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The5bestelectriccars:Plus,thecheapestEVavailableWhatisthebestelectriccarTheTeslaModel3isZDNet'stoppick.WeresearchedthetopEVbrandsandcomparedtheirelectriccarmodelsbyfactorssuchasinnovation,affordability,energyefficiency,andmore.Wealsofoundthebestcheapelectriccarandotherhonorablementions.
Don'tworryaboutcharging:Customerswhopurchaseorleasea2022or2023BoltEVorEUVwillgetafreehomechargingstation.ChevycoverstheinstallationofaLevel2(240-volt)chargingoutletatyourhome,whichmeansfasterandmoreconvenientcharging.Therearealsomorethan40,000publicchargingstations.
TheNissanLeafcomesintwomodels:theSandtheSVPlus.ThestandardLeafShasa40kWhbattery,meaningarangeof149milesperfullcharge,andgoesfrom0to60mphin7.4seconds.TheSVPlushasamorepowerful60kWhbatteryandahigherrangeperfullcharge--upto212miles.You'recoveredforeightyearsor100,000miles,whichevercomesfirst,underawarrantythatwilltakecareofanydefectsinthematerialsorworkmanshipofyourcarbattery.
TheSVPluscomeswithNissan'ssemi-autonomousdrivingmodewithProPILOTAssist.
TheBMW330esedanmaximizesperformanceandefficiencywithatotalpoweroutputof288horsepower.Italsoprioritizessafetywithanactiveprotectionsystemthatdetectsaccidentsandautomaticallypreparesforthembyclosingthewindowsandmoonroof,pre-tensioningsafetybelts,andactivatingpost-crashbraking.YoucanusetheBMWAssisteCallfeatureforanyemergencyrequests.
Thisvehiclecomeswithluxurytouches,includingpower-folding,heatedsidemirrors,andabetter-than-the-standard10-speakersoundsystem.Thewindshieldwipersarerain-sensing,andthetwo-wayglassmoonroofactivateswithjustatouch.Thevehicleandkeymemoriesarebetterthanyouraveragecar's--theystoreyourmostrecentlyusedtemperature,lighting,mirror,andotherpreferencesforaseamlessride.
Electriccar
Maxspeed
Maxpower
ChevroletBolt
$26,595
90.1mph
200horsepower
NissanLeaf
$27,800
106mph
214horsepower
BMW330e
$43,300
130mph
288horsepower
FordF-150LIghtning
$39,974
120mph
452horsepower
VolvoS60
$41,300
ThebestaffordableEVoverall.Yougetafreehomechargingstationifyoupurchaseorleasea2022or2023BoltEVorEUV.
Thecheapestoptionwithsomegreatfeatures.TheNissanLeafhasslightlymorehorsepowerthantheBolt.YoucanchoosebetweentheSandSVPlusmodels.
Aluxurioussedan.Whilethisisn'tthecheapestoption,itisacheaperEV.
FordF-150Lightning
A6-seatertruckthat'sfitforadventures.The2022Promodelstartsataround$39,000whileneweranddifferentconfigurationsstartatmuchhigherpricepoints.
Apowerfulhybridsedanwith455combinedhorsepower--plusGooglebuilt-inandhigh-endaudio.ThiscarisnotanEV,butitisanalternativeforthosewhoarehesitantaboutgoingfullyelectric.
Thetablebelowshowsthelifecyclegreenhousegasemissionsforagasoline-poweredcarcomparedtoanEVwitha300-milerange.TheEVresultsingreenhousegasemissionsinbatterymanufacturing,othermanufacturingprocesses,andfuel,whilegasoline-poweredcarshavethoseemissions,plustailpipeemissionsthatoccurwheninuse.
ArgonneNationalLaboratory/EPAWhatarethreedisadvantagesofanelectriccarI'vetalkedaboutthegoodsideofEVsandhowtheycansaveyoumoneyandhelpyouloweryourcarbonfootprint.Therearedisadvantagesthough:
Youcanusuallygetareplacementbatteryatnoextracostifyou'rewithinthewarrantyperiodforyourvehicle.Ifyou'reoutofthewarrantyperiod,anewbatterycancostupto$20,000.