The New Rush Of Affordable, Desirable EVs Finally Makes Sense

We don’t know why EV makers couldn’t have just done this in the first place, but this week we’ve finally seen a heap of affordable, stylish and refreshingly normal choices
The New Rush Of Affordable, Desirable EVs Finally Makes Sense

There’s something about the ‘early adopter’ mindset. These are people who always have to buy into a new piece of technology before all their friends, and almost always before the manufacturers have got it right.

Being an early adopter means you’re up to speed on all the latest gadgets and what’s around the corner at tech shows. It means reading about the latest no-doubt fascinating innovations and, to an extent, living your life a little bit ahead of the present. That must make you a bit weird; a bit impatient and/or intolerant of everyone ‘behind’ you.

Cool photo, but no thanks
Cool photo, but no thanks

My basis for this accusation is that electric cars have, until now, been a niche product built for early adopters. There are exceptions like in Norway and the Netherlands, where the governments have heavily invested in charging infrastructure and tax-related incentives, but in most markets, the audience is limited to those slightly odd folks with their noses in tech websites whose content moves so fast that it’s almost out of date by the time anyone reads it.

The point is that these people are fundamentally not quite mainstream and have no desire to be. Thus, so have the cars that were built for them. From the desperately awkward early Nissan Leaf to the weirdly bulbous Renault Zoe, purpose-built EVs have been about as pretty as a pork pie that was recently dropped from the 25th floor. Is it any wonder they haven’t been more popular?

The New Rush Of Affordable, Desirable EVs Finally Makes Sense

Thankfully that’s changing. We know as well as anyone that emissions need to be curbed for the sake of everyone’s health and for the sake of keeping the planet habitable, so we’re genuinely pleased to see a whole bunch of (relatively) affordable electric cars emerging – ones that don’t look like a dog’s dinner and shouldn’t be utterly depressing for people like us to live with.

Tesla is finally getting around to creating an entry-level Model 3 that it can sell in the US for $35,000. It’s being forced to shrink the battery and move to an online-only sales model to be able to afford to drop the car’s price to that point, but the 3 is a handsome thing that will sell.

The New Rush Of Affordable, Desirable EVs Finally Makes Sense

Then there’s the strikingly Saab-ish Polestar 2. We shouldn’t wonder at the visual similarities – the Swedes have a certain way, after all. Priced at under €40,000 in Germany for the entry-grade model at launch, it’s going to be a little more expensive than the cheapest Model 3 but still within reach for a sizeable part of the general population. Cheaper versions might be on the cards in time.

Even cheaper will be the Peugeot e-208, the chunky electric supermini with 134bhp and the ability to recharge 80 per cent of its battery at a public fast-charger in 30 minutes. We expect a price in the low £20,000s, which isn’t cheap for a small car but is heading in the right direction. Plus, you’d be happy to be seen driving it.

The Fiat 500 for the 2020s?
The Fiat 500 for the 2020s?

Let’s not forget the Honda e Prototype, the cutesy offspring of the classically handsome Urban EV concept. We just might be looking at the first desirable sub-£20,000 EV, there, and it’ll be easy to live with thanks to a spacious cabin and decent real-world range. The looks are designed to invade Mini and Fiat 500 territory; an audacious move but one that’s primed to succeed. That part of the market is crying out for something genuinely different.

On top of those four are the likes of the Seat el Born concept-but-we’re-actually-making-it, the Volkswagen ID hatchback, the already-here Hyundai Kona EV and more besides. The Nissan Leaf is no longer hideous and the oddball Renault EV range won’t last long in its current form. Expect more normal-looking choices soon.

As of 2019, electric cars are no longer for early adopters. Thank God: maybe normal people can now begin to like them.

Sponsored Posts

Comments

Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

As car enthusiasts it’s a law that we can’t like ANY electric vehicle

03/02/2019 - 14:07 |
8 | 12

Alright grandad you going to move with the times? Have you seen a Tesla’s 0-60mph electric cars are only going to get better as the batteries increase range and charging times drop.

03/02/2019 - 14:24 |
4 | 5

Well it’s especially true if you’re an American

Cause honestly the only hate I see for electrics come from coal rolling Mercans

03/02/2019 - 15:57 |
1 | 3

Except its not…real car enthusiasts like all types of cars

03/02/2019 - 17:24 |
4 | 2

Guess I’m not a carguy then lol. I still love ICEs no doubt, but the list of genuinely good EVs is only growing, seemingly every month.

03/02/2019 - 22:04 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I don’t mind the Tesla or the Honda

03/02/2019 - 14:11 |
15 | 3
Chewbacca_buddy (McLaren squad)(VW GTI Clubsport)(McLaren 60

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I’d buy the hell out of the Honda #e-VTEC

03/02/2019 - 14:45 |
17 | 1
Elliot.J99

I can’t wait to see what it’s like in 5 years time, very exciting times.

03/02/2019 - 14:14 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

As long as gasoline stays aviable, and gas and diesel cars stick around I don’t mind the electric stuff. As long as I don’t have to deal with them and I can stay with my kind of car I’m happy

03/02/2019 - 15:00 |
9 | 1
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

5 years and diesel will be worthless.
10 years and gas will too.

03/02/2019 - 15:29 |
3 | 3
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

They will stick around…but you will be forced to drive an EV because it would be too expensive and impractical to drive gas cars (if you even could) as a daily.

03/02/2019 - 17:27 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

They should stop making diesels.

03/02/2019 - 17:37 |
2 | 2
Twopoint0

I don’t know, I just cannot feel excited about EV’s at all, I’m not convinced that they are a long term solution ..

03/02/2019 - 15:06 |
3 | 1
Kyle Ashdown

Kia and Hyundai are the two biggest threats to Tesla, in my opinion. The Niro and Kona EV are 2 cars that make actual sense for the average person.

03/02/2019 - 15:54 |
1 | 1

Startup EV companies aren’t viable threats anyway (no matter how much they’re hyped up), so if anyone is going to give Tesla a run for their money, it’ll be an established car company that’s willing to put effort into electric power programs.

03/03/2019 - 08:37 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

Car enthusiasts are living in a great time with all these new models and technological advancements coming out

03/02/2019 - 17:31 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

For the same reason ICE vehicles were not available to the common folk. Infrastructure, like you noted played a big role. People need to be able to charge them, the tech needed to be cheaper to produce. You still need to prove the idea can work before it goes to the masses as well, that is where the early adapters come in. Do you really think that this could have succeeded the same if they had just immediately produced low cost EVs? I do not really think so…I think we are finally seeing the fruits of early adaptor labour.
.
Also interesting tidbit. The Honda E prototype is the basis for a whole line up of EVs Honda is planning. Sporty EVs and Yes, Boxi EVs. And that is really cool.

03/03/2019 - 01:06 |
4 | 0
White Comet

This whole EV car has been backward from the beginning.
1st. Tell people to support EV cars for cheaper energy and clean environment.
2nd. Make EV as expensive as possible, so only the thick wallet carrier can claim they save environment.
3rd. Make promise to make cheaper
4th. Ten generation later. still expensive AF
5th. Another promise for cheaper EVs.
6th. Still not cheaper than ICE cars.

03/04/2019 - 18:08 |
0 | 0
White Comet

I can say that EV drivers on the left lane are still much faster than Prius on the left lane.

03/04/2019 - 18:09 |
0 | 0