Tesla Model 3, BMW i3: 10 Electric Vehicles To Own
On March 31, Tesla Motors unveiled its Model 3, one of the most hotly anticipated electric cars in what is becoming a burgeoning market. Tesla is not alone. BMW, Chevy, Ford, and others are looking to change how the world moves. Here's a look at the best electric vehicles on the market.
![](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt69509c9116440be8/blt7284c68372066f64/64cb3b2cb03b1ffc3e071479/Tesla-Top_Slide.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
The burgeoning electric vehicle market got a high-profile boost last week with the unveiling of Tesla Motor's Model 3, the company's first vehicle aimed at a mass-market audience. Its consumer-friendly price of just $35,000 falls far below those of Tesla's luxury Model X and Model S vehicles.
Even though Tesla is grabbing a lot of press from the March 31 announcement, Elon Musk's company is far from the only player in the all-electric market space.
While consumers may not be able to purchase all-electric vehicles everywhere in the US -- though almost all models listed here are available in several East Coast and West Coast states -- there are certainly plenty of makes and models to suit a variety of needs and tastes.
While most of the cars featured here fall into the more affordable range, InformationWeek has also included a few select vehicles from BMW, which offers more of the luxury and performance features that the higher-end Teslas also boast.
The desire for electric cars, whether it's a luxury brand or a more affordable one, is only beginning.
[There's a race on for electric vehicle talent. Here's what Apple, Tesla, and others are up to.]
The global electric vehicles market is projected to hit $271.67 billion in revenue by 2019. In terms of volume sales, the market is predicted to trade 64.4 million units of electric vehicles by the end of the forecast period, according to a September 2015 report from Transparency Market Research (TMR)(paywall).
With all this in mind, InformationWeek has put together a list of nine all-electrics, plus one hybrid electric, to give our readers a sense of what's currently on the market, how far they'll take you, and, of course, what they look like.
You may not be in the market for an electric car yet, but you'll be surprised by how many options you have to choose from.
After years of anticipation, Tesla CEO Elon Musk finally took the wraps off the Model 3 on March 31. It's the company's first affordable electric vehicle. The Model 3 boasts a driving range of 215 miles on a single charge, offers supercharging for long distance travel, and seats five adults.
Price: Starting at $35,000
The most eye-catching feature in this model is what Tesla calls Falcon Wing doors: Requiring only a foot of clearance, the doors articulate up and out of the way, allowing passengers to enter from both front and rear directions. Another dominant design feature is a massive panoramic windshield that features optimized solar tinting.
Price: $80,000
The flagship sedan from Tesla is a mainstay for the Silicon Valley movers and shakers. It scored a perfect 5.0 NHTSA automobile safety rating and ranked as the world's best-selling plug-in electric vehicle in 2015, up from second place in 2014.
Price: $70,000
The i3 is BMW's first zero-emissions mass-produced vehicle, due to its electric power train. The company is also the first to launch a volume production vehicle featuring carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer to improve the vehicle's energy consumption. As of November, the i3 ranked as the world's third best-selling all-electric car in history.
Price: $43,300
GM announced the production of the Chevrolet Spark EV, an all-electric version of the Spark, in October 2011, with availability limited to select US and global markets. Currently available in California, Oregon, and Maryland, GM also plans to sell the Spark EV in limited quantities in Canada and select European markets.
Price: $26,600
Designers and engineers of the Fiat 500e worked to minimize drag while keeping the iconic styling of the conventional powered Fiat 500. The car is powered by a 111 horsepower electric motor, and its liquid-cooled/heated li-ion battery delivers a range of 80 miles and up to 100 miles in city driving.
Price: $32,600
This five-door hatchback electric car boasts a range of 76 miles and a top speed of 84 miles an hour. The advanced battery system uses an active liquid cooling and heating thermal management system to precondition and regulate the temperature in the battery system, a feature that helps to maximize battery life and driving range.
Price: $29,200
Thanks to the highly energy-dense lithium-ion polymer battery, drivers can enjoy more power for longer with up to 93 miles of real-world driving on a full charge. The battery can be fully charged in just five hours. Regenerative braking captures energy so that drivers can use it again when they accelerate.
Price: $34,500
As of December, the Leaf is the world's all-time best-selling highway-capable all-electric car. Leaf global sales passed the 200,000-unit milestone in December, five years after its introduction. The bottom of the car has aerodynamic paneling to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics as much as possible.
Price: $29,000
The luxury carmaker's expensive, sleek, futuristic plug-in hybrid supercar is the ultimate in hybrid electric technology. The i8 is part of BMW's "Project i." It's being marketed as a new brand -- BMW i -- sold separately from BMW or Mini. BMW plans to sell the i8 in about 50 countries, and expects the US to be the largest sales market.
Price: $137,000
The luxury carmaker's expensive, sleek, futuristic plug-in hybrid supercar is the ultimate in hybrid electric technology. The i8 is part of BMW's "Project i." It's being marketed as a new brand -- BMW i -- sold separately from BMW or Mini. BMW plans to sell the i8 in about 50 countries, and expects the US to be the largest sales market.
Price: $137,000
-
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like