Electric cars aren't only green; they're also a ton of fun to drive. The growing market includes dozens of models, with new ones joining the club every year. We’ve rounded up eight of the new battery-electric cars that will hit the U.S. market in 2015/16. Our list just covers battery electrics rather than conventional hybrids or fuel-cell vehicles (which aren’t exactly in the same league).
Prices noted below do not include electric vehicle incentives like the $7,500 federal tax credit, the $2,500 California ZEV rebate, or other state or local incentives. Be sure to check to find out which incentives are available in your area, to get the lowest available price.
Tesla Model X
ESTIMATED PRICE
Starts at $60,000
FEATURES
200 miles of range, falcon-wing doors, seating for up to seven adults, all-wheel drive, breathtaking acceleration.
Definitely the hottest green car coming to market in 2015, the Tesla Model X is the all-electric SUV/crossover that follows the world-renowned Tesla Model S, an all-electric sedan widely considered the best mass-manufactured car ever. The new Model X is supposed to feature more than 200 miles of range, falcon-wing doors, seating for up to seven adults, all-wheel drive, and breathtaking acceleration (the Tesla Model X P85 can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds, faster than any sedan in history and faster than many supercars).
In September 2014, there were already about 20,000 reservations for the Model X and new monthly reservations were growing. The vehicle is expected to be like no other. The only real downside: It won’t be cheap. An early price estimate suggests the car will start around $60,000, but that figure may well go up by the time the vehicle hits the market. It’s not very clear when the Model X will be available – it has been delayed four times, most recently at the end of last year. It is now scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2015.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
ESTIMATED PRICE
$40,000
FEATURES
All-wheel drive, seats up to five adults, has an eslectric-only range of more than 30 miles, switches to gasoline (or diesel) when limited electric range runs out
Another SUV/crossover, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV isn't an all-electric vehicle but rather a plug-in hybrid. Thus, its electric-only range and efficiency are compromised a bit, but it gets greater range than it would otherwise.
The Outlander PHEV has been on the market for quite some time in Europe and Japan (its home country), where it’s been selling very well. So far in 2014, it is the top-selling electric vehicle in Europe. Attractive and utilitarian, the vehicle includes all-wheel drive, seats up to five adults, and has an electric-only range of more than 30 miles (according to the U.K. rating). Mitsubishi promotes it as a “no compromise” vehicle. The downside of the vehicle, for those wanting to be as green as possible, is that it switches to gasoline (or diesel) when the limited electric range runs out. And being such a large vehicle, efficiency is reduced. In other words, it’s not the greenest car on this list, but it offers its own advantages.
In the Netherlands, the starting price is €33,050 ($45,300) before the country's value-added tax (VAT). In Norway, the starting price is 440,800 kroners ($72,600) and in Japan, the starting price is 3,397,500 yen ($33,350). There's no word yet on how much the Outlander PHEV will run in the United States.
BMW X5 eDrive
PRICE
$54,150 - $70,050
FEATURES
Ability to go from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than seven seconds; uses sensors, a navigation system, and radar to improve efficiency.
The BMW X5 eDrive is a plug-in hybrid electric version of the BMW X5, the brand’s midsize luxury SUV. A release date hasn’t been announced, but the X5 eDrive is expected sometime in 2015.
The X5 eDrive includes all-wheel drive as well as innovative EfficientDynamics drive technology. Its all-electric range is about 19 miles, not even two-thirds of the Outlander PHEV, but its efficiency is still “unrivalled among vehicles in this class,” according to BMW. The X5 eDrive is also expected to be quite fast despite its large size, with the ability to go from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than seven seconds. It’s not going to compete with the Model X in that regard, but that’s still quick for an SUV.
One of the most exciting features of the X5 eDrive is its EfficientDynamics drive technology. The X5 eDrive is intelligent enough to prepare the vehicle for upcoming changes in gradient, traffic, and road design in order to improve efficiency. It uses sensors, a navigation system, and radar to help. The technology takes into account speed limits, corners, the start of built-up areas, traffic circles, turnoffs, and highway exits. The X5 eDrive also pays attention to each driver’s driving style and provides tips for more efficient travel, and will also recommend the most fuel-efficient route to your destination. Furthermore, the X5 eDrive can pay attention to vehicles nearby and decelerate on its own in the case of a potential crash.
Despite its large size, modest battery, and all-electric range, the X5 eDrive is still more efficient than a Toyota Prius or any other non-electric car on the market. The downsides to the X5 eDrive are the limited electric range and, most likely, a high price tag.
Audi A3 e-tron
ESTIMATED PRICE
$38,000 - $45,000
FEATURES
204 horsepower, 258 pound-foot of torque, 18 miles of all-electric range, can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than eight seconds.
The Audi A3 e-tron is Audi’s highly anticipated first electric offering. It is a plug-in hybrid electric car with 204 horsepower, 258 pound-foot of torque, and 18 miles of all-electric range. It can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than eight seconds. The Audi A3 e-tron also offers quite a lot of cargo space, 40 cubic feet.
Edmunds notes the A3 e-tron has excellent handling: “In our quick Audi e-tron test-drive, we found that the plug-in hybrid delivers the best balance and handling of the A3 range.” The only con Edmunds mentions is the noise level: “Stock tires coupled with quiet electric operation allow more road noise into the cabin.” If superb fuel efficiency is the goal, the A3 e-tron doesn’t compare to an all-electric vehicle. Its 18 miles of all-electric range is less than a typical all-electric car’s 75 to 200-plus miles of range. What you get in return is greater total range before refueling (about 550 miles).
Audi has not yet announced pricing and a release date, but the A3 e-tron is supposed to hit the U.S. market sometime in 2015.
Kia Soul EV
PRICE
Starts at $33,700
FEATURES
93 miles of range, combined miles per gallon equivalency (MPGe) of 105.
Technically, the Kia Soul EV has arrived in the U.S., but it is only available in California right now. In 2015, it should be available to several other U.S. markets.
The Kia Soul EV starts at $33,700, placing it the affordable class. With EV incentives taken, it is much cheaper than the average new car purchased in the U.S. Compared to the vehicles mentioned above, this is a big advantage of the Kia Soul EV. However, the car comes with fewer bells and whistles. Still, the Kia Soul EV is quite spacious and comfortable.
The Soul EV offers a respectable 93 miles of range – more than most all-electric vehicles and the best in its class – and it has a combined miles-per-gallon equivalency (MPGe) of 105. On the highway, the Soul is rated at 92 MPGe, while it gets 120 MPGe in the city.
The Kia Soul EV isn’t the most luxurious or speedy electric vehicle on the market, but it is a hip, affordable, and highly efficient option with good range.
2016 Chevy Volt
PRICE
Starts at $30,000
FEATURES
More electric-only range than the current model, new body style.
A heavily updated version of the popular Chevy Volt (an extended-range electric vehicle) is scheduled for 2015. Not much is known about the upcoming Volt, but it's supposed to have a bit more electric-only range than the current one, as well as a different body style.
The current Volt, which was the highest-selling electric car on the U.S. market for a couple of years, gets 38 miles of all-electric range (a lot for a car that isn’t fully electric) as well as a 98 MPGe rating on the battery and 37 MPG on gas. The Volt is known for great drive quality, most satisfied car owners in the U.S the , and general leadership in the electric vehicle space. One of the biggest downsides is that the Volt only seats four people. It also has limited trunk space.
The current Volt sells for $34,345 before incentives. That’s a fair price, considering what the car offers.
Fisker Karma
ESTIMATED PRICE
$100,000
FEATURES
Beautiful and luxurious interior and exterior.
The Fisker Karma was released a few years ago, but the company went bankrupt in 2013. Earlier this year, Wanxiang America Corporation purchased the company and promised to restart production of the Fisker Karma.
One of the biggest upsides of the Karma is that it's beautiful and luxurious. A number of celebrities, including Justin Bieber, have purchased the high-class car.
The Karma is a plug-in hybrid, which is less attractive to those who want a super green car but more attractive to those who want a backup gasoline engine. The previously produced version of the Karma had 32 miles of all-electric range and a fuel economy rating of 52 MPGe, which is as low as it gets for an electric car and just above a Toyota Prius. Aside from the relatively weak fuel economy, the Karma's biggest downside was probably the very high base price of $96,000. Of course, not knowing if the company will survive to repair the car when needed isn’t ideal.
The planned release for this car has been pushed to mid-2016. The revised version of the Karma will be renamed Elux Karma.
Detroit Electric SP:01
ESTIMATED PRICE
$135,000
FEATURES
All electric, great power and acceleration.
The Detroit Electric SP:01 is another high-end electric car, but this one is all-electric. The original Detroit Electric was founded in 1907, making it one of the first electric car companies ever. Some electric car and history enthusiasts, especially chairman and CEO Albert Lam, decided to revive the brand with the launch of an electric sports car, the SP:01.
The SP:01 was supposed to be available by now, but experienced a few delays. It is making progress: The final design of the SP:01 was revealed in October and it’s now possible to place an order on the SP:01 site.
With styling based on the Lotus Elise, the car is beautiful by many accounts. Without much more information on the vehicle available, it’s hard to discuss other pros and cons, but the car is expected to have a lot of range, great power and acceleration, and a high price.
Conclusion
These are the greenest cars expected to hit the U.S. market in 2015. It’s quite a list, with a lot of the vehicles falling into above-average price brackets (and well-above-average non-electric price brackets), but there are also some affordable models. Across the board, these electric vehicles offer excellent initial acceleration (thanks to the instant torque) and efficiency that beats every non-electric car on the market, including the Toyota Prius and conventional hybrids. It’s going to be a fun year.
Source: Fix.com; Written by Zachary Shahan
Zachary is the director of the most popular cleantech-focused website in the world, and has been published on dozens of other sites around the web as well as in print magazines.
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