, if you want a BMW with a backup gasoline tank and engine, here’s a competitive suggesting.

BMW 740e

Similar to the BMW 330e, the BMW 740e has pitiful electrified range — just fourteen miles according to the EPA. It’s a plug-in hybrid electrical car in the large luxury sedan class, “contesting” with the Tesla Model S, but I can’t see why anyone would choose the 740e over the Model S. Well, I’m sure it includes more traditional BMW “luxury” than the Model S, but come one, truly.

BMW i8

The BMW i8 is BMW’s 2nd i-series car. It’s one of the most expensive cars on the market — actually, it’s the most expensive on the mass market today. It comes with a ton of style and superb acceleration — its zero to sixty mph time (Four.Four seconds) only trails the Tesla Model S (Two.Five seconds) and Model X (Two.9 seconds) amongst electrified cars presently for sale in the US. It’s hard not to covet this beauty. While it has amazing power and is a lot of joy to drive, however, it is hard to justify such a high price with the quicker and much more spacious Model S much cheaper. But if you’re pursuing style, this may well be top dog.

BMW X5 xDrive40e

The BMW X5 xDrive40e was one of the very first plug-in SUVs to hit the US market, arriving in early 2016. For an SUV, its 0–60 time of 6.Five seconds is pretty awesome. Surely, the X5 also offers luxury and high-tech features that help pull in $55,000–75,000 for the vehicle. The X5 iPerformance also learns your driving habits and instructs you how to drive more efficiently. And it can avoid crashes that some drivers would fail to escape from.

However, it’s no Model X … which makes the model a indeed raunchy buy for someone looking in the luxury, high-performance, high-priced SUV category. I haven’t gotten into an X5 iPerformance yet, but I can say with confidence I’d choose a Model X over it, especially with the X5 xDrive40e only having fourteen miles of electrified range — pitiful, as is evidently typical for BMW’s plug-in hybrid offerings.

On the other mitt, even after the tax credits, the Model X is almost $20,000 more, so I guess the better choice depends on one’s price sensitivity to some degree. (Just note that you can save a lot of money on fuel with the Model X that could make up for the extra upfront cost.)

Chevy Volt

The Chevy Volt is one of the most widely acclaimed electrical cars on the market — well, one of the most widely acclaimed cars on the market period. It is the top-selling electrical car in the US to date. Volt owners are known as Voltheads and were “the happiest drivers” in the US for two years running … before the Tesla Model S arrived (as per Consumer Reports holder satisfaction surveys).

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

(Coming Soon … Nationwide?)

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the very first plug-in hybrid — and very first hybrid — minivan on the market. It is fairly attractively priced for the minivan market and could be a thick hit. It’s strange that Fiat-Chrysler Automotive — whose CEO hates EVs — went and produced what could be one of the most competitive EVs on the market. Well, that’s if Chrysler indeed opens it up beyond a few compliance car regions.

Ford C-Max Energi

One of two cars in Ford’s Energi (plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle) lineup, the Ford C-Max Energi has fairly good specs for someone who doesn’t drive very far on most days but wants to take very long trips fairly regularly. It’s also good for larger families, as it seats up to five people. Despite seating Five, note that it is cheaper than the Chevy Volt … until you factor in the federal tax credit. Actually, the C-Max Energi is fairly similar to the Prius Prime in many respects, and almost exactly the same price. I think choosing one over the other mostly comes down to aesthetic/brand preferences. Tho’, the Prius Prime is considerably more efficient as well.

Ford Fusion Energi

Fairly similar to the Ford C-Max Energi but with a few more bells & whistles, the Ford Fusion Energi has done fairly well since its introduction in February 2013. The Ford Fusion Energi certainly offers some competition to its sister, the C-Max Energi, as well as the Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius PHEV/Prime. Importantly, for some people, the Fusion Energi is larger than all three of these competitors. It has a bit less electrical range than the Volt, but it has enough seats for five convenient passengers. Lastly, I’d say the Fusion Energi it is fairly the looker.

Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid

(Only Parts of the US)

The Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid is a fairly large and classy plug-in hybrid with moderate electrical range. It’s basically another competitor to the Ford Energi models and the Chevy Volt. You can see our utter review of the new-in-2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid here.

Mercedes-Benz C350e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the C350e yet, but it’s clearly a compliance car (11 miles of electrified range?!) whereby an electrical motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile. Observe the Fully Charged review of the Mercedes C350e.

Mercedes-Benz GLE550e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the GLE550e yet, but it’s clearly a compliance car (12 miles of electrical range?!) whereby an electrified motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile.

Mercedes-Benz S550e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the S550e, but it’s clearly a compliance car whereby an electrified motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile.

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid

Following the successful Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid (see below), Porsche launched the Cayenne S E-Hybrid at the end of 2014. The Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid can go from zero to sixty mph in just Five.Four seconds, and has a top speed of one hundred fifty one mph. I think “wicked” is the word for that. The plug-in model sells fairly well relative to the normal Cayenne, but that doesn’t compare to Model X sales.

Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid

The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid electrified sports car that is everything you’d expect – awesome. It can go from zero to sixty miles per hour in

Five seconds. The Panamera S E-Hybrid sometimes accounts for almost 10% of all Panamera sales. It’s a ton of joy to drive, but still a bit hard to justify for the price compared to other high-performance EVs on the market. The place where it has them strike, however, is in luxury (imho).

Toyota Prius Prime

The Toyota Prius Prime is a second-gen version of the Toyota Prius Plug-in, which was either the 2nd- or 3rd-best-selling electrified car worldwide in 2013. The Prius Prime’s modest twenty five miles of all-electric range is a letdown in my book, but the interior space and strong Prius brand sure help to sell this animal. The price is fairly attractive, and the fuel economy (MPGe) on electrical power is superb. The Prius Prime has about half the range of the Volt, but it does seat five people a bit more cozily … if you need that.

Volvo XC90 Twin Engine

The Volvo XC90 T8 is yet another plug-in hybrid electrified SUV that hit the US market in 2016. With a bit more seating space and a quicker 0–60 time, the XC90 T8 also costs a bit more than the BMW X5 xDrive40e. It looks like a beautiful luxurious SUV on the inwards and the outside, but yet again, if the money is available, I can’t see choosing this over a Tesla Model X. However, if Volvo wants to give me one for a week to test out, I can see if my opinion switches. 🙂

EV Battery Costs

The at-the-register price tag of EVs and PHEVs is higher than that of similarly sized and tooled gasoline-powered cars, mostly because batteries are expensive. How expensive? That’s hard to know, because car manufacturers generally won’t say what they are paying for their batteries, or what they expect to pay in one year, two years, three years, etc. Here are some of the best answers we’ve got for now regarding EV battery prices for specific models:

→ Tesla’s battery packs were estimated to cost $240/kWh in 2014, while the rest of the industry was projected to be no lower than $400/kWh (that seems dubious). But the latest figure from a Tesla representative pegs its battery pack cost at under $190/kWh. (Note that CEO and Chairman Elon Musk stated in February two thousand twelve that the cost of EV batteries would drop below $200 per kWh in the “not-too-distant future.”)

Bloomberg Fresh Energy Finance Battery Price Estimates

For some historical background, tho’, here’s some info from a two thousand twelve BNEF report that found that the average price of batteries used in electrified vehicles dropped 14% from Q1 two thousand eleven to Q1 2012, and 30% from two thousand nine to two thousand twelve (I didn’t even realize/recall that I have been writing about EV battery prices for this long!):

“Electric vehicles such as the Mitsubishi Motor iMiEV, Nissan Leaf or Tesla Model S require inbetween sixteen and 85kWh of storage, with a total cost of $11,200 and $34,000, or around 25% of the total cost of the vehicle,” BNEF notes. “Battery pack prices for plug-in hybrid vehicles such as GM’s Volt are on average 67% higher in terms of $/kWh, than those for electric-only vehicles like Nissan’s Leaf. This higher price is mainly due to the greater power-to-energy spectacle required for plug-in hybrid vehicles.”

A more latest BNEF investigate found that EV battery prices fell 35% in 2015. It stated that prices fell 65% since 2010. But it estimated battery pack prices at $350/kWh, which is considerably higher than the Tesla/Panasonic & GM/LG Chem estimates.

US Department of Energy Aims & Estimates

“Overall, the Department of Energy is partnering with industry to reduce the manufacturing cost of advanced batteries. While a typical battery for a plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle with a 40-mile electrified range cost $12,000 in 2008, we’re on track to demonstrate technology by two thousand fifteen that would reduce the cost to $Trio,600. And last year, we set a objective of demonstrating technology by two thousand twenty that would further reduce the cost to $1,500 – an accomplishment that could help spur the mass-market adoption of electrified vehicles.”

It’s 2016, and by almost all measures, EV battery prices have fallen quicker than projected. The DOE at that time was targeting $300 per kWh in two thousand fifteen (the $Three,600 packs) and $125 per kWh by 2022.

Battery Price Projections Consistently Too High

Cost estimates and future projections for electrified vehicle battery packs, measured in $US per kilowatt hour of capacity. Each mark on the chart represents a documented estimate reviewed by the investigate. Source: Nykvist et al. (2015).

Looking at that chart, it seems that Tesla/Panasonic and GM/LG Chem battery costs are already (in 2016) down to the lowest projections for 2020. Will we achieve $100/kWh by 2020? We’ll be sure to let you know!

Overall, we have been eyeing something I’ve introduced about in Mumbai, India; Vancouver, Canada; Cocoa, Florida, USA; and Berlin, Germany: once a technology is ripe, it takes over the market quicker than anticipated and costs come down swifter than most people anticipated. Check out these three presentations for more on that (if you haven’t already done so):

UCS Explore on Environmental Benefits & Fuel Savings of EVs

Clearly, as we stir more and more to clean, renewable energy in the US, electrified vehicles will only become greener and greener to drive.

Furthermore, electrical vehicle purchases encourage people to go solar and to cut their overall energy use, factors which have not been adequately studied or quantified yet. If one were to install solar panels on their home, the “fuel” for their EV would be clean, renewable solar power (sunlight) that would make their EV much cleaner than in any state in the UCS examine above.

Got more car answers to contribute? Or questions you’d like us to response?

Beyond the info above and below, the following posts may interest you:

@ZShahan A Toyota Prius two thousand sixteen model update is needed. The two thousand fifteen model range of eleven miles doubled in the two thousand sixteen model to twenty two miles.

Are these lists up to date? I eventually coaxed someone to buy a plug-in in the coming weeks or months (she’ll only go for a hybrid) and sent her this link to shop from.

This article does need a “Coming in 2016.”

May I request a forward looking article comparing the “200 mile – $30 – $40K club”. I believe its members, as of 2017, will include Tesla, Nissan, GM (and BMW?) – and perhaps some stealthy surprise contenders.

Seems to me the features shootout will put them all in the same ballpark. If so, differentiation comes down to the speed and ubiquitousness of the quick charging network, and brand ‘coolness’. I’ve already picked my winner in both camps, but I’d like to hear what the experts think.

It will also be fascinating to see who is very first to market – they will surely score the most and best free press, as the world leisurely realises that petroleum (as fuel) has had its day. The race is on.

Seems to me that GM and Tesla are likelies.

I wouldn’t be astonished to see Nissan increase their range but stay well below two hundred miles in order to set a selling price well under $30k (unsubsidized).

I don’t know about BMW. They may have made it hard for themselves to price match with GM and Tesla by going the carbon fiber route.

And three hours later I take that back….

“The enabling factor will be a “breakthrough battery” that permits a range of two hundred miles, (Ghosen) said, which Nissan will launch within the next few years.

That battery is widely expected to be suggested in the second-generation Nissan Leaf, to be introduced as a two thousand seventeen or two thousand eighteen model.”

And add Renault to the list. If Nissan has a two hundred mile range battery then Renault will as well.

I drive about three 17 mile trips each day. @ thirty four miles round tour this is about one hundred miles each day about 30k miles/year.

I have been looking at used Nissan LEAF’s with chademo DCQC LEVEL three charging ports. The problem I am running into is that chargers for this standard seem to be unobtanium. That is not for sale! Nissan now claims that dcqc is only for commercial use. yet they will not turn down to sell the car with it. only the charger. I would love to be able to charge as rapid as my 50kW 244V 200A single phase circuit breaker box will put out. but even close would meet my needs.

CAN you please help me find one that will work and give inbetween 30kW and 50kW.

I deny to buy the car until i can get the charger lined up.

Sorry, Glen. That’s outside my box of skill. Let’s see if one of the people who are up on chargers can help out.

Also, have you attempted any of the EV forums? I would imagine there’s one or more Leaf discussion forums.

But, let me see if I understand. You drive about thirty four miles three times a day on most days? How much time do you have inbetween trips?

Which year Leafs are you considering? I seem to recall that Nissan enlargened the size of their built in charger at one point. Here’s what Wiki says –

“Models with an on-board 6.6 kW charger can be fully recharged from empty in four hours from a 220/240-volt forty amp supply (7.7 kW allowable draw) that can provide the on-board charger its total 6.6 kW of usable power.”

If you would expect a seventy mile range (highway driving) that means you’d be picking up `17.Five miles per hour of charging. (70 / four = 17.Five). If you drove thirty four miles and then plugged in for two hours it seems like you’d be fully charged and ready to go on the next thirty four mile jaunt.

There are very big tech advancements on the way, due two thousand seventeen but maybe sooner. Electrified range almost doubled, for example, across the board. Also I think it is not yet lodged how best to recharge. Tesla proceeds with the fillup station paradigm, but also possible and in my view very preferable is battery interchanging. Exchanging is not yet a good choice because batteries are strong and many people don’t like to grunt. But ideas are being explored involving use of several batteries of lesser size rather than one big battery, resulting in less grunting. This capability to conveniently and effectively combine batteries is relatively fresh tech which the industry is very likely still not leveraging to its total potential.

Tesla has suggested battery interchanging and found almost no interest.

You say “battery interchanging” as if it was just one clear and lodged thing. Not so. I’m not referring to the Better World idea. I just recently read about some university that has a battery that can be interchanged for a refill like a propane tank. I think that’s the way to go. Tesla didn’t suggest anything like that. But rather than one big propane tank, I was thinking maybe ten puny batteries of maybe DVD size each, where the driver can keep maybe five or so packed batteries in his car (glove compartment?). And installation should be via dashboard convenience: if one of the ten petite batteries gets low, just pop it out, grab a replacement from the glove compartment, and buttplug it in. Should be able to do this while driving, with the other nine batteries providing enough electrified power while one is being switched out. The tech for this isn’t fairly here yet, but it is very close and it clearly will be here soon. I recommend a wise company like Tesla plan for exactly this. And enough with treating electrical play like gasoline. We don’t need electrified fillup stations just because that’s the way we’ve always done it.

“some university that has a battery that can be exchanged for a refill like a propane tank. I think that’s the way to go.”

Attempt digging out some cost numbers.

” I was thinking maybe ten puny batteries of maybe DVD size each, where the driver can keep maybe five or so packed batteries in his car (glove compartment?).”

That would take enormous capacity (Wh/L). Gasoline is very much more energy dense than batteries. How far to you think you could drive with a DVD (case) sized container of gas?

“The tech for this isn’t fairly here yet, but it is very close”

That is very doubtful.

Why don’t you go back and reread. What you’re reporting here sounds like it’s from a sci fi site.

Electrified tech is advancing very rapidly so in order to hit the target one has to “lead” the target. If we had not looked forward originally, we would not now have any electrified cars at all.

I say, “The tech for this … is very close.” “Very doubtful,” you reply. You are entitled to your opinion but I am entitled to disagree. And I do.

David, do you have any facts to back up your opinion?

@Bob: I do have facts to back up my opinion, but of course I don’t have facts to prove my opinion. Otherwise we wouldn’t be calling it opinion. I’ll give just one fact, this the largest, I believe: in the last ten years, EVs have advanced from glorified golf carts to one of the three best cars commercially available. I’m speaking of Tesla’s gem, of course. But even cars like the LEAF or Volt represent big advances in technology, and most tech prognosticators believe this is just the beginning.

I’m hearing from pretty much all sources that by two thousand seventeen a two hundred mile EV range will be typical, with the range soon to be much greater than that. This is what I’m hearing as the accomplished opinion. Experts can certainly be wrong but that’s the way to bet. In any case, while this hardly constitutes fact enough to prove my assertions, it clearly describes a very rapidly advancing technology.

Today, there is no DVD-size battery that can provide even, say, twenty miles of range. But in ten years, yes, I believe that is very likely. Maybe in considerably less time than that. And then ten of those 20-mile DVD-sized batteries, working in tandem, will power an EV, eliminate range anxiety, and permit a dude like me, who parks on the street, to own an EV. A wise dude like Musk should be heading in this direction. My opinion.

“Today, there is no DVD-size battery that can provide even, say, twenty miles of range. But in ten years, yes, I believe that is very likely”

David, I don’t think you realize how dense a storage system we would need to stir an EV twenty miles on a DVD sized storage device.

Gasoline contains 9,700 Wh/l.

A DVD has a surface area of 109.Four cm sq. The thickness is 0.12 cm thick. That would make the volume 13.1 cm squared. Or 0.0131 liters.

A DVD of gasoline would contain one hundred twenty seven Wh of energy. 0.127 kWh. Enough energy to drive an EV about 0.Four miles. Five “DVD”s would be adequate for about two miles.

Twenty miles on a “DVD” assumes someone is going to invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline.

The current capacity of lithium-ion batteries is around two hundred forty Wh/l. About Two.5% as dense as gasoline. Only 0.25% of what you imagine.

David, look at where batteries and gasoline are on this energy density chart. What you envision is some sort of energy rich medium that would lie in the fine white unoccupied space of the upper right of the chart.

“Twenty miles on a ‘DVD’ assumes someone is going to invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline.” What you are actually telling is that you believe nobody ever will invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline. Certainly not in any foreseeable future.

You realize that this is the same argument against, that someone much like yourself would have been making when PCs very first came out, if I suggested that RAM capacity would reach gigabyte range. You would be telling, “David, I don’t think you realize how densely packed a chip would have to be in order for… and yet a chip can (now) only be packed with this much density, which is way less than needed…”. Etc. And you would have been wrong. (And btw, I was never clever/knowledgeable enough to make any such computer chip prognostication. That was just a hypothetical.)

I make no assures. I don’t know how such advancement will occur, whether it be via fresh medium or fresh process or some combination. I’m only telling that electrical tech advancement is trending upward very much like the tech advancement curve in computer chip technology, way back when. When I look into my crystal ball I see much greater range from much smaller batteries and again I say, this belief seems to be collective by the tech experts.

Love your fantasies, David.

Have a nice day.

Yeah, Bjorn is wonderful. Very blessed he won the referral contest. 😀

And on the other stuff as well. See:

Why combustion engine car makers are on a collision course with fate:

– They don’t want to sell you an electrified car, because they will make less profit from parts, servicing and sales of their combustion models.

– If they sell you an electrified car, they have to concede that combustion engine cars are pollution emitters.

– They know there’s a tipping point in the market, beyond which sales of combustion cars will drop quickly. Their objective is to reach that tipping point as leisurely as possible.

– They know that lithium batteries are only expensive because they are not produced in almost the same volume as gearboxes, fuel injectors, crankshafts and spark buttplugs. By delaying market growth they can maintain the fossil fuel economic advantage a little longer.

– They know that lithium batteries are limited in energy density because they have not undergone decades of refinement, as have gearboxes, fuel injectors, crankshafts and spark butt-plugs. By delaying market growth they can maintain the distance-between-refuelling advantage a little longer.

– They know that once you’ve experienced the joy of driving (in) a silent, vibration-free, rocket-fast, odourless car that never needs petrol, wild horses won’t haul you back to fossil fuels.

The above reasons explain the following:

The Nissan Leaf has no ‘frunk’. Pull the rubber hood and you see a host of stuff that looks like it needs servicing.

The boot of a Leaf is the oddest form – it’s not remotely plane. There’s a wall inbetween the fuckhole where the fuel tank would normally be and the rear folding seats. Inwards that wall is where they unthinkingly tucked most of the batteries.

The Leaf has a 150km range on a utter charge. Just low enough to discourage most buyers.

The servicing schedule on the Leaf is the same as a combustion car. At service one (Ten,000km), they do nothing other than inspect.

I have not seen a single ad on TV (in Sydney) for the Leaf, yet many other Nissan model ads go to air.

But here’s the number one reason they’re dreading the EV revolution. It’s all about brand. Let’s assume that Nissan were to release a ‘Leaf III’, at the same time as Tesla releases the Model three and, let’s also assume that the cars have equivalent range, spectacle, style and features. Which car will people buy?

People worried about Earth’s rising CO2 levels, or city pollution, or oil money destined for the Middle East, who buy the Tesla Model three will know they’re supporting a company who are part of the solution, not part of the problem. They know that friends who see the brand on their fresh car know it’s electrified without having to ask. The Tesla will have instantly recognisable status. The traditional motoring brands have no way to put distance inbetween logo and harass pipe. Imagine yourself on the road in your Nissan Leaf III and the car ahead is a hulking combustion engined Nissan, billowing fumes. How do you feel now, supporting the company that produced that monstrosity?

If I were in charge of strategy for one of the incumbent manufacturers, I’d be instantly looking for a way to take what has value from my brand, yet divorce it entirely from what will soon have the stigma of smoking cigarettes in a kindergarten. Don’t believe me? Just see. When you see ads for “Nissan Electric”, an all fresh company (with a stylish fresh logo) sponsored by, yet autonomous to, the old “Nissan”, it signals that the fresh era in motoring has arrived.

That’s a very good summary and I suspect your insight it about right.

What’s going to be interesting is to see how many current large car manufacturers get through the budge to EVs. Right now we have Tesla along with BYD and other Chinese manufacturers taking EVs gravely.

Imagine a future in which Apple and perhaps a duo other ‘fresh car’ manufacturers get into the game with mid-priced to luxury EVs and China starts flooding the market with mid-priced and economy EVs.

I expect the largest (Toyota, Ford, Honda, GM, etc.) will transition. But some of the smaller manufacturers may be left behind.

Excellent summary. Mind if I publish it as a guest/reader post? Worth a lot of eyeballs. 😀

Please do Zachary – the more eyeballs the better.

Electrical Car Answers – Electrical Cars For Sale two thousand fifteen

Electrified Cars For Sale In 2017

Are electrified cars your thing? Good, this is a page packed total of electrical car facts, including electrified cars for sale in two thousand sixteen in the US and their prices. Electrified car answers for any question you have should be on this page. If not, drop us a note so that we can add them. If you have some significant electrical car answers to common questions or interesting facts to add, also drop a note in the comments below! This page will be continually updated.

Basic Electrical Car Answers

• Electrical vehicles (EVs) run on electric current.
• Some EVs run 100% on electro-therapy, while others (hybrid electrified vehicles) run partly on electric current and partly on some other fuel (e.g., gas or diesel). Vehicles that can at times run solely on electro-stimulation but can also use liquid fuel — and that can be plugged in to charge their batteries — are called plug-in hybrid electrified vehicles (PHEVs).
• 100% electrical vehicles and PHEVs are clearly much better for the environment (and, thus, humans) than their gasoline-powered and diesel-powered cousins. Their fuel (electro-therapy) is also typically much cheaper.

Presently Available Electrical Cars

The following are electrical cars that are for sale today in the US or are supposed to be for sale at some point in 2016.

The very first prices listed are base prices before the federal tax credit. In parenthesis are prices after the maximum federal tax credit ($7,500). Other tax credits and rebates potentially available in your city or state (e.g., the $Three,000 California EV rebate or $6,000 Colorado EV tax credit) are not included.

Links on the car names are mostly to our story archives for these cars. Links on the prices are to the car companies’ pages for the cars. Range and MPGe/MPG data come from the EPA.

Check these electrified cars out and go test drive some this weekend!

100% Electrified Cars

Table Key

BMW i3

The BMW i3 is BMW’s very first 100% electrified car built electrified from the ground up — and it’s still one of the only electrical cars on the market built electrified from the ground up. It is part of BMW’s “born electrified” i series and its price puts it somewhat in the middle of the more popular Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. Despite looking a bit bulky, the BMW i3 is the lightest electrical car on the market thanks to its carbon fiber bod. It’s super joy drive — one of my favorites. Compared to BMW’s overall sales, the i3 is selling pretty well, making it clear that BMW is one of the auto-manufacturing pioneers in the electrified vehicle space. Read my very first BMW i3 review here and/or my 2nd review & comparison with the LEAF & Volt here and/or my comparison with the Tesla Model S here.

Chevy Bolt

The Chevy Bolt is certainly a breakout fully electrified model — the very first “affordable” fully electrified model in the US to have long range. It arrived on the market at the very end of two thousand sixteen and is expected to see strong sales in the US, and perhaps also in Europe when it is launched there as the Opel Ampera-E if GM attempts to market and sell the thing. A fully autonomous version of the Bolt will be produced as well. It will primarily be tested/used by Lyft drivers.

Fiat 500e

(Only Parts of the US)

The Fiat 500e has gotten superb reviews. However, the head of Fiat evidently hates electrical cars and is only producing the 500e in enormously limited quantities for a duo of states (basically, because Fiat has to do so in order to sell cars in California). Hopefully this nice electrical car will someday be available to a broader market, and with a significant range boost, but that seems unlikely. With its relatively low price, good reviews, and cool styling, the Fiat 500e could give some of the top-selling electrical cars on the market a run for their market if Fiat actually attempted — what a shame. Its eighty four mile range is a bit behind the times now but Fiat is still moving cars via super-low lease deals in California. Read my utter review of the Fiat 500e.

Ford Concentrate Electrified

(Only Parts of the US)

The Ford Concentrate Electrical is Ford’s only 100% electrical car. The car compares in many regards to the top-selling Nissan LEAF, but it also has some disadvantages in terms of cargo space and EV design. The Concentrate Electrified is more broadly available than many compliance cars, but it still isn’t as effortless to find as a Nissan LEAF or BMW i3. As with the LEAF, however, it seems that Ford will have to drop prices a good deal to budge Concentrate Electrics off the lot in the age of the Chevy Bolt. Read our in-depth review of the Concentrate Electrical here.

Hyundai IONIQ Electrified

(Arriving Soon … Nationwide)

The Hyundai IONIQ Electrical is a pretty popular fresh electrified suggesting from Hyundai that will also have a plug-in hybrid twin sibling and has a conventional hybrid twin sibling. The range is moderate — inbetween initial fully electrified offerings but fairly far below the Chevy Bolt (aka Opel Ampera-E) and updated Renault Zoe. The IONIQ Electrical seems to be selling okay in Europe. If it is widely suggested in the US, it could have a good run there as well, but it indeed needs more range to rival with the Bolt or Tesla Model Three.

Kia Soul EV

(Only Parts of the US)

The Kia Soul EV is a snazzy electrical vehicle with a bit more space on the inwards than the average car, and a clear youngster appeal. The Soul EV has sold okay in the markets where it’s available, but it isn’t widely available and the driving range hasn’t enlargened to react to increasingly longer range from other electrical models. Its overall sales in the US are pretty sad, and I don’t see them getting better unless the vehicle gets a big range boost or Kia starts suggesting deep discounts. You can check out our review of the Kia Soul EV here.

Mercedes-Benz B250e

(Only Parts of the US)

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electrical (now called the B250e) has been an utterly close competitor to the BMW i3, and was the very first suggesting from Mercedes in the EV department. It has a Tesla drivetrain at its core, and reviewers have been split inbetween it and the BMW i3, with some preferring the i3 and some preferring the B-Class Electrical. One of our top EV reporters has the B-Class Electrified and reviewed it after one month, after one year and sort of again after two years. Mercedes has always treated this like a compliance car and not many have been sold, but I imagine sales will drop even further with the Bolt now for sale, the i3 getting longer range, and the Tesla Model three coming soon.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

(Only Parts of the US)

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV (aka Mitsubishi i) is one of the most basic electrified cars on the market, but also one of the cheapest. If you are looking for a bare-bones EV for a low price, the i-MiEV is your baby.

Nissan LEAF

The Nissan LEAF is the highest-selling electrical car in history. After test driving dozens of EVs myself, I have to say that the Nissan LEAF is one of my dearest models. It has excellent visibility, feel, convenience, space, plasticity, and acceleration (okay, Ten.Two seconds isn’t spectacular, but it still feels excellent due to the instant torque). The 107-mile version was the top of the market for affordable electrical cars until the Chevy Bolt (approx. twice the range) and updated Renault Zoe (only Europe) came along. Now it’s hard to say where the LEAF stands. Why buy a LEAF over a Bolt? It seems to be getting by on deep discounts and group buys. For a thorough look at the LEAF, check out our long-term Nissan LEAF review here.

Clever ForTwo Electrical Drive

(Only Parts of the US)

The clever electrical drive is almost the cheapest electrical car on the US market … if you don’t own or lease it for very long. However, note that there’s an $80/month battery rental. Within about six years, the clever electrified drive is about the same price as a 5-seat and much more plush Nissan LEAF. In my private opinion, the clever electrical drive is a hard sell — unless you truly want a little car and/or only want it for two to three years. Read my review of the wise electrical drive here or read the review of an holder who sold his Camaro for the clever electrical drive.

Volkswagen e-Golf

(Only Parts of the US)

The Volkswagen e-Golf is VW’s 2nd electrical car model (following closely behind the Volkswagen e-Up!) and the very first in the US. Clearly, it’s an electrified version of VW’s enormously popular Golf model. The e-Golf has been one of the closest competitors to the world-leading Nissan LEAF, but it has been available in much more limited markets. Additionally, Volkswagen has been much slower to update the battery/range in order to contest with the updated LEAF — not to mention the fresh and titillating Chevy Bolt. A fresh version of the e-Golf with one hundred twenty four miles of range is on the way, but it’s hard to see how that will contest now that the Bolt is on the market and the Tesla Model three is around the corner.

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is widely regarded as not just the best electrified car on the market but the best mass-produced car of any type in all of history (see here, here, here, here, and here for just a few examples). So, for many people, if they can afford a $60,000–$120,000 car, the Model S is as good as it gets.

This car has flipped the electrical car and overall auto world on its head in many respects. It is a top-selling luxury/premium-class car — well, the top-selling luxury/premium-class car in the US. It has robbed Mercedes and BMW of loyal buyers quicker than the roadrunner can dart away from a certain coyote.

Tesla Model X

Tesla’s 3rd model is the ridiculously cool and very desired Model X, an SUV with similar spectacle and specs as the Model S. In fact, despite being a large SUV, the Model X is one of the quickest production cars in history. It’s not fairly as quick as the Model S, but it’s certainly more comfy and luxurious, imho. As Elon Musk has said, the choice inbetween the Model X and Model S is truly just whether or not you want an SUV/crossover or a sedan.

The Model X is special for combining excellent spectacle, fine utility, and hot styling. Not many vehicles can do that. Its signature feature? Its falcon-wing doors, of course — love ’em or hate ’em. I honestly think this is the best passenger vehicle on the planet, but YMMV. You can read my review of the Model X here and Kyle Field’s review of the Model X here.

Rimac Concept_One

I don’t know if this one counts, so it’s not counted in the “20” in the title. The Rimac Concept_One is certainly no everyman’s car. It is an electrified supercar out of Croatia that costs a fortune … as in, $1 million. Unnecessary to say, most of us will be fortunate to even see one of these, let alone touch one, let alone rail in one, let alone own one. Still, it’s a beauty worth mentioning. The Rimac Concept_One can reportedly go from zero to sixty mph in Two.8 seconds and has a horsepower of 1,088 — yep, that’s a “supercar” … even tho’ the top-line Model S is now quicker. Rimac Automobili is a Croatian company, and it’s unclear if it’ll ever grow up enough to produce >100 cars, but the Concept_One will go down in history either way.

Plug-In Hybrid Electrified Cars

Table Key

Audi A3 e-Tron

(Only Parts of the US)

The Audi A3 e-Tron is a plug-in hybrid electrical car with a bit of a sporty suggesting. The electric-only range is not spectacular, but it’s pretty much par for the course. The A3 e-Tron can go from zero to sixty mph in a respectable 7.Five seconds. It has also landed a difficult five starlets in Europe’s safety ratings. The A3 e-tron has a raunchy time rivaling with the Chevy Volt and Ford Energi models on value for the money, in my discreet opinion, but some people clearly choose the e-Tron’s looks and the Audi brand. Note that the A3 e-Tron is actually the same as the Volkswagen Golf GTE under the bondage mask. The A3 e-Tron isn’t as limited in availability as the Golf GTE (which isn’t in the US), but as expected, the A3 e-tron is not available across the US, so it certainly gets the “compliance car” label. You can read my review of the A3 e-tron here.

BMW 330e

The BMW 330e is a plug-in hybrid electrical car with some spunk on the “low end” of the premium sedan market. The electric-only range is not spectacular, but should get most people to work and back or out to the shops. I’m disappointed in any PHEV that doesn’t have at least forty miles of electrified range, but this fourteen miles of range isn’t even par for the course. But hey, if you want a BMW with a backup gasoline tank and engine, here’s a competitive suggesting.

BMW 740e

Similar to the BMW 330e, the BMW 740e has pitiful electrical range — just fourteen miles according to the EPA. It’s a plug-in hybrid electrified car in the large luxury sedan class, “contesting” with the Tesla Model S, but I can’t see why anyone would choose the 740e over the Model S. Well, I’m sure it includes more traditional BMW “luxury” than the Model S, but come one, indeed.

BMW i8

The BMW i8 is BMW’s 2nd i-series car. It’s one of the most expensive cars on the market — actually, it’s the most expensive on the mass market today. It comes with a ton of style and fine acceleration — its zero to sixty mph time (Four.Four seconds) only trails the Tesla Model S (Two.Five seconds) and Model X (Two.9 seconds) amongst electrical cars presently for sale in the US. It’s hard not to covet this beauty. While it has amazing power and is a lot of joy to drive, however, it is hard to justify such a high price with the quicker and much more spacious Model S much cheaper. But if you’re pursuing style, this may well be top dog.

BMW X5 xDrive40e

The BMW X5 xDrive40e was one of the very first plug-in SUVs to hit the US market, arriving in early 2016. For an SUV, its 0–60 time of 6.Five seconds is pretty awesome. Surely, the X5 also offers luxury and high-tech features that help pull in $55,000–75,000 for the vehicle. The X5 iPerformance also learns your driving habits and instructs you how to drive more efficiently. And it can avoid crashes that some drivers would fail to escape from.

However, it’s no Model X … which makes the model a truly rough buy for someone looking in the luxury, high-performance, high-priced SUV category. I haven’t gotten into an X5 iPerformance yet, but I can say with confidence I’d choose a Model X over it, especially with the X5 xDrive40e only having fourteen miles of electrical range — pitiful, as is evidently typical for BMW’s plug-in hybrid offerings.

On the other arm, even after the tax credits, the Model X is almost $20,000 more, so I guess the better choice depends on one’s price sensitivity to some degree. (Just note that you can save a lot of money on fuel with the Model X that could make up for the extra upfront cost.)

Chevy Volt

The Chevy Volt is one of the most widely acclaimed electrified cars on the market — well, one of the most widely acclaimed cars on the market period. It is the top-selling electrified car in the US to date. Volt owners are known as Voltheads and were “the happiest drivers” in the US for two years running … before the Tesla Model S arrived (as per Consumer Reports possessor satisfaction surveys).

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

(Coming Soon … Nationwide?)

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the very first plug-in hybrid — and very first hybrid — minivan on the market. It is fairly attractively priced for the minivan market and could be a enormous hit. It’s strange that Fiat-Chrysler Automotive — whose CEO hates EVs — went and produced what could be one of the most competitive EVs on the market. Well, that’s if Chrysler truly opens it up beyond a few compliance car regions.

Ford C-Max Energi

One of two cars in Ford’s Energi (plug-in hybrid electrified vehicle) lineup, the Ford C-Max Energi has fairly good specs for someone who doesn’t drive very far on most days but wants to take very long trips fairly regularly. It’s also good for larger families, as it seats up to five people. Despite seating Five, note that it is cheaper than the Chevy Volt … until you factor in the federal tax credit. Actually, the C-Max Energi is fairly similar to the Prius Prime in many respects, and almost exactly the same price. I think choosing one over the other mostly comes down to aesthetic/brand preferences. However, the Prius Prime is considerably more efficient as well.

Ford Fusion Energi

Fairly similar to the Ford C-Max Energi but with a few more bells & whistles, the Ford Fusion Energi has done fairly well since its introduction in February 2013. The Ford Fusion Energi certainly offers some competition to its sister, the C-Max Energi, as well as the Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius PHEV/Prime. Importantly, for some people, the Fusion Energi is larger than all three of these competitors. It has a bit less electrical range than the Volt, but it has enough seats for five convenient passengers. Lastly, I’d say the Fusion Energi it is fairly the looker.

Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid

(Only Parts of the US)

The Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid is a fairly large and classy plug-in hybrid with moderate electrified range. It’s basically another competitor to the Ford Energi models and the Chevy Volt. You can see our utter review of the new-in-2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid here.

Mercedes-Benz C350e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the C350e yet, but it’s clearly a compliance car (11 miles of electrical range?!) whereby an electrified motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile. See the Fully Charged review of the Mercedes C350e.

Mercedes-Benz GLE550e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the GLE550e yet, but it’s clearly a compliance car (12 miles of electrical range?!) whereby an electrified motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile.

Mercedes-Benz S550e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the S550e, but it’s clearly a compliance car whereby an electrified motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile.

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid

Following the successful Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid (see below), Porsche launched the Cayenne S E-Hybrid at the end of 2014. The Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid can go from zero to sixty mph in just Five.Four seconds, and has a top speed of one hundred fifty one mph. I think “wicked” is the word for that. The plug-in model sells fairly well relative to the normal Cayenne, but that doesn’t compare to Model X sales.

Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid

The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid electrical sports car that is everything you’d expect – awesome. It can go from zero to sixty miles per hour in

Five seconds. The Panamera S E-Hybrid sometimes accounts for almost 10% of all Panamera sales. It’s a ton of joy to drive, but still a bit hard to justify for the price compared to other high-performance EVs on the market. The place where it has them strike, tho’, is in luxury (imho).

Toyota Prius Prime

The Toyota Prius Prime is a second-gen version of the Toyota Prius Plug-in, which was either the 2nd- or 3rd-best-selling electrical car worldwide in 2013. The Prius Prime’s modest twenty five miles of all-electric range is a letdown in my book, but the interior space and strong Prius brand sure help to sell this animal. The price is fairly attractive, and the fuel economy (MPGe) on electrical power is superb. The Prius Prime has about half the range of the Volt, but it does seat five people a bit more cosily … if you need that.

Volvo XC90 Twin Engine

The Volvo XC90 T8 is yet another plug-in hybrid electrified SUV that hit the US market in 2016. With a bit more seating space and a quicker 0–60 time, the XC90 T8 also costs a bit more than the BMW X5 xDrive40e. It looks like a beautiful luxurious SUV on the inwards and the outside, but yet again, if the money is available, I can’t see choosing this over a Tesla Model X. However, if Volvo wants to give me one for a week to test out, I can see if my opinion switches. 🙂

EV Battery Costs

The at-the-register price tag of EVs and PHEVs is higher than that of similarly sized and tooled gasoline-powered cars, mostly because batteries are expensive. How expensive? That’s hard to know, because car manufacturers generally won’t say what they are paying for their batteries, or what they expect to pay in one year, two years, three years, etc. Here are some of the best answers we’ve got for now regarding EV battery prices for specific models:

→ Tesla’s battery packs were estimated to cost $240/kWh in 2014, while the rest of the industry was projected to be no lower than $400/kWh (that seems dubious). But the latest figure from a Tesla representative pegs its battery pack cost at under $190/kWh. (Note that CEO and Chairman Elon Musk stated in February two thousand twelve that the cost of EV batteries would drop below $200 per kWh in the “not-too-distant future.”)

Bloomberg Fresh Energy Finance Battery Price Estimates

For some historical background, tho’, here’s some info from a two thousand twelve BNEF report that found that the average price of batteries used in electrical vehicles dropped 14% from Q1 two thousand eleven to Q1 2012, and 30% from two thousand nine to two thousand twelve (I didn’t even realize/reminisce that I have been writing about EV battery prices for this long!):

“Electric vehicles such as the Mitsubishi Motor iMiEV, Nissan Leaf or Tesla Model S require inbetween sixteen and 85kWh of storage, with a total cost of $11,200 and $34,000, or around 25% of the total cost of the vehicle,” BNEF notes. “Battery pack prices for plug-in hybrid vehicles such as GM’s Volt are on average 67% higher in terms of $/kWh, than those for electric-only vehicles like Nissan’s Leaf. This higher price is mainly due to the greater power-to-energy spectacle required for plug-in hybrid vehicles.”

A more latest BNEF probe found that EV battery prices fell 35% in 2015. It stated that prices fell 65% since 2010. But it estimated battery pack prices at $350/kWh, which is considerably higher than the Tesla/Panasonic & GM/LG Chem estimates.

US Department of Energy Aims & Estimates

“Overall, the Department of Energy is partnering with industry to reduce the manufacturing cost of advanced batteries. While a typical battery for a plug-in hybrid electrified vehicle with a 40-mile electrified range cost $12,000 in 2008, we’re on track to demonstrate technology by two thousand fifteen that would reduce the cost to $Trio,600. And last year, we set a objective of demonstrating technology by two thousand twenty that would further reduce the cost to $1,500 – an accomplishment that could help spur the mass-market adoption of electrified vehicles.”

It’s 2016, and by almost all measures, EV battery prices have fallen swifter than projected. The DOE at that time was targeting $300 per kWh in two thousand fifteen (the $Three,600 packs) and $125 per kWh by 2022.

Battery Price Projections Consistently Too High

Cost estimates and future projections for electrical vehicle battery packs, measured in $US per kilowatt hour of capacity. Each mark on the chart represents a documented estimate reviewed by the examine. Source: Nykvist et al. (2015).

Looking at that chart, it seems that Tesla/Panasonic and GM/LG Chem battery costs are already (in 2016) down to the lowest projections for 2020. Will we achieve $100/kWh by 2020? We’ll be sure to let you know!

Overall, we have been eyeing something I’ve introduced about in Mumbai, India; Vancouver, Canada; Cocoa, Florida, USA; and Berlin, Germany: once a technology is ripe, it takes over the market quicker than anticipated and costs come down quicker than most people anticipated. Check out these three presentations for more on that (if you haven’t already done so):

UCS Explore on Environmental Benefits & Fuel Savings of EVs

Clearly, as we budge more and more to clean, renewable energy in the US, electrical vehicles will only become greener and greener to drive.

Furthermore, electrified vehicle purchases encourage people to go solar and to cut their overall energy use, factors which have not been adequately studied or quantified yet. If one were to install solar panels on their home, the “fuel” for their EV would be clean, renewable solar power (sunlight) that would make their EV much cleaner than in any state in the UCS probe above.

Got more car answers to contribute? Or questions you’d like us to response?

Beyond the info above and below, the following posts may interest you:

@ZShahan A Toyota Prius two thousand sixteen model update is needed. The two thousand fifteen model range of eleven miles doubled in the two thousand sixteen model to twenty two miles.

Are these lists up to date? I ultimately coaxed someone to buy a plug-in in the coming weeks or months (she’ll only go for a hybrid) and sent her this link to shop from.

This article does need a “Coming in 2016.”

May I request a forward looking article comparing the “200 mile – $30 – $40K club”. I believe its members, as of 2017, will include Tesla, Nissan, GM (and BMW?) – and perhaps some stealthy surprise contenders.

Seems to me the features shootout will put them all in the same ballpark. If so, differentiation comes down to the speed and ubiquitousness of the prompt charging network, and brand ‘coolness’. I’ve already picked my winner in both camps, but I’d like to hear what the experts think.

It will also be fascinating to see who is very first to market – they will surely score the most and best free press, as the world leisurely realises that petroleum (as fuel) has had its day. The race is on.

Seems to me that GM and Tesla are likelies.

I wouldn’t be astonished to see Nissan increase their range but stay well below two hundred miles in order to set a selling price well under $30k (unsubsidized).

I don’t know about BMW. They may have made it hard for themselves to price match with GM and Tesla by going the carbon fiber route.

And three hours later I take that back….

“The enabling factor will be a “breakthrough battery” that permits a range of two hundred miles, (Ghosen) said, which Nissan will launch within the next few years.

That battery is widely expected to be suggested in the second-generation Nissan Leaf, to be introduced as a two thousand seventeen or two thousand eighteen model.”

And add Renault to the list. If Nissan has a two hundred mile range battery then Renault will as well.

I drive about three 17 mile trips each day. @ thirty four miles round tour this is about one hundred miles each day about 30k miles/year.

I have been looking at used Nissan LEAF’s with chademo DCQC LEVEL three charging ports. The problem I am running into is that chargers for this standard seem to be unobtanium. That is not for sale! Nissan now claims that dcqc is only for commercial use. yet they will not deny to sell the car with it. only the charger. I would love to be able to charge as rapid as my 50kW 244V 200A single phase circuit breaker box will put out. but even close would meet my needs.

CAN you please help me find one that will work and give inbetween 30kW and 50kW.

I turn down to buy the car until i can get the charger lined up.

Sorry, Glen. That’s outside my box of skill. Let’s see if one of the people who are up on chargers can help out.

Also, have you attempted any of the EV forums? I would imagine there’s one or more Leaf discussion forums.

But, let me see if I understand. You drive about thirty four miles three times a day on most days? How much time do you have inbetween trips?

Which year Leafs are you considering? I seem to recall that Nissan enlargened the size of their built in charger at one point. Here’s what Wiki says –

“Models with an on-board 6.6 kW charger can be fully recharged from empty in four hours from a 220/240-volt forty amp supply (7.7 kW allowable draw) that can provide the on-board charger its total 6.6 kW of usable power.”

If you would expect a seventy mile range (highway driving) that means you’d be picking up `17.Five miles per hour of charging. (70 / four = 17.Five). If you drove thirty four miles and then plugged in for two hours it seems like you’d be fully charged and ready to go on the next thirty four mile jaunt.

There are very big tech advancements on the way, due two thousand seventeen but maybe sooner. Electrified range almost doubled, for example, across the board. Also I think it is not yet lodged how best to recharge. Tesla resumes with the fillup station paradigm, but also possible and in my view very preferable is battery exchanging. Interchanging is not yet a good choice because batteries are strenuous and many people don’t like to grunt. But ideas are being explored involving use of several batteries of lesser size rather than one big battery, resulting in less grunting. This capability to conveniently and effectively combine batteries is relatively fresh tech which the industry is most likely still not leveraging to its utter potential.

Tesla has suggested battery exchanging and found almost no interest.

You say “battery exchanging” as if it was just one clear and lodged thing. Not so. I’m not referring to the Better World idea. I just recently read about some university that has a battery that can be interchanged for a refill like a propane tank. I think that’s the way to go. Tesla didn’t suggest anything like that. But rather than one big propane tank, I was thinking maybe ten puny batteries of maybe DVD size each, where the driver can keep maybe five or so packed batteries in his car (glove compartment?). And installation should be via dashboard convenience: if one of the ten petite batteries gets low, just pop it out, grab a replacement from the glove compartment, and buttplug it in. Should be able to do this while driving, with the other nine batteries providing enough electrified power while one is being switched out. The tech for this isn’t fairly here yet, but it is very close and it clearly will be here soon. I recommend a clever company like Tesla plan for exactly this. And enough with treating violet wand like gasoline. We don’t need electrical fillup stations just because that’s the way we’ve always done it.

“some university that has a battery that can be interchanged for a refill like a propane tank. I think that’s the way to go.”

Attempt digging out some cost numbers.

” I was thinking maybe ten puny batteries of maybe DVD size each, where the driver can keep maybe five or so packed batteries in his car (glove compartment?).”

That would take enormous capacity (Wh/L). Gasoline is very much more energy dense than batteries. How far to you think you could drive with a DVD (case) sized container of gas?

“The tech for this isn’t fairly here yet, but it is very close”

That is very doubtful.

Why don’t you go back and reread. What you’re reporting here sounds like it’s from a sci fi site.

Electrified tech is advancing very rapidly so in order to hit the target one has to “lead” the target. If we had not looked forward originally, we would not now have any electrified cars at all.

I say, “The tech for this … is very close.” “Very doubtful,” you reply. You are entitled to your opinion but I am entitled to disagree. And I do.

David, do you have any facts to back up your opinion?

@Bob: I do have facts to back up my opinion, but of course I don’t have facts to prove my opinion. Otherwise we wouldn’t be calling it opinion. I’ll give just one fact, this the thickest, I believe: in the last ten years, EVs have advanced from glorified golf carts to one of the three best cars commercially available. I’m speaking of Tesla’s gem, of course. But even cars like the LEAF or Volt represent big advances in technology, and most tech prognosticators believe this is just the beginning.

I’m hearing from pretty much all sources that by two thousand seventeen a two hundred mile EV range will be typical, with the range soon to be much greater than that. This is what I’m hearing as the experienced opinion. Experts can certainly be wrong but that’s the way to bet. In any case, while this hardly constitutes fact enough to prove my assertions, it clearly describes a very rapidly advancing technology.

Today, there is no DVD-size battery that can provide even, say, twenty miles of range. But in ten years, yes, I believe that is very likely. Maybe in considerably less time than that. And then ten of those 20-mile DVD-sized batteries, working in tandem, will power an EV, eliminate range anxiety, and permit a stud like me, who parks on the street, to own an EV. A clever dude like Musk should be heading in this direction. My opinion.

“Today, there is no DVD-size battery that can provide even, say, twenty miles of range. But in ten years, yes, I believe that is very likely”

David, I don’t think you realize how dense a storage system we would need to budge an EV twenty miles on a DVD sized storage device.

Gasoline contains 9,700 Wh/l.

A DVD has a surface area of 109.Four cm sq. The thickness is 0.12 cm thick. That would make the volume 13.1 cm squared. Or 0.0131 liters.

A DVD of gasoline would contain one hundred twenty seven Wh of energy. 0.127 kWh. Enough energy to drive an EV about 0.Four miles. Five “DVD”s would be adequate for about two miles.

Twenty miles on a “DVD” assumes someone is going to invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline.

The current capacity of lithium-ion batteries is around two hundred forty Wh/l. About Two.5% as dense as gasoline. Only 0.25% of what you imagine.

David, look at where batteries and gasoline are on this energy density chart. What you envision is some sort of energy rich medium that would lie in the good white unoccupied space of the upper right of the chart.

“Twenty miles on a ‘DVD’ assumes someone is going to invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline.” What you are actually telling is that you believe nobody ever will invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline. Certainly not in any foreseeable future.

You realize that this is the same argument against, that someone much like yourself would have been making when PCs very first came out, if I suggested that RAM capacity would reach gigabyte range. You would be telling, “David, I don’t think you realize how densely packed a chip would have to be in order for… and yet a chip can (now) only be packed with this much density, which is way less than needed…”. Etc. And you would have been wrong. (And btw, I was never clever/knowledgeable enough to make any such computer chip prognostication. That was just a hypothetical.)

I make no ensures. I don’t know how such advancement will occur, whether it be via fresh medium or fresh process or some combination. I’m only telling that electrical tech advancement is trending upward very much like the tech advancement curve in computer chip technology, way back when. When I look into my crystal ball I see much greater range from much smaller batteries and again I say, this belief seems to be collective by the tech experts.

Love your fantasies, David.

Have a nice day.

Yeah, Bjorn is wonderful. Very glad he won the referral contest. 😀

And on the other stuff as well. See:

Why combustion engine car makers are on a collision course with fate:

– They don’t want to sell you an electrified car, because they will make less profit from parts, servicing and sales of their combustion models.

– If they sell you an electrified car, they have to concede that combustion engine cars are pollution emitters.

– They know there’s a tipping point in the market, beyond which sales of combustion cars will drop quickly. Their aim is to reach that tipping point as leisurely as possible.

– They know that lithium batteries are only expensive because they are not produced in almost the same volume as gearboxes, fuel injectors, crankshafts and spark butt-plugs. By delaying market growth they can maintain the fossil fuel economic advantage a little longer.

– They know that lithium batteries are limited in energy density because they have not undergone decades of refinement, as have gearboxes, fuel injectors, crankshafts and spark ass-plugs. By delaying market growth they can maintain the distance-between-refuelling advantage a little longer.

– They know that once you’ve experienced the joy of driving (in) a silent, vibration-free, rocket-fast, odourless car that never needs petrol, wild horses won’t haul you back to fossil fuels.

The above reasons explain the following:

The Nissan Leaf has no ‘frunk’. Pull the rubber hood and you see a host of stuff that looks like it needs servicing.

The boot of a Leaf is the oddest form – it’s not remotely plane. There’s a wall inbetween the crevice where the fuel tank would normally be and the rear folding seats. Inwards that wall is where they unthinkingly plunged most of the batteries.

The Leaf has a 150km range on a total charge. Just low enough to discourage most buyers.

The servicing schedule on the Leaf is the same as a combustion car. At service one (Ten,000km), they do nothing other than inspect.

I have not seen a single ad on TV (in Sydney) for the Leaf, yet many other Nissan model ads go to air.

But here’s the number one reason they’re dreading the EV revolution. It’s all about brand. Let’s assume that Nissan were to release a ‘Leaf III’, at the same time as Tesla releases the Model three and, let’s also assume that the cars have equivalent range, spectacle, style and features. Which car will people buy?

People worried about Earth’s rising CO2 levels, or city pollution, or oil money destined for the Middle East, who buy the Tesla Model three will know they’re supporting a company who are part of the solution, not part of the problem. They know that friends who see the brand on their fresh car know it’s electrical without having to ask. The Tesla will have instantly recognisable status. The traditional motoring brands have no way to put distance inbetween logo and harass pipe. Imagine yourself on the road in your Nissan Leaf III and the car ahead is a hulking combustion engined Nissan, billowing fumes. How do you feel now, supporting the company that produced that monstrosity?

If I were in charge of strategy for one of the incumbent manufacturers, I’d be instantaneously looking for a way to take what has value from my brand, yet divorce it totally from what will soon have the stigma of smoking cigarettes in a kindergarten. Don’t believe me? Just see. When you see ads for “Nissan Electric”, an all fresh company (with a stylish fresh logo) sponsored by, yet autonomous to, the old “Nissan”, it signals that the fresh era in motoring has arrived.

That’s a very good summary and I suspect your insight it about right.

What’s going to be interesting is to see how many current large car manufacturers sustain the stir to EVs. Right now we have Tesla along with BYD and other Chinese manufacturers taking EVs earnestly.

Imagine a future in which Apple and perhaps a duo other ‘fresh car’ manufacturers get into the game with mid-priced to luxury EVs and China starts flooding the market with mid-priced and economy EVs.

I expect the largest (Toyota, Ford, Honda, GM, etc.) will transition. But some of the smaller manufacturers may be left behind.

Excellent summary. Mind if I publish it as a guest/reader post? Worth a lot of eyeballs. 😀

Please do Zachary – the more eyeballs the better.

Electrified Car Answers – Electrified Cars For Sale two thousand fifteen

Electrical Cars For Sale In 2017

Are electrical cars your thing? Good, this is a page packed total of electrified car facts, including electrical cars for sale in two thousand sixteen in the US and their prices. Electrified car answers for any question you have should be on this page. If not, drop us a note so that we can add them. If you have some significant electrical car answers to common questions or interesting facts to add, also drop a note in the comments below! This page will be continually updated.

Basic Electrified Car Answers

• Electrical vehicles (EVs) run on electro-therapy.
• Some EVs run 100% on tens unit, while others (hybrid electrified vehicles) run partly on tens unit and partly on some other fuel (e.g., gas or diesel). Vehicles that can at times run solely on electrical play but can also use liquid fuel — and that can be plugged in to charge their batteries — are called plug-in hybrid electrified vehicles (PHEVs).
• 100% electrical vehicles and PHEVs are clearly much better for the environment (and, thus, humans) than their gasoline-powered and diesel-powered cousins. Their fuel (tens unit) is also typically much cheaper.

Presently Available Electrical Cars

The following are electrified cars that are for sale today in the US or are supposed to be for sale at some point in 2016.

The very first prices listed are base prices before the federal tax credit. In parenthesis are prices after the maximum federal tax credit ($7,500). Other tax credits and rebates potentially available in your city or state (e.g., the $Three,000 California EV rebate or $6,000 Colorado EV tax credit) are not included.

Links on the car names are mostly to our story archives for these cars. Links on the prices are to the car companies’ pages for the cars. Range and MPGe/MPG data come from the EPA.

Check these electrical cars out and go test drive some this weekend!

100% Electrical Cars

Table Key

BMW i3

The BMW i3 is BMW’s very first 100% electrified car built electrical from the ground up — and it’s still one of the only electrical cars on the market built electrified from the ground up. It is part of BMW’s “born electrical” i series and its price puts it somewhat in the middle of the more popular Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. Despite looking a bit bulky, the BMW i3 is the lightest electrical car on the market thanks to its carbon fiber bod. It’s super joy drive — one of my favorites. Compared to BMW’s overall sales, the i3 is selling pretty well, making it clear that BMW is one of the auto-manufacturing pioneers in the electrified vehicle space. Read my very first BMW i3 review here and/or my 2nd review & comparison with the LEAF & Volt here and/or my comparison with the Tesla Model S here.

Chevy Bolt

The Chevy Bolt is certainly a breakout fully electrical model — the very first “affordable” fully electrical model in the US to have long range. It arrived on the market at the very end of two thousand sixteen and is expected to see strong sales in the US, and perhaps also in Europe when it is launched there as the Opel Ampera-E if GM attempts to market and sell the thing. A fully autonomous version of the Bolt will be produced as well. It will primarily be tested/used by Lyft drivers.

Fiat 500e

(Only Parts of the US)

The Fiat 500e has gotten excellent reviews. However, the head of Fiat evidently hates electrified cars and is only producing the 500e in enormously limited quantities for a duo of states (basically, because Fiat has to do so in order to sell cars in California). Hopefully this lovely electrical car will someday be available to a broader market, and with a significant range boost, but that seems unlikely. With its relatively low price, good reviews, and cool styling, the Fiat 500e could give some of the top-selling electrical cars on the market a run for their market if Fiat actually attempted — what a shame. Its eighty four mile range is a bit behind the times now but Fiat is still moving cars via super-low lease deals in California. Read my utter review of the Fiat 500e.

Ford Concentrate Electrical

(Only Parts of the US)

The Ford Concentrate Electrified is Ford’s only 100% electrified car. The car compares in many regards to the top-selling Nissan LEAF, but it also has some disadvantages in terms of cargo space and EV design. The Concentrate Electrified is more broadly available than many compliance cars, but it still isn’t as effortless to find as a Nissan LEAF or BMW i3. As with the LEAF, tho’, it seems that Ford will have to drop prices a fine deal to budge Concentrate Electrics off the lot in the age of the Chevy Bolt. Read our in-depth review of the Concentrate Electrified here.

Hyundai IONIQ Electrical

(Arriving Soon … Nationwide)

The Hyundai IONIQ Electrified is a pretty popular fresh electrified suggesting from Hyundai that will also have a plug-in hybrid twin sibling and has a conventional hybrid twin sibling. The range is moderate — inbetween initial fully electrified offerings but fairly far below the Chevy Bolt (aka Opel Ampera-E) and updated Renault Zoe. The IONIQ Electrified seems to be selling okay in Europe. If it is widely suggested in the US, it could have a good run there as well, but it indeed needs more range to challenge with the Bolt or Tesla Model Trio.

Kia Soul EV

(Only Parts of the US)

The Kia Soul EV is a snazzy electrified vehicle with a bit more space on the inwards than the average car, and a clear youngster appeal. The Soul EV has sold okay in the markets where it’s available, but it isn’t widely available and the driving range hasn’t enlargened to react to increasingly longer range from other electrified models. Its overall sales in the US are pretty sad, and I don’t see them getting better unless the vehicle gets a big range boost or Kia starts suggesting deep discounts. You can check out our review of the Kia Soul EV here.

Mercedes-Benz B250e

(Only Parts of the US)

The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electrical (now called the B250e) has been an utterly close competitor to the BMW i3, and was the very first suggesting from Mercedes in the EV department. It has a Tesla drivetrain at its core, and reviewers have been split inbetween it and the BMW i3, with some preferring the i3 and some preferring the B-Class Electrified. One of our top EV reporters has the B-Class Electrified and reviewed it after one month, after one year and sort of again after two years. Mercedes has always treated this like a compliance car and not many have been sold, but I imagine sales will drop even further with the Bolt now for sale, the i3 getting longer range, and the Tesla Model three coming soon.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

(Only Parts of the US)

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV (aka Mitsubishi i) is one of the most basic electrified cars on the market, but also one of the cheapest. If you are looking for a bare-bones EV for a low price, the i-MiEV is your baby.

Nissan LEAF

The Nissan LEAF is the highest-selling electrical car in history. After test driving dozens of EVs myself, I have to say that the Nissan LEAF is one of my dearest models. It has excellent visibility, feel, convenience, space, plasticity, and acceleration (okay, Ten.Two seconds isn’t spectacular, but it still feels fine due to the instant torque). The 107-mile version was the top of the market for affordable electrical cars until the Chevy Bolt (approx. twice the range) and updated Renault Zoe (only Europe) came along. Now it’s hard to say where the LEAF stands. Why buy a LEAF over a Bolt? It seems to be getting by on deep discounts and group buys. For a thorough look at the LEAF, check out our long-term Nissan LEAF review here.

Wise ForTwo Electrical Drive

(Only Parts of the US)

The wise electrified drive is almost the cheapest electrified car on the US market … if you don’t own or lease it for very long. However, note that there’s an $80/month battery rental. Within about six years, the brainy electrified drive is about the same price as a 5-seat and much more plush Nissan LEAF. In my private opinion, the clever electrical drive is a hard sell — unless you indeed want a lil’ car and/or only want it for two to three years. Read my review of the clever electrical drive here or read the review of an possessor who sold his Camaro for the clever electrified drive.

Volkswagen e-Golf

(Only Parts of the US)

The Volkswagen e-Golf is VW’s 2nd electrical car model (following closely behind the Volkswagen e-Up!) and the very first in the US. Clearly, it’s an electrical version of VW’s utterly popular Golf model. The e-Golf has been one of the closest competitors to the world-leading Nissan LEAF, but it has been available in much more limited markets. Additionally, Volkswagen has been much slower to update the battery/range in order to contest with the updated LEAF — not to mention the fresh and titillating Chevy Bolt. A fresh version of the e-Golf with one hundred twenty four miles of range is on the way, but it’s hard to see how that will challenge now that the Bolt is on the market and the Tesla Model three is around the corner.

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is widely regarded as not just the best electrified car on the market but the best mass-produced car of any type in all of history (see here, here, here, here, and here for just a few examples). So, for many people, if they can afford a $60,000–$120,000 car, the Model S is as good as it gets.

This car has flipped the electrified car and overall auto world on its head in many respects. It is a top-selling luxury/premium-class car — well, the top-selling luxury/premium-class car in the US. It has robbed Mercedes and BMW of loyal buyers quicker than the roadrunner can dart away from a certain coyote.

Tesla Model X

Tesla’s 3rd model is the ridiculously cool and very desired Model X, an SUV with similar spectacle and specs as the Model S. In fact, despite being a large SUV, the Model X is one of the quickest production cars in history. It’s not fairly as quick as the Model S, but it’s undoubtedly more comfy and luxurious, imho. As Elon Musk has said, the choice inbetween the Model X and Model S is truly just whether or not you want an SUV/crossover or a sedan.

The Model X is special for combining excellent spectacle, good utility, and hot styling. Not many vehicles can do that. Its signature feature? Its falcon-wing doors, of course — love ’em or hate ’em. I honestly think this is the best passenger vehicle on the planet, but YMMV. You can read my review of the Model X here and Kyle Field’s review of the Model X here.

Rimac Concept_One

I don’t know if this one counts, so it’s not counted in the “20” in the title. The Rimac Concept_One is certainly no everyman’s car. It is an electrified supercar out of Croatia that costs a fortune … as in, $1 million. Unnecessary to say, most of us will be fortunate to even see one of these, let alone touch one, let alone rail in one, let alone own one. Still, it’s a beauty worth mentioning. The Rimac Concept_One can reportedly go from zero to sixty mph in Two.8 seconds and has a horsepower of 1,088 — yep, that’s a “supercar” … even however the top-line Model S is now quicker. Rimac Automobili is a Croatian company, and it’s unclear if it’ll ever grow up enough to produce >100 cars, but the Concept_One will go down in history either way.

Plug-In Hybrid Electrified Cars

Table Key

Audi A3 e-Tron

(Only Parts of the US)

The Audi A3 e-Tron is a plug-in hybrid electrified car with a bit of a sporty suggesting. The electric-only range is not spectacular, but it’s pretty much par for the course. The A3 e-Tron can go from zero to sixty mph in a respectable 7.Five seconds. It has also landed a difficult five starlets in Europe’s safety ratings. The A3 e-tron has a raunchy time contesting with the Chevy Volt and Ford Energi models on value for the money, in my modest opinion, but some people clearly choose the e-Tron’s looks and the Audi brand. Note that the A3 e-Tron is actually the same as the Volkswagen Golf GTE under the rubber hood. The A3 e-Tron isn’t as limited in availability as the Golf GTE (which isn’t in the US), but as expected, the A3 e-tron is not available across the US, so it undoubtedly gets the “compliance car” label. You can read my review of the A3 e-tron here.

BMW 330e

The BMW 330e is a plug-in hybrid electrical car with some spunk on the “low end” of the premium sedan market. The electric-only range is not spectacular, but should get most people to work and back or out to the shops. I’m disappointed in any PHEV that doesn’t have at least forty miles of electrified range, but this fourteen miles of range isn’t even par for the course. But hey, if you want a BMW with a backup gasoline tank and engine, here’s a competitive suggesting.

BMW 740e

Similar to the BMW 330e, the BMW 740e has pitiful electrified range — just fourteen miles according to the EPA. It’s a plug-in hybrid electrified car in the large luxury sedan class, “rivaling” with the Tesla Model S, but I can’t see why anyone would choose the 740e over the Model S. Well, I’m sure it includes more traditional BMW “luxury” than the Model S, but come one, truly.

BMW i8

The BMW i8 is BMW’s 2nd i-series car. It’s one of the most expensive cars on the market — actually, it’s the most expensive on the mass market today. It comes with a ton of style and superb acceleration — its zero to sixty mph time (Four.Four seconds) only trails the Tesla Model S (Two.Five seconds) and Model X (Two.9 seconds) amongst electrified cars presently for sale in the US. It’s hard not to covet this beauty. While it has amazing power and is a lot of joy to drive, however, it is hard to justify such a high price with the quicker and much more spacious Model S much cheaper. But if you’re pursuing style, this may well be top dog.

BMW X5 xDrive40e

The BMW X5 xDrive40e was one of the very first plug-in SUVs to hit the US market, arriving in early 2016. For an SUV, its 0–60 time of 6.Five seconds is pretty awesome. Surely, the X5 also offers luxury and high-tech features that help pull in $55,000–75,000 for the vehicle. The X5 iPerformance also learns your driving habits and instructs you how to drive more efficiently. And it can avoid crashes that some drivers would fail to escape from.

However, it’s no Model X … which makes the model a truly harsh buy for someone looking in the luxury, high-performance, high-priced SUV category. I haven’t gotten into an X5 iPerformance yet, but I can say with confidence I’d choose a Model X over it, especially with the X5 xDrive40e only having fourteen miles of electrified range — pitiful, as is evidently typical for BMW’s plug-in hybrid offerings.

On the other forearm, even after the tax credits, the Model X is almost $20,000 more, so I guess the better choice depends on one’s price sensitivity to some degree. (Just note that you can save a lot of money on fuel with the Model X that could make up for the extra upfront cost.)

Chevy Volt

The Chevy Volt is one of the most widely acclaimed electrified cars on the market — well, one of the most widely acclaimed cars on the market period. It is the top-selling electrical car in the US to date. Volt owners are known as Voltheads and were “the happiest drivers” in the US for two years running … before the Tesla Model S arrived (as per Consumer Reports possessor satisfaction surveys).

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

(Coming Soon … Nationwide?)

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the very first plug-in hybrid — and very first hybrid — minivan on the market. It is fairly attractively priced for the minivan market and could be a big hit. It’s strange that Fiat-Chrysler Automotive — whose CEO hates EVs — went and produced what could be one of the most competitive EVs on the market. Well, that’s if Chrysler indeed opens it up beyond a few compliance car regions.

Ford C-Max Energi

One of two cars in Ford’s Energi (plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle) lineup, the Ford C-Max Energi has fairly good specs for someone who doesn’t drive very far on most days but wants to take very long trips fairly regularly. It’s also good for larger families, as it seats up to five people. Despite seating Five, note that it is cheaper than the Chevy Volt … until you factor in the federal tax credit. Actually, the C-Max Energi is fairly similar to the Prius Prime in many respects, and almost exactly the same price. I think choosing one over the other mostly comes down to aesthetic/brand preferences. Tho’, the Prius Prime is considerably more efficient as well.

Ford Fusion Energi

Fairly similar to the Ford C-Max Energi but with a few more bells & whistles, the Ford Fusion Energi has done fairly well since its introduction in February 2013. The Ford Fusion Energi certainly offers some competition to its sister, the C-Max Energi, as well as the Chevy Volt and Toyota Prius PHEV/Prime. Importantly, for some people, the Fusion Energi is larger than all three of these competitors. It has a bit less electrified range than the Volt, but it has enough seats for five convenient passengers. Lastly, I’d say the Fusion Energi it is fairly the looker.

Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid

(Only Parts of the US)

The Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid is a fairly large and classy plug-in hybrid with moderate electrified range. It’s basically another competitor to the Ford Energi models and the Chevy Volt. You can see our total review of the new-in-2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-In Hybrid here.

Mercedes-Benz C350e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the C350e yet, but it’s clearly a compliance car (11 miles of electrical range?!) whereby an electrical motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile. Witness the Fully Charged review of the Mercedes C350e.

Mercedes-Benz GLE550e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the GLE550e yet, but it’s clearly a compliance car (12 miles of electrified range?!) whereby an electrified motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile.

Mercedes-Benz S550e

(Only Parts of the US)

We don’t have much intel on the S550e, but it’s clearly a compliance car whereby an electrical motor and battery have been added to a gasmobile.

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid

Following the successful Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid (see below), Porsche launched the Cayenne S E-Hybrid at the end of 2014. The Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid can go from zero to sixty mph in just Five.Four seconds, and has a top speed of one hundred fifty one mph. I think “wicked” is the word for that. The plug-in model sells fairly well relative to the normal Cayenne, but that doesn’t compare to Model X sales.

Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid

The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid electrified sports car that is everything you’d expect – awesome. It can go from zero to sixty miles per hour in

Five seconds. The Panamera S E-Hybrid sometimes accounts for almost 10% of all Panamera sales. It’s a ton of joy to drive, but still a bit hard to justify for the price compared to other high-performance EVs on the market. The place where it has them hammer, tho’, is in luxury (imho).

Toyota Prius Prime

The Toyota Prius Prime is a second-gen version of the Toyota Prius Plug-in, which was either the 2nd- or 3rd-best-selling electrical car worldwide in 2013. The Prius Prime’s modest twenty five miles of all-electric range is a letdown in my book, but the interior space and strong Prius brand sure help to sell this animal. The price is fairly attractive, and the fuel economy (MPGe) on electrical power is superb. The Prius Prime has about half the range of the Volt, but it does seat five people a bit more cozily … if you need that.

Volvo XC90 Twin Engine

The Volvo XC90 T8 is yet another plug-in hybrid electrified SUV that hit the US market in 2016. With a bit more seating space and a quicker 0–60 time, the XC90 T8 also costs a bit more than the BMW X5 xDrive40e. It looks like a beautiful luxurious SUV on the inwards and the outside, but yet again, if the money is available, I can’t see choosing this over a Tesla Model X. However, if Volvo wants to give me one for a week to test out, I can see if my opinion switches. 🙂

EV Battery Costs

The at-the-register price tag of EVs and PHEVs is higher than that of similarly sized and tooled gasoline-powered cars, mostly because batteries are expensive. How expensive? That’s hard to know, because car manufacturers generally won’t say what they are paying for their batteries, or what they expect to pay in one year, two years, three years, etc. Here are some of the best answers we’ve got for now regarding EV battery prices for specific models:

→ Tesla’s battery packs were estimated to cost $240/kWh in 2014, while the rest of the industry was projected to be no lower than $400/kWh (that seems dubious). But the latest figure from a Tesla representative pegs its battery pack cost at under $190/kWh. (Note that CEO and Chairman Elon Musk stated in February two thousand twelve that the cost of EV batteries would drop below $200 per kWh in the “not-too-distant future.”)

Bloomberg Fresh Energy Finance Battery Price Estimates

For some historical background, tho’, here’s some info from a two thousand twelve BNEF report that found that the average price of batteries used in electrified vehicles dropped 14% from Q1 two thousand eleven to Q1 2012, and 30% from two thousand nine to two thousand twelve (I didn’t even realize/reminisce that I have been writing about EV battery prices for this long!):

“Electric vehicles such as the Mitsubishi Motor iMiEV, Nissan Leaf or Tesla Model S require inbetween sixteen and 85kWh of storage, with a total cost of $11,200 and $34,000, or around 25% of the total cost of the vehicle,” BNEF notes. “Battery pack prices for plug-in hybrid vehicles such as GM’s Volt are on average 67% higher in terms of $/kWh, than those for electric-only vehicles like Nissan’s Leaf. This higher price is mainly due to the greater power-to-energy spectacle required for plug-in hybrid vehicles.”

A more latest BNEF examine found that EV battery prices fell 35% in 2015. It stated that prices fell 65% since 2010. But it estimated battery pack prices at $350/kWh, which is considerably higher than the Tesla/Panasonic & GM/LG Chem estimates.

US Department of Energy Aims & Estimates

“Overall, the Department of Energy is partnering with industry to reduce the manufacturing cost of advanced batteries. While a typical battery for a plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle with a 40-mile electrified range cost $12,000 in 2008, we’re on track to demonstrate technology by two thousand fifteen that would reduce the cost to $Three,600. And last year, we set a purpose of demonstrating technology by two thousand twenty that would further reduce the cost to $1,500 – an accomplishment that could help spur the mass-market adoption of electrical vehicles.”

It’s 2016, and by almost all measures, EV battery prices have fallen swifter than projected. The DOE at that time was targeting $300 per kWh in two thousand fifteen (the $Three,600 packs) and $125 per kWh by 2022.

Battery Price Projections Consistently Too High

Cost estimates and future projections for electrified vehicle battery packs, measured in $US per kilowatt hour of capacity. Each mark on the chart represents a documented estimate reviewed by the investigate. Source: Nykvist et al. (2015).

Looking at that chart, it seems that Tesla/Panasonic and GM/LG Chem battery costs are already (in 2016) down to the lowest projections for 2020. Will we achieve $100/kWh by 2020? We’ll be sure to let you know!

Overall, we have been observing something I’ve introduced about in Mumbai, India; Vancouver, Canada; Cocoa, Florida, USA; and Berlin, Germany: once a technology is ripe, it takes over the market quicker than anticipated and costs come down swifter than most people anticipated. Check out these three presentations for more on that (if you haven’t already done so):

UCS Explore on Environmental Benefits & Fuel Savings of EVs

Clearly, as we budge more and more to clean, renewable energy in the US, electrical vehicles will only become greener and greener to drive.

Furthermore, electrical vehicle purchases encourage people to go solar and to cut their overall energy use, factors which have not been adequately studied or quantified yet. If one were to install solar panels on their home, the “fuel” for their EV would be clean, renewable solar power (sunlight) that would make their EV much cleaner than in any state in the UCS probe above.

Got more car answers to contribute? Or questions you’d like us to reaction?

Beyond the info above and below, the following posts may interest you:

@ZShahan A Toyota Prius two thousand sixteen model update is needed. The two thousand fifteen model range of eleven miles doubled in the two thousand sixteen model to twenty two miles.

Are these lists up to date? I ultimately wooed someone to buy a plug-in in the coming weeks or months (she’ll only go for a hybrid) and sent her this link to shop from.

This article does need a “Coming in 2016.”

May I request a forward looking article comparing the “200 mile – $30 – $40K club”. I believe its members, as of 2017, will include Tesla, Nissan, GM (and BMW?) – and perhaps some stealthy surprise contenders.

Seems to me the features shootout will put them all in the same ballpark. If so, differentiation comes down to the speed and ubiquitousness of the quick charging network, and brand ‘coolness’. I’ve already picked my winner in both camps, but I’d like to hear what the experts think.

It will also be fascinating to see who is very first to market – they will surely score the most and best free press, as the world leisurely realises that petroleum (as fuel) has had its day. The race is on.

Seems to me that GM and Tesla are likelies.

I wouldn’t be astonished to see Nissan increase their range but stay well below two hundred miles in order to set a selling price well under $30k (unsubsidized).

I don’t know about BMW. They may have made it hard for themselves to price match with GM and Tesla by going the carbon fiber route.

And three hours later I take that back….

“The enabling factor will be a “breakthrough battery” that permits a range of two hundred miles, (Ghosen) said, which Nissan will launch within the next few years.

That battery is widely expected to be suggested in the second-generation Nissan Leaf, to be introduced as a two thousand seventeen or two thousand eighteen model.”

And add Renault to the list. If Nissan has a two hundred mile range battery then Renault will as well.

I drive about three 17 mile trips each day. @ thirty four miles round journey this is about one hundred miles each day about 30k miles/year.

I have been looking at used Nissan LEAF’s with chademo DCQC LEVEL three charging ports. The problem I am running into is that chargers for this standard seem to be unobtanium. That is not for sale! Nissan now claims that dcqc is only for commercial use. yet they will not deny to sell the car with it. only the charger. I would love to be able to charge as quick as my 50kW 244V 200A single phase circuit breaker box will put out. but even close would meet my needs.

CAN you please help me find one that will work and give inbetween 30kW and 50kW.

I turn down to buy the car until i can get the charger lined up.

Sorry, Glen. That’s outside my box of skill. Let’s see if one of the people who are up on chargers can help out.

Also, have you attempted any of the EV forums? I would imagine there’s one or more Leaf discussion forums.

But, let me see if I understand. You drive about thirty four miles three times a day on most days? How much time do you have inbetween trips?

Which year Leafs are you considering? I seem to recall that Nissan enhanced the size of their built in charger at one point. Here’s what Wiki says –

“Models with an on-board 6.6 kW charger can be fully recharged from empty in four hours from a 220/240-volt forty amp supply (7.7 kW allowable draw) that can provide the on-board charger its utter 6.6 kW of usable power.”

If you would expect a seventy mile range (highway driving) that means you’d be picking up `17.Five miles per hour of charging. (70 / four = 17.Five). If you drove thirty four miles and then plugged in for two hours it seems like you’d be fully charged and ready to go on the next thirty four mile jaunt.

There are very big tech advancements on the way, due two thousand seventeen but maybe sooner. Electrical range almost doubled, for example, across the board. Also I think it is not yet lodged how best to recharge. Tesla proceeds with the fillup station paradigm, but also possible and in my view very preferable is battery interchanging. Interchanging is not yet a good choice because batteries are powerful and many people don’t like to grunt. But ideas are being explored involving use of several batteries of lesser size rather than one big battery, resulting in less grunting. This capability to conveniently and effectively combine batteries is relatively fresh tech which the industry is most likely still not leveraging to its total potential.

Tesla has suggested battery exchanging and found almost no interest.

You say “battery interchanging” as if it was just one clear and lodged thing. Not so. I’m not referring to the Better World idea. I just recently read about some university that has a battery that can be exchanged for a refill like a propane tank. I think that’s the way to go. Tesla didn’t suggest anything like that. But rather than one big propane tank, I was thinking maybe ten petite batteries of maybe DVD size each, where the driver can keep maybe five or so packed batteries in his car (glove compartment?). And installation should be via dashboard convenience: if one of the ten puny batteries gets low, just pop it out, grab a replacement from the glove compartment, and butt-plug it in. Should be able to do this while driving, with the other nine batteries providing enough electrified power while one is being switched out. The tech for this isn’t fairly here yet, but it is very close and it clearly will be here soon. I recommend a brainy company like Tesla plan for exactly this. And enough with treating electro-therapy like gasoline. We don’t need electrified fillup stations just because that’s the way we’ve always done it.

“some university that has a battery that can be interchanged for a refill like a propane tank. I think that’s the way to go.”

Attempt digging out some cost numbers.

” I was thinking maybe ten puny batteries of maybe DVD size each, where the driver can keep maybe five or so packed batteries in his car (glove compartment?).”

That would take enormous capacity (Wh/L). Gasoline is very much more energy dense than batteries. How far to you think you could drive with a DVD (case) sized container of gas?

“The tech for this isn’t fairly here yet, but it is very close”

That is very doubtful.

Why don’t you go back and reread. What you’re reporting here sounds like it’s from a sci fi site.

Electrified tech is advancing very rapidly so in order to hit the target one has to “lead” the target. If we had not looked forward originally, we would not now have any electrified cars at all.

I say, “The tech for this … is very close.” “Very doubtful,” you reply. You are entitled to your opinion but I am entitled to disagree. And I do.

David, do you have any facts to back up your opinion?

@Bob: I do have facts to back up my opinion, but of course I don’t have facts to prove my opinion. Otherwise we wouldn’t be calling it opinion. I’ll give just one fact, this the thickest, I believe: in the last ten years, EVs have advanced from glorified golf carts to one of the three best cars commercially available. I’m speaking of Tesla’s gem, of course. But even cars like the LEAF or Volt represent big advances in technology, and most tech prognosticators believe this is just the beginning.

I’m hearing from pretty much all sources that by two thousand seventeen a two hundred mile EV range will be typical, with the range soon to be much greater than that. This is what I’m hearing as the experienced opinion. Experts can certainly be wrong but that’s the way to bet. In any case, while this hardly constitutes fact enough to prove my assertions, it clearly describes a very rapidly advancing technology.

Today, there is no DVD-size battery that can provide even, say, twenty miles of range. But in ten years, yes, I believe that is very likely. Maybe in considerably less time than that. And then ten of those 20-mile DVD-sized batteries, working in tandem, will power an EV, eliminate range anxiety, and permit a man like me, who parks on the street, to own an EV. A brainy dude like Musk should be heading in this direction. My opinion.

“Today, there is no DVD-size battery that can provide even, say, twenty miles of range. But in ten years, yes, I believe that is very likely”

David, I don’t think you realize how dense a storage system we would need to budge an EV twenty miles on a DVD sized storage device.

Gasoline contains 9,700 Wh/l.

A DVD has a surface area of 109.Four cm sq. The thickness is 0.12 cm thick. That would make the volume 13.1 cm squared. Or 0.0131 liters.

A DVD of gasoline would contain one hundred twenty seven Wh of energy. 0.127 kWh. Enough energy to drive an EV about 0.Four miles. Five “DVD”s would be adequate for about two miles.

Twenty miles on a “DVD” assumes someone is going to invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline.

The current capacity of lithium-ion batteries is around two hundred forty Wh/l. About Two.5% as dense as gasoline. Only 0.25% of what you imagine.

David, look at where batteries and gasoline are on this energy density chart. What you envision is some sort of energy rich medium that would lie in the excellent white unoccupied space of the upper right of the chart.

“Twenty miles on a ‘DVD’ assumes someone is going to invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline.” What you are actually telling is that you believe nobody ever will invent a storage medium fifty times as dense as gasoline. Certainly not in any foreseeable future.

You realize that this is the same argument against, that someone much like yourself would have been making when PCs very first came out, if I suggested that RAM capacity would reach gigabyte range. You would be telling, “David, I don’t think you realize how densely packed a chip would have to be in order for… and yet a chip can (now) only be packed with this much density, which is way less than needed…”. Etc. And you would have been wrong. (And btw, I was never wise/knowledgeable enough to make any such computer chip prognostication. That was just a hypothetical.)

I make no assures. I don’t know how such advancement will occur, whether it be via fresh medium or fresh process or some combination. I’m only telling that electrified tech advancement is trending upward very much like the tech advancement curve in computer chip technology, way back when. When I look into my crystal ball I see much greater range from much smaller batteries and again I say, this belief seems to be collective by the tech experts.

Love your fantasies, David.

Have a nice day.

Yeah, Bjorn is wonderful. Very glad he won the referral contest. 😀

And on the other stuff as well. See:

Why combustion engine car makers are on a collision course with fate:

– They don’t want to sell you an electrified car, because they will make less profit from parts, servicing and sales of their combustion models.

– If they sell you an electrified car, they have to concede that combustion engine cars are pollution emitters.

– They know there’s a tipping point in the market, beyond which sales of combustion cars will drop quickly. Their objective is to reach that tipping point as leisurely as possible.

– They know that lithium batteries are only expensive because they are not produced in almost the same volume as gearboxes, fuel injectors, crankshafts and spark butt-plugs. By delaying market growth they can maintain the fossil fuel economic advantage a little longer.

– They know that lithium batteries are limited in energy density because they have not undergone decades of refinement, as have gearboxes, fuel injectors, crankshafts and spark buttplugs. By delaying market growth they can maintain the distance-between-refuelling advantage a little longer.

– They know that once you’ve experienced the joy of driving (in) a silent, vibration-free, rocket-fast, odourless car that never needs petrol, wild horses won’t haul you back to fossil fuels.

The above reasons explain the following:

The Nissan Leaf has no ‘frunk’. Pull the spandex hood and you see a host of stuff that looks like it needs servicing.

The boot of a Leaf is the oddest form – it’s not remotely plane. There’s a wall inbetween the fuckhole where the fuel tank would normally be and the rear folding seats. Inwards that wall is where they unthinkingly jammed most of the batteries.

The Leaf has a 150km range on a utter charge. Just low enough to discourage most buyers.

The servicing schedule on the Leaf is the same as a combustion car. At service one (Ten,000km), they do nothing other than inspect.

I have not seen a single ad on TV (in Sydney) for the Leaf, yet many other Nissan model ads go to air.

But here’s the number one reason they’re dreading the EV revolution. It’s all about brand. Let’s assume that Nissan were to release a ‘Leaf III’, at the same time as Tesla releases the Model three and, let’s also assume that the cars have equivalent range, spectacle, style and features. Which car will people buy?

People worried about Earth’s rising CO2 levels, or city pollution, or oil money destined for the Middle East, who buy the Tesla Model three will know they’re supporting a company who are part of the solution, not part of the problem. They know that friends who see the brand on their fresh car know it’s electrical without having to ask. The Tesla will have instantly recognisable status. The traditional motoring brands have no way to put distance inbetween logo and harass pipe. Imagine yourself on the road in your Nissan Leaf III and the car ahead is a hulking combustion engined Nissan, billowing fumes. How do you feel now, supporting the company that produced that monstrosity?

If I were in charge of strategy for one of the incumbent manufacturers, I’d be instantaneously looking for a way to take what has value from my brand, yet divorce it entirely from what will soon have the stigma of smoking cigarettes in a kindergarten. Don’t believe me? Just witness. When you see ads for “Nissan Electric”, an all fresh company (with a stylish fresh logo) sponsored by, yet autonomous to, the old “Nissan”, it signals that the fresh era in motoring has arrived.

That’s a very good summary and I suspect your insight it about right.

What’s going to be interesting is to see how many current large car manufacturers sustain the budge to EVs. Right now we have Tesla along with BYD and other Chinese manufacturers taking EVs earnestly.

Imagine a future in which Apple and perhaps a duo other ‘fresh car’ manufacturers get into the game with mid-priced to luxury EVs and China starts flooding the market with mid-priced and economy EVs.

I expect the largest (Toyota, Ford, Honda, GM, etc.) will transition. But some of the smaller manufacturers may be left behind.

Excellent summary. Mind if I publish it as a guest/reader post? Worth a lot of eyeballs. 😀

Please do Zachary – the more eyeballs the better.

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