Let's talk electric vehicles, or EVs for short.
It seems like all the news is about the new flashy expensive
models.
Is there any way to go electric without breaking the bank?
Yes, there is.
It turns out that there are plenty of used EVs out there.
And many are available at reasonable prices.
So, today, we are highlighting a few
that are especially affordable because rather
than those ultra long range models,
these have batteries whose estimated capacity is
more in keeping with the average daily commute.
Win-win, right?
Hey, everyone.
I'm Yomary from Edmunds, where we're
known as the car testing pros.
We've teamed up with the experts at CarMax
to help you find the right vehicle for your needs.
We all know some electric vehicles can be pricey.
Take this 2021 Tesla Model 3, for example,
which is a popular small EV that we at Edmunds recommend
strongly.
The average price at CarMax is about $53,000.
And let's face it.
That does not sound affordable to a lot of us.
So we're going to give you some options that would
be roughly half that price.
Sound good?
These budget-friendly EVs are specifically
meant for the daily commute, not cross-country road trips.
These models will have electric ranges
on the lower end of the market.
So consistent access to charging is really important.
Now, as a note about batteries, the EPA
estimated ranges are based on when these cars are new.
Much like your laptop or cell phone,
batteries can degrade over time.
And battery performance may depend
on things like accessory use, climate, and other factors.
Also, charging times can vary quite a bit.
So to take full advantage of an EV's range,
we'd recommend a level two charger
to be installed at your home.
Now, those are the ones that run on 240 volts.
But some estimates put it at a price of $1,500 or more
to install.
If the extra cost of installing a level two charger
is a barrier, don't let that dissuade you.
There are several options we'll discuss
that can charge overnight on a standard household
120-volt plug.
And by the morning, they should have
enough for the average daily commute, which
is about 30 miles.
OK.
First up, let's talk Ford.
The Ford Focus Electric that this.
Is a pretty interesting electric vehicle
with a distinct personality all its own,
and surprisingly fun to drive.
The Focus made its debut in 2012.
But we recommend looking for models
after the 2017 battery upgrade which increased its range.
At CarMax, you'll find the average 2017 and 2018 models
for around $17,000.
That, of course, can vary based on things like options,
mileage, taxes, and fees.
The range for a 2017/2018 Ford Focus Electric
is an EPA estimated 115 miles.
Again, this is for commuting and short trips.
But it works great for those purposes.
It charges in about 5 and 1/2 hours from zero
to full with a level two charger.
With a 120-volt outlet, you can charge approximately 4 miles
per hour of range.
So with a 10 hour overnight, you should have
enough for your daily commute.
There is a downside, though.
The Focus Electric maximum cargo capacity is not the greatest
because the battery pack takes up
some of the car's cargo space.
But for an affordable and comfortable runabout,
it's worth checking out.
Hey, do you remember the Chevrolet Spark EV?
Not many people do.
This egg-shaped car was only around for a few years.
Let's check it out.
Chevrolet made the Spark EV from 2014 to 2016.
And all of them-- all of them-- are
affordable to buy on the used market.
They are the least expensive cars in this video.
And you can find them on average under $13,000.
The battery in the Spark EV is only 19 kilowatt hours.
That is tiny.
You get 140 horsepower, though.
So it's pretty quick.
But it comes at the expense of range.
The EPA estimate is just 82 miles with a full charge.
Since that range is so small, you'll
need to recharge more often.
And the recharging is pretty slow.
With a level two charger, it's going
to take about seven hours to go from zero to fully charged,
while with the 120-volt household plug,
you'll be charging at 4 miles per hour.
On the upside, the Spark EV is actually pretty lively
to drive.
If you're easily claustrophobic, though,
this isn't a great choice because there's not
much cabin or storage space.
Otherwise, for short trips, it's a pint-sized EV
at a great price.
The Nissan Leaf.
You may remember this car was really ahead of the EV curve,
having first debuted back in 2011.
The Leaf was redesigned for the 2018 model year.
You can find the Leaf for a CarMax average
price of around $22,000 for the 2018
and about $26,000 for the 2019 Leaf.
This current generation of the Leaf made its debut with an EPA
estimated 150 miles of range at 100% charge.
In 2019, Nissan offered the Plus version.
It has a bigger battery that provides an EPA estimated range
of up to 226 miles.
Now, for context, these ranges are all
fairly low compared to the latest EVs.
But they're more than enough for most commutes.
If those prices still sound out of your budget,
there is the previous generation Leaf.
But we'd highly recommend sticking to the last two model
years of the generation, the 2016/2017, due to an upgraded
battery pack available on the SV and SL trim levels,
which get an EPA estimated range of 107 miles
with a full charge, up from 84 miles in the previous model
years.
Carmack sells a 2016 Nissan Leaf for about $15,000 on average.
While the 2017 sells for an average of $16,000.
Both generations of the Leaf have an estimated level one
charge rate of 5 miles of range per hour maximum.
So with a 10 hour overnight charge,
you should have enough for your average daily commute.
The Leaf is not a fast car.
In our Edmunds testing, it did a 0 to 60 time of 10.2 seconds.
But it has almost 24 cubic feet of maximum storage capacity,
the most of any car on this list in both generations.
That plus the low price of entry makes the Leaf worth a look.
Finally, there's an entry from BMW.
Yes, BMW.
So why is this on a list of affordable EVs?
All because the I3 falls right into the sweet spot.
I'll show you.
Some models of the I3 can be at the top end
of our affordable pricing scale here.
But you can find a 2017 I3 for right around $22,000.
The I3 debuted in 2014.
But we're talking 2017 and 2018 models here.
The 2017 is significantly less expensive,
but it lacks some changes that came in 2018.
So you can spend a little less on the older one
or get more stuff in the newer version.
Regardless, we recommend the 33 kilowatt hour battery
in either one.
It has 170 horsepower and--
get this-- rear-wheel drive.
The I3 also has a carbon fiber structure.
What?
And a really cool interior.
So it definitely stands out on this list.
But range for the I3, well, it depends.
For 2017, the shortest range is just an EPA estimated 81 miles
with a full charge.
That's the base I3, which BMW called the 60 amp
hour battery version.
Then there's one with a bigger battery, the 94 amp hour.
And that has an EPA estimated range
of 114 miles on a full charge.
The I3 is unique in this group because BMW also
offered one with a small onboard gasoline-powered generator.
The range extender, or REX version,
has an EPA estimated 97 miles of all-electric range,
or about 180 miles if you use the generator
and the all-electric motor.
This is a big draw if you're worried about running out
of electric power in your EV.
The changes for 2018 included mild styling updates
and an upgraded infotainment system.
There's also a sporty 2018 I3S version
with more power but less range.
With level two charging, it takes about four to five hours
to charge the battery.
On average, you can get about 5 miles per hour of range
on 120 volt plug.
So average commutes are easily within reach
charging overnight.
This BMW EV is dripping with character and personality.
Driving an EV is about taking a different path, right?
Well, the I3 is definitely different, even
among other electric cars.
I hope this helps make it clear that electric vehicles are
about more than just which one has the most range.
It's about which EV fits the best into your life.
And maybe the ones on this list are what you're looking for.
Let us in the comments below which one of these
is your pick.
And for an upcoming segment, let us
know what questions you still have about electric vehicles.
We want to hear about it.
Until then, thanks for watching.
And I'll see you here next time.