A Look at Electric Cars from Chevy and Tesla

In March we took you on a video test drive of the all-electric Nissan Leaf (see below). Today we explore a few other electric models.

With estimated electric car sales in the United States set to jump from less than 20,000 in 2011 to 40,000-60,000 in 2012 (with some optimistic predictions going as high as 100,000), you might say the electric car has arrived for good. I guess time will tell.

Up to now, the history of the electric car has played out in fits and starts. Debuting at the turn of the 20th century and rivaling gas- and steam-powered engines, the electric car fizzled out by the 1920s, elbowed out by advances in the internal combustion engine (namely electric starters) and newly discovered oil in Texas. It had a brief resurgence in the mid-1990s with GM's EV1. The development of the hybrid electric -- epitomized by Toyota's popular Prius (who knew Sen. Lamar Alexander drives one?), which arrived on the world market in 2000 -- likely paved the way for today's resurgence of electric propulsion on U.S. roadways.

While electric cars have still yet to become competitive with their gasoline-powered counterparts, that could change. As innovative materials become more roundly adopted, battery technology improves (lowering their costs), and charging infrastructure expands, the range of electric vehicles will improve, as will their ease of use, and their prices will come down. Meantime, as more and more models are being rolled out, we decided it was time to take a close look at a few more and report on them. Check it out.

And here's our Leaf video, in case you missed it.

Learn More

The EV Project - the largest deployment of electric vehicles and charge infrastructure in history

Five Real-World Facts About Electric Cars - from Rocky Mountain Institute

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Comments

[Bill Chameides]

03:35 PM on 09/24/2012

All good points, but it’s still an expensive car relative to others available in its size class, and probably too expensive for some.

[rgvd]

11:40 PM on 08/03/2012

It's the best car I've ever had. That includes new BMW 550 540 535 and lexus RX450h over the past 12 years. Powerful torque with great handling and fun to drive. We drive from LA to San Francisco regularly: 38 miles per gallon. Around town it's 1 dollar per day to go 40-50 miles. We almost never go to gas stations. Solid futuristic quality. Totally cool. Anyone who has not driven one and wants to start spouting anti Volt bull save your breath. All things considered it is the best 4 seat car ever made.

[VictorCristian5]

11:37 AM on 08/02/2012

You are right.
http://www.webcar.ro/audi/a4

[apeweek]

11:32 AM on 08/01/2012

Okay, it's time to attack the idea that the Chevy Volt is "too expensive". Volt's base MSRP after credits is $31,645. (Who wouldn't take advantage of the credits? That's why this is the relevant price.)

Take a look at the most popular vehicle in the USA, the Ford F-150 - prices on this page:

http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/models/

Some versions of the F-150 approach $50,000. Where are the insistent cries that buyers justify these extravagant purchases? If those sums were truly unaffordable, how is this America's best selling vehicle?

In fact, look at this list of midsize cars from USNEWS (they rank Volt #8 on this list):
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/Upscale-Midsize-Cars/

Volt's actual $31,645 price tag is almost the CHEAPEST car on this entire page of cars.

Finally, there are some really awesome leasing deals on Volt - here's a recent one - just $139 per month:

http://www.imakenews.com/lesstanford/e_article002482415.cfm?x=bllVbcD,bqMrGfRW

Now look at your monthly gasoline bill - most people spend around $200 per month for gas. Contrast this to the cost of electricity - for most people in an EV, under $50 per month.

That $150 savings can pay the ENTIRE COST of a Volt lease - it's like getting the car for free!

I'm sure I'll get some doubters, so be sure to show me exactly which numbers I got wrong.