Drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) that can charge-at-home suffer little anxiety about range, but people who don’t have access to a regular charging spot – and those who drive longer distances – need access to public chargers. As the nation’s charging infrastructure continues to be expanded, Tesla has agreed to enable access to its vast charging network for most automakers, starting in 2024, giving shoppers more to consider when picking an EV.
Aside from price, taxi and for-hire vehicle (FHV) drivers considering an EV should take into account how far an EV can drive between charges and how quickly its battery can be replenished. Some EVs can add 100 miles of range in less than a quarter of the time it takes others.
To assess charging speed, analysts at Edmunds recently tested dozens of vehicles in the U.S. by charging them from 10% to 80% at high-speed chargers. They then determined how long, on average, it takes to add 100 miles of driving, based on the real-world driving efficiency for each vehicle.
To assist potential buyers, Bloomberg devised a Total Battery Score (TBS) based on relative performance around two key metrics: time it takes to charge 100 miles and the ratio of vehicle price to total range. The media outlet applied this formula to 25 vehicles evaluated by Edmunds.
According to the study, the clear champion for people looking for an affordable car that can go the distance is the Hyundai Ioniq 6 – which boasts 361 miles of range for $43,565, including delivery fees. It also has the fastest charging speed from the Edmunds testing, adding 100 miles in just 7.4 minutes.
Hyundai and Kia took the top 3 spots on the TBS ranking, followed by Tesla’s Model 3, Model Y and Model S, which scored consistently well across the key categories. The new full-sized Kia EV9 SUV, which has three spacious rows of seating, took a spot in the top 10, for a vehicle of its size.
Media outlet, The Motley Fool also recently evaluated EVs, but their top criteria was “most affordable.” They chose EVs from Nissan, MINI, Hyundai and Chevrolet.
Nissan Leaf: With a starting price of about $28,000, the Leaf is among the cheapest EV options. The base model only has a 121-mile range, but you can upgrade (for a fee, of course) to the Leaf SV Plus, which boosts the range to 212 miles. The Leaf also has a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which could reduce insurance premiums.
MINI Cooper SE Electric: Another EV with a limited range, the MINI starts at $30,900, but offers only 114 miles of range. On the upside, the company says the battery will charge to 80% in just 36 minutes. Also of note: The MINI SE ranked No. 1 in ownership experience and ownership cost in a recent J.D. Power study.
Hyundai Kona Electric: Redesigned for 2024, the Kona Electric starts at $32,675 and offers six more cubic feet of storage than the 2023 model. The base SE version gets 200 miles on a full charge, but the next two model trim versions give you a 261-mile range. Hyundai also provides a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Chevrolet Equinox 1LT: The Equinox 1LT model will make its way to showroom floors in mid-2024. It will have an EPA-estimated 319 miles on full charge and an AWD option, with a starting price of $34,995.
Sources: MSN, The Motley Fool
