EVs are becoming an increasingly common sight on American roads, as are the charging stations that keep them running. A few brands seem to dominate the news cycle when it comes to new electric cars, but there are actually well over a dozen fully electric models on sale in the US today. Below are some of the cars that are expected to debut on the American roads
Audi E-Tron
This electric SUV packs a 95-kilowatt-hour battery and a maximum range of 204 miles. The E-Tron’s starting price isn’t cheap at around $75,000, but you do get a lot of Audi quality for that cash.
BMW i3
The i3 is definitely meant to be a city car with a relatively short range — up to 153 miles — but it is easy to park and a nice place to spend time. Price range is about $44,450
Chevrolet Bolt
It’s an affordable little hatchback that doesn’t stick out like the i3 and packs plenty of all-electric range at 259 miles — a nice increase over its initial 236-mile range. With a starting price of just $36,620, the Bolt has positioned itself as the perfect alternative to the no-longer-relevant $35,000 Model 3 from Tesla.
Honda Clarity Electric
It’s spacious and those are kind of the best things we can say about it. When you consider its size and the competition, a range of just 89 miles is unacceptable. Add in that you can’t buy the car outright, only lease it, and it compounds things further. Still, it’s a Honda and all the stuff that Honda does well, like build quality, is up there, so that counts for something.
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Hyundai is getting way more into the electric vehicle game, but the car that started it out for them was the Ioniq Electric, and you can still get it. It’s basic in almost every sense of the word, but its range got a nice increase for 2020, to 170 miles. Price is over $30K and that makes it a decent deal.
Hyundai Kona Electric
This one of the most exciting new EVs you can buy right now. It has excellent range, weird-but-fun styling, tons of standard equipment and all the other killer Hyundai stuff, including a great warranty. The Kona EV is a lot quicker and more fun to drive than you’d expect, while its range of 258 miles puts it among the upper-echelon of modern battery-electrics. With a price tag starting at $36,990, you’re getting a lot for your money.
Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar was one of the last companies one will expect to release a purely electric SUV. But it did, and the decision ended up working in its favor. The I-Pace looks like nothing else drives like a Jag and offers a real alternative to the Tesla Model X. The I-Pace is a practical beast too, having been designed from the ground up to be an EV, it has plenty of space for people and things and a substantial range of 234 miles.
Kia Niro EV
Kia’s Niro EV is Kia’s best effort yet at making a fully battery-electric SUV that offers a good range of 239 miles with a starting price of $38,500. It’s more fun than its looks or specs would suggest and it’s packed with a deep roster of standard features that make modern Kias so hard to beat for value.
Nissan Leaf
It is the world best selling EV, There is definitely a reason for this, its because the Leaf is a simple, well-built, affordable electric car that offers a reasonable range of 150 miles and still feels a little like the future.
Nissan Leaf Plus
The Leaf Plus is Nissan’s answer to cars like the Tesla Model 3, the Kona Electric and the Bolt. It has the Leaf line’s best range yet at 226 miles, and while it’s not as cheap as the standard leaf, it offers you more for your money.
Porsche Taycan
Porsche’s first battery-electric car arrives to take on the Tesla Model S. It’ll initially be offered in two flavors at launch, Turbo, and Turbo S, later followed by the 4S, the former packing 670 horsepower, the latter with 750. The EPA has only rated the Turbo and Turbo S models for now, and they come in at a relatively dismal 201 miles and 192 miles, respectively, on the US cycle. (For what it’s worth, Porsche says the Taycan should achieve 256 miles on Europe’s notoriously optimistic WLTP cycle.) The Taycan Turbo starts at $150,900, while the Turbo S comes in at $185,000. Later, the cars’ prices will increase to $153,310 and $187,610, respectively.
Tesla Model 3
This is the EV to which all other midpriced electric vehicles have to answer. Model 3 is just that good. It’s comfortable, fun to drive, has tons of cargo space and one of the best ranges in its class. In fact, the Tesla Model 3 offers a number of range options depending on the model:
- Tesla Model 3 Standard Range: 220 miles
- Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus: 250 miles
- Tesla Model 3 Mid Range: 264 miles
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD: 322 miles
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range Performance AWD: 322 miles
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range: 330 miles
Tesla Model S
Has been around in more or less the same form since 2012. It’s gotten several updates to its hardware, it's styling and its performance but it is still one of the oldest vehicles here. That said, it’s also the reigning champ of all-electric range. Thanks to a recent overhaul, the S 100D can eke out 373 miles on a single charge. Unfortunately, it’s also $79,990 before adding things like different wheels, paint or Tesla’s dubiously named Full Self-Driving feature. Like the Model 3, here’s a breakdown:
- Tesla Model S Standard Range: 287 miles
- Tesla Model S Performance: 348 miles
- Tesla Model S Long Range: 373 miles
Tesla Model X
The Tesla Model X is like the Model S in that it’s fast and expensive, but it’s also bigger, roomier and has the craziest doors to be found on a production car this side of the Lamborghini Aventador. Thanks to a similar update to the Model S, the X 100D now offers 328 miles of range on a single charge. That’s not bad for something so big. Here’s how the rest of the model line shakes out:
- Tesla Model X Standard Range: 258 miles
- Tesla Model X Performance: 305 miles
- Tesla Model X Long Range: 328 miles
Volkswagen E-Golf
Volkswagen has been teasing us with electric ID concepts for years now, and while some of those are supposed to make it to production soon, the only EV you can currently get from VW is the E-Golf. The Mk VII Golf is already a pretty great platform, to begin with, and while the E-Golf’s range isn’t stellar at just 123 miles, it’s a pleasant enough car to live with and drive. Plus, with a starting price of $31,895, it’s actually not that bad of a deal.
