THERE are apparently over 300,000 electric cars on Britain’s roads right now with the number increasing all the time. We may still be in love with petrol and diesel but we all know that the future of fossil fuels is limited.
With the sale of new combustion-powered cars banned from 2030, there is a real push to switch to clean, renewable motoring. Electric cars are at the forefront of that.
While not the only zero emission option, it is by far the most popular. Electric is more accessible than hydrogen, easier to manage and doesn’t require filling stations to install expensive pumps.
Improvements in battery technology are gradually giving us lighter, denser batteries capable of more range too.
Electric future
There are now more all-electric models than ever before. Every manufacturer has at least one and most have committed to switching their entire range to electric over the next decade.
That makes it a great time to buy electric!
With that in mind, here are some of the most affordable electric cars you can buy right now.
Volkswagen ID.3 (Life) – From £27,120
The Volkswagen ID.3 (Life) is one of the best looking EVs around right now. It’s cute, has a nice look and feel and continues VWs reputation for building quality cars with few compromises.
With a range of up to 217 miles and a nice 10” touchscreen, the Volkswagen ID.3 is a great little car to buy.
MG5 EV – From £25,095
The MG5 EV looks a bit like a VW Passat but with an electric motor. It’s the first full electric estate car to be offered for sale and delivers another option for families or travelling business people who need to transport goods.
The MG5 EV has a range of up to 214 miles between charges and a reassuring 7 year warranty.
Smart EQ Fortwo – From £20,350
The Smart EQ Fortwo is another cute car with a friendly feel. It’s a city car that is designed for maneuverability and convenience rather than distance, but is a comfortable little two seater.
The Smart EQ Fortwo has just 83 miles of range but could be perfect for the school or shopping runs.
Fiat 500 Electric – From £22,995
The Fiat 500 Electric builds on the brand cachet of the little Fiat 500 in a big way. It delivers clean motoring with the inherent approachability the car is so famous for. It’s the same size as a standard 500 but totally green.
The Fiat 500 Electric has a range of up to 199 miles on a charge and can be had for less than £20k if you look carefully.
Volkswagen e-Up – £23,555
Another entry from VW is the Volkswagen e-Up. It’s another city car designed for the green motoring generation. It has the same accessibility and design as the standard car but with an all-electric drivetrain.
The Volkswagen e-Up has a range of up to 162 miles and should appeal to younger drivers as well as those wanting to switch.
MINI Electric Hatch – £27,900
The Mini electric is a little more expensive than some of these others but it brings the classic design and BMW build quality to the EV market. It’s a great looking car that looks much the same as current models but with zero emissions.
The Mini has a range of up to 145 miles and battery saving technology from BMW.
Seat Mii Electric – £22,800
The Seat Mii Electric is the Spanish manufacturer’s version of the e-UP. As Seat is owned by VW, the two share a lot of the mechanicals, which is great news, as this version is cheaper.
The Mii has a range of up to 160 miles.
MG ZS EV – From £28,495
The MG ZS EV is MG’s second entry in this list. It’s a midsize SUV that looks and feels a lot like a Nissan Qashqai but without the price tag. It’s a good looking car with flowing lines and a comfortable interior.
The MG ZS EV has a range of up to 160 miles and a 5-star NCAP rating.
Citroën e-C4 – From £29,630
While not the cheapest EV on this list, the Citroën e-C4 offers great value. Citroen delivers great quality cars with a flair for design and this is no different. It’s a nice family car with a great look and lots of technology.
The Citroën e-C4 has a range of up to 217 miles between charges.
Peugeot e-208 – £28,550
The Peugeot e-208 is one of the best looking EVs on the market bar none. It’s a great looking car with an angular design yet still approachable appeal. It’s also well-specced and has great handling too.
The Peugeot e-208 has a range of up to 210 miles.
Renault Zoe – £29,179
Not wanting to be outdone, the other French manufacturer has given us the Renault Zoe. This is another cute car that looks and feels well-built and well-designed. It’s a great little small car that competes well with some of these others.
The Renault Zoe has up to 200 miles of range.
Kia e-Niro – £30,000
The Kia e-Niro is one of a number of EVs Kia has planned. It’s a well-built crossover SUV that uses the same drivetrain as the Hyundai Kona EV. It’s comfortable, quiet and looks pretty good too.
The Kia e-Niro has a range of up to 180 miles for Kia e-Niro2 and 282 for Kia e-Niro3.
Those are just some of the many electric cars that are worth a test drive right now. Expect the range to increase as more models are released and we gradually creep closer to price parity.
If you’re even slightly interested in switching to electric motoring, now is a great time to do it!
