Why should you go electric?

The most obvious response is that all-electric vehicles emit no tailpipe emissions. Of course, depending on the location, the source of the electricity used to charge your electric vehicle may emit CO2.

 However, if you live in a region where electricity is generated using relatively low-polluting energy sources, your “well-to-wheel” emissions advantage over fossil-fuel-powered vehicles will be far greater. The majority of people will be motivated by cost savings. And it’s true: the annual fuel costs for electric vehicles are less than half of those of gasoline-powered vehicles.

However, electric vehicles are more than just environmental statements. They’re also now tech status symbols, thanks to Tesla. For those with money to burn, there is a slew of small startups currently building ultra-luxury, high-performance electric supercars with top-tier horsepower and all of the autonomous bells and whistles that make these cars high-tech beasts.

Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is a surprisingly fun car to drive, with a range of up to 507 kilometers. It is stylish on the outside and luxurious on the inside. Add to that a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 2.77 seconds, and the Tesla Model 3 checks all the boxes. The newest member of the Tesla family offers the best in semi-autonomous technology and over-the-air updates while you relax and enjoy the ride.

Audi E-Tron

Audi’s first purpose-built battery electric road car has long been on our radar, but it’s only now that it’s making its way to dealerships in the United States for testing, and order books are open. This electric SUV has a 95-kilowatt-hour battery and a range of up to 204 miles. The E-Tron doesn’t come cheap, with a starting price of around $75,000, but you get a lot of Audi quality for that money.

Nissan Leaf

Nissan stormed into the EV market in 2010 with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, which is still Europe’s best-selling electric vehicle. The nimble hatchback was the first mainstream electric vehicle of the twenty-first century. Almost a decade later, the new LEAF continues to strike the sweet spot between usability, likability, and affordability.

BMW i3

BMW’s i3 has always been a little odd-looking and pricey at $44,450, but it does offer a few features that no other vehicle in the class can match. The most notable of these is its carbon-fiber chassis, which improves stiffness, reduces weight, and looks great on paper. The i3 is clearly intended to be a city car with a relatively short-range (up to 153 miles), but it is easy to park and a pleasant place to spend time, so it can’t be faulted too much.

Tesla Model S 100D

The Tesla Model S 100D, with a charging speed of 586 km/u, is the electric car that breaks all recharging records. In other words, you can charge the battery to 80% in 38 minutes. And if you run out of gas, you have access to a vast network of ‘Superchargers’ throughout Europe and the United States that can refuel you in minutes rather than hours.

Chevrolet Bolt EV

The Bolt EV was the mainstream auto industry’s first genuine, practical response to Tesla’s electric juggernauts. It’s an affordable little hatchback that doesn’t stand out like the i3, and it now has a 259-mile all-electric range, which is a nice increase over its initial 236-mile range. The Bolt, with a starting price of $36,620, has positioned itself as the ideal alternative to Tesla’s impossible-to-spec $35,000 Model 3.