Which Is The Right Affordable Electric Car For You
The options below show that you don’t have to sacrifice quality for affordability. If you want a rugged electric truck that can seat six people, the Ford F-150 is a dream come true. If you’re more about having an air purifier and Bowers & Wilkins audio system as part of the interior, go with the Volvo S60. As of the time of writing, all of these options, except for the Chevy Bolt, qualify for the Clean Vehicle Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
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Choose this affordable electric car |
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A powerful sedan with 455 combined horsepower — plus Google built-in and high-end audio |
Chevrolet Bolt Euv 1lt
The Bolt EUV is a newer model from Chevrolet, effectively a longer-wheelbase version of the Bolt, with a roomier back seat. We’ve griped about the fact the Bolt EUV is not offered with all-wheel drive and questioned whether it could properly call itself an SUV, but we can’t argue about the base model’s value: it’s a great deal for a family-friendly electric vehicle. Its 250-mile range is a darn sight better than many of the bargain EVs on this list, and it’s a great deal among electric family haulers. Plus, it got a huge price cut for 2023 that now puts it at number 2 on our list, just behind its sibling.
How Much Does It Cost To Tax An Electric Car
Owning an electric car brings quite a lot of benefits, including zero emissions, low running costs and the ability to stick your foot down for eye-opening acceleration without the usual histrionics.Better still, an EV will save you even more money in tax be it as a personal vehicle or a company car.Read our in-depth advice guide to see how much you could save: How much does it cost to tax an electric car?
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What Is The Most Affordable Electric Car
With the advent of the EV space, electric cars are now accessible and affordable for more people. Our roads will increasingly see electric cars replacing internal combustion engines as more car brands begin manufacturing them. Furthermore, these are just three cheap EVs. There are other affordable EVs out there, like the all-electric Mini Cooper SE, Kia EV6, and Hyundai Ioniq.
Furthermore, you might be surprised to find that Ford’s F-150 Lightning EV truck is also surprisingly affordable, launching at around $35,000. Now, while that isn’t “cheap” like a second-hand ICE run-around, it’s great for a powerful EV of its size!
Sales Of Electric Cars Are Booming And No Wonder: The Best Are Quiet Cheap To Run And Smooth To Drive But Which Are The Brightest Sparks And Which Are The Loose Connections
Electric cars have now entered the mainstream, accounting for almost 18% of new car registrations last month. What’s more, their rise is only going to accelerate as rules are introduced to limit the kind of vehicles allowed into major cities and we get closer to the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel models.
The main thing that has traditionally prevented them selling in greater numbers is range anxiety the fear that you wont have enough juice to get to where youre going. However, with plenty of models now capable of covering more than 200 miles between charges, this is becoming less of an issue.
So, which electric cars should you consider? Here, we count down our top 10 and reveal the ones to avoid. If any of the models on the list take your fancy, just click on the relevant link to find out more or see how much of a discount you could get by using our free New Car Buying service.
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Q: Do Electric Cars Last Forever
As is with any machinery, nothing lasts forever. Electric cars are no exception either. The biggest expense would be replacing the battery but most batteries will last up to 200,000 miles if maintained well. Kia offers a warranty of 10 years/100,000 miles on its EVs, which should give you an idea about an electric cars longevity.
Best Value New Electric Cars
About a decade ago, electric cars were simply an experiment. Automakers were toying with the idea of a car that runs entirely on battery power, and they were still unsure if mainstream adoption and an industry shift towards electrification was possible, or even viable. Things couldn’t be more different nowadays, as EVs are slowly getting more viable, cheaper to produce, and wide adoption of electric cars is definitely increasing all across the board. Indeed, some EVs we’ve seen over the years were a complete revolution.
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Are Electric Cars Cheaper To Insure
No. In actual fact, theyre usually a little bit more expensive to insure than a comparable petrol or diesel car.There are a couple of reasons for this, the most influential being the cost of repair. Electric cars have fewer moving parts than conventional cars, meaning theres less to go wrong, but some of the components they do have the lithium-ion batteries being case-in-point are enormously expensive to repair or replace if they do become damaged. Another factor thats not often talked about is the availability of technicians qualified to work on electric cars, as these are far lower in number than those who can repair regular cars, which also pushes costs up.Its worth bearing in mind that there are companies that specialise in providing insurance for electric cars, and going with one of these could drop your premiums significantly. Even with these providers, though, its essential you shop around for the best deal. Whats more, all the usual tricks for dropping your premiums still apply with electric cars. Consider paying up front rather than monthly, or getting a black box or dashcam fitted.But the fact remains that while electric cars do reduce daily running costs in most areas, insurance isnt one of them, sadly.Read more on electric car insurance here.
What Is The Cheapest Electric Car In 2022 And Is It Worth Buying
Looking for a cheap EV in 2022? Look no further…
Electric cars were once only affordable to those willing to spend large amounts of cash. More recently, mainstream car brands have jumped on the EV bandwagon and are manufacturing electric cars, with some at very affordable prices.
Here are some of the cheapest electric cars in 2022.
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Ev Value Delivered With Style
$43,895 may seem like a high board to dive from at first, but the 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E is well worth it. The Ford EV SUV is eligible for the maximum $7,500 federal EV tax credit, plus any other state and local incentives in your area. And if you’ve been pricing electric vehicles lately, you know that they command a premium over non-EVs.
Additionally, the standard safety and tech that you’ll value in the Mach-E enhances the SUV’s value, both now and over time. All that plus the two classic pillars of automotive appeal — performance and style — reside in the Mustang Mach-E.
Are Electric Cars Reliable
Electric cars are still selling in relatively small numbers and we havent seen enough of them doing significant mileages to make a firm judgment on reliability. What we do know is that EVs have fewer moving parts than conventional cars and theres little evidence from hybrid or electric cars that battery performance degrades substantially with use, although you are likely to see a gradual reduction in capacity.
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Are Electric Cars Better For The Environment
For many would-be electric motorists, this will be the million-dollar question, yet its also the one that theres probably most argument over. Supporters of electric mobility will tell you that having fewer cars chucking out CO2 into the atmosphere cant help but cut down on greenhouse gases. Meanwhile, sceptics will argue that electric cars take more energy to build in the first place, and that having more of them on the road just means an increased burden on the national grid, meaning more CO2 emissions from the coal-fired power stations that make the electricity used to charge them. So, whos right?Unfortunately, nobody really knows for sure. Countless studies have provided evidence on both sides, but its such a complex equation with so many variables that nobody has managed to prove their case conclusively.What you can say with confidence, though, is that electric cars definitely improve local environments. If you ignore carbon dioxide for a moment, petrol and diesel cars kick out all sorts of other pollutants that pollute the atmosphere and can cause breathing difficulties for those in the vicinity.And the bigger picture? Well, as fossil fuel reserves run dry, power producers will have no choice but to move towards more renewable energy sources, so as power stations become greener in future, so will electric motoring.
Porschetaycan 4s Cross Turismo
- MSRP
- $93,700 – $187,600
- Edmunds Tested RangeEdmunds’ real-world range test measures the distance an electric vehicle can travel on a full charge.More info
- 250 mi
- Edmunds Rating
- 8.3 out of 10
The Cross Turismo is the wagon-like version of Taycan. It provides more cargo room and passenger space with no perceptible trade-off in the driving experience. With the Cross Turismo, you can get incredible comfort and effortless driving one moment and then, with the twist of a knob, world-beating performance the next.
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Volvo Xc40 P8 Recharge
“We loved the XC40 from the get-go but had a few reservations about the powertrains. Not any more. In battery-electric guise the XC40s worthier attributes the thoughtful packaging, sense of well-being and design are augmented by a remarkable new turn of speed and handling smarts. Like the Tesla Model 3 , the XC40 P8 makes an almost irresistible case for electrification.”
What Are Three Disadvantages Of An Electric Car
We’ve talked about the good side of EVs and how they can save you money and help you lower your carbon footprint. There are disadvantages though:
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How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car
How much it costs to charge an electric car depends on the type of electric car you drive, the batteries it has and where you buy the electricity from.You can charge your car at home, at a public charging point or at fast-charging points at motorway service stations and each entail slightly different costs. Generally, charging at home is the cheapest but you will probably need to install a charging point.
For more details read our blog: How far can an electric car goTo find out where you can find a charging point, take a look at our electric cars charging points finder.To find out if an electric car is for you, use the carwow Fuel Chooser.
Decide Whether An Electric Car Will Suit Your Lifestyle
Electric cars are not for everybody. Although the public charging infrastructure in the UK is improving quickly, regular long trips in an electric car can still prove problematic. The perfect usage pattern for an EV involves charging at home overnight when electricity tariffs are lower and not needing to top up the battery again during the day.
Ideally, youll need somewhere to charge at home, but you could get around this if there are EV charging points at work or plenty of public charging points nearby. If you do less than 200 or so miles a week, you could get away without having a home or work charger at all just visit a public one every few days to top up.
If your average daily mileage exceeds the range of your electric car, wed advise you to think twice, but the occasional longer trip should be perfectly manageable. As the technology improves and the average range of electric cars grows, more and more people will find that they could live quite happily with an electric car.
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How Much Is The Federal Tax Credit And How Does It Work
The federal EV tax credit is only available to individuals reporting adjusted gross incomes of $150,000 or less, or $300,000 for joint filers. The amount you qualify for is based on both your income tax and the size of the electric battery in the vehicle, among other factors like whether the battery components come from North America.
Language around the $7,500 credit includes things like “may” and “up to” — so, you may qualify for up to a $7,500 in federal tax credit for your electric vehicle. If you purchased the Ford F-150 Lightning and owed $3,000 in income tax this year, then you’d receive that as a federal tax credit. If you owed $15,000 in federal income tax, you would qualify for the full $7,500 credit when doing your income taxes.
That’s right, you can cut up to $7,500 off your taxes next spring if you buy an EV now.
You cannot simply go out to a dealership and expect it to give you these savings up-front. However, according to the US Department of Energy, starting in 2024 you should be able to get your credit at the dealer.
/10 2022 Chevrolet Bolt Euv
The Bolt EUV is essentially a larger version of the standard Bolt or, a crossover version, if you may. It is 6.3 inches longer, and 0.2 inches wider and taller than the standard Bolt. This means you have more legroom at your disposal inside the cabin. Apart from the size difference, theres one other thing that differentiates the Bolt from the Bolt EUV the panoramic sunroof!
It is powered by the same setup as the Bolt EV, making the same 200 horses and 266 pound-feet of torque. However, since the EUV is 90 pounds heavier, it is 0.5 seconds slower than the Bolt, taking seven seconds to sprint to 60 mph from rest. Despite featuring the same battery, the added weight also affects the range, not by much, though. The Bolt EUV offers 247 miles of range on a full charge, which is 12 miles less than the standard Bolt EV. But what you lose here, you gain in technology. The Bolt EUV is available with wireless phone charging and GMs Super Cruise driver assistance feature. This was the first time Super Cruise was offered on a car with a bowtie emblem.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
Also Check: Government Grants For Electric Cars
How Did We Choose These Affordable Evs
After writing about the changed considerations for the EV tax credit and looking at the manufacturers on that list, I decided to target both affordability and eligibility for the credit. I looked at different types of vehicles, including sedans and trucks, and in the honorable mentions at the end of this article, I even highlight a plug-in hybrid minivan that qualifies for the credit — the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV. I wanted to ensure that the vehicles on this best list met the standards set by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and that they had quality features at an affordable price point.
Top 10 Best Small Electric Cars 2022
If an electric car ought to excel anywhere, its in the supermini segment. Typically used for shorter journeys or as a second car, these machines aren’t as reliant on a long legged range as larger models, while the combination of compact dimensions, silent running and zero emissions at the tailpipe makes them perfect inner city assault vehicles.
Admittedly, a small platform means less space for batteries, so the range of the following cars will never match the potential of larger alternatives. But a small battery also means a lower asking price, especially important now the Government has completely scrapped its Plug-in Car Grant and if were talking about urban runabouts that do only the occasional longer journey, its debatable just how many owners would need more than, say, 180 miles of driving range.
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A Banner Year For Evs
Dont see a car on this list that meets your needs or budget? Just hang on another year or two. The automotive industry is in a change over to electric over the next five to 10 years, and soon everything will be available in electric. The year of the electric car is finally here. If gas prices have got you struggling, or you can put out a few extra dollars for an EV, now is the best time in history to buy an electric car.
