Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Zap, Phoenix, Miles EV, American Electric Vehicle, GEM, ZENN, Universal Electric Vehicle
The Top Ten electric vehicles you can buy right now (for the most part)
I think all the news of the Tesla Roadster and the Chevy Volt that came out since last summer has reminded a lot of people that there are some serious contenders to the gasoline engine. The electric vehicle (EV) community certainly thinks 2006 was a good year for EVs. In fact, the past has seen some truly cool EVs, and the list of retired EVs is long and, for some, emotional: the EV1, the Ranger EV, the RAV4 EV and so on. But there should be no time for mourning and instead a look toward the future. Actually, we don't even need to guess what great EVs are coming down the pipe, there are already some wicked cool EVs available today. If you're ready to get off the gas in 2007, consider one of these, the Top Ten Electric Cars of 2007 (Aside from the Roadster, which certainly deserves the Number 1 spot, the list is in no real order).
Tesla Roadster - This car has reinvigorated the EV market like no other. While technically no one can buy it this year (all 100 vehicles that will be available later in 2007 have already been spoken for, I can't help but place it at No. 1. With a 0-60 time beneath four seconds and a look that makes you just want to hop in and drive, the Roadster (More)
Gallery: Tesla Roadster
UEV Spyder - Universal Electric Vehicle's Spyder made an impressive debut at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo last December, even though I heard a lot of people ask, "Is this the Tesla?" This EV will be available with different battery configurations at different price levels (some comparable to the Roadster). You don't hear so many people talk the Spyder up, but it seems to share many of the same qualities that make the Roadster so exciting: speed, zero emissions, and sports-car styling. (More)
Phoenix SUT – Yeah, it's expensive ($45,000), but EVs aren't cheap. Heck, retired Toyota RAV4 EVs regularly go for more than $50,000 on eBay, and the batteries in those things are old. Phoenix has been working with Altairnano Technologies on new batteries and is bringing this sports utility truck to market with better range than the RAV4 (but, admittedly, not as much size). Phoenix says they hope to sell 500 SUTs by the end of the year. Perhaps a better name will pump up sales. (More)
Miles ZX40 – While the Spyder and the Roadster don't really ask the driver to make any sacrifices (aside from in the bank account), EVs like those from Miles are not a replacement for a "standard" car, but a solid contender for second vehicle for certain families or individuals, or as a main vehicle for those who don't have to go very far. The Miles ZX40 is like a lot of NEVs – limited to a top speed of 25 mph, a range of around 50 miles per charge and a price of about $12,000-$20,000. (We don't actually know the price of the ZX40, but other NEVs are priced in this range). Another Miles model, the OR70, can go 35 mph. (More)
ZENN – Another player in the NEV field, ZENN's cars are "zero emission, no noise." Get it? ZENN. These NEVs have a lower range than Miles' offerings (only about 35 miles) and are a bit smaller, too. When I drove one in D.C. last year the battery was on its last legs and in need of a charge, but still drove well. The various options can add up to $2,500 to the $12,500 base price. But the most exciting part about ZENN's offerings are yet to come: the EESTOR ultra capacitor is still shrouded in mystery, but the potential is great for this new EV power source (as is the disappointment if the EESTOR doesn't live up to the hype). (More)GEM e2 – Yes, they look funny. No, they can't go very far or very fast. But GEM electric vehicles have been available for years and the company has a wide range of models available (two through six seats, with or without a flatbed) and prices ($7,000-$12,500). GEMs are used around the country on various campuses, but models like the e2 are obviously targeted to home users. (More)
Gallery: GEMcars
Smart EV - Available in Switzerland and the UK, the tiny Smart EVs are zero-emission versions of their fossil-fuel drinking cousins. These cars share the easy-parking abilities and unique styling of the standard Smarts, but are only available in the fortwo configuration and only to "to blue chip companies who are happy to meet our requirements to power the cars using only renewable energy sources," says Smart UK. Conversions for your standard Smart are also available. (More)
Mullen L1X-75 – Some of our readers are skeptical of Hybrid Technologies, maker of the Mullen L1X-75, saying their press releases promise more than they can ever deliver. The L1X-75 certainly promises a lot - 100-mile range on a 4-6 hour charge - and this comes at a price ($125,000). Still, the sports car look will attract the eye of those you zip by, and I'd certainly give one a whirl. (More)G-Wiz EV – available in the UK (and desired by Sir Elton John), the G-Wiz costs a little bit (£8,299 to £6,999) more than some of the short-range EVs in America, but you get something extra in England, too: exemption from certain taxes and London congestion charges and free parking in some areas. There are even free charging stations in some locations. (More)
Kurrent – A tiny and very distinctive-looking NEV, the Kurrent's price ($10,600) includes home delivery because, as American Electric Vehicle president Scott Thornton told AutoblogGreen, if AEV allowed the Kurrent to be sold at just any dealership, the customer might not be able to drive it home thanks to U.S. laws that restrict NEVs to roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or below. Lead-acid batteries deliver a range of about 40-mile range. (More)
Gallery: AEV Kurrent
For Number 10, I cannot ignore all of the homemade EVs and converted EVs. People have been creating their own electric vehicles for year, and the trend continues. For examples, read more here, here and here.
There are more EVs available today, and if you feel I should've included any in this Top Ten list, add it yourself in the comments. Also, there are a lot of upcoming EVs to get excited about - Tesla's WhiteStar sedan, Zap!'s Lotus APX - so if you're sick of gassing up your car, consider going all-electric. They're not for everyone, but they might be perfect for you.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
MikeB 2:54PM (2/07/2007)
Don't forget the electric maxi-scooter, the Vectrix (http://www.vectrix.com/). It should start selling this year, or so they claim.
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Manny 3:52PM (2/07/2007)
The Silence (An electric T-rex) will be available for ordering in Spring 2007.
http://www.silenceinc.ca/accueilEN.htm
http://www.usa-trex.com/
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John Rowell 3:56PM (2/07/2007)
The Myers Motors NMG should be on this list. Although it's a one-person EV, it's capable of freeway speeds and is available right now.
www.myersmotors.com
There's also a video interview - just search Google Video for "myers motors"
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Ryan 12:05AM (9/19/2008)
What a waste of money!! 1-2 years battery life...come on!
Ronald Gillingham 2:56PM (11/19/2008)
Rumor has it that Meyers is working on a 2 seater. Imagine this.... an expandable vehicle format that allows the end user to "grow the vehicle" from a single seat, up to a two passenger vehicle with a dealer installed kit. Meyers Motors is currently organizing the funding to prpepare his vehicle for mass production, and globalize the design to allow for it to be built in various global locations. I have driven the NMG and it is ROAD READY! That sucker (the NMG) really accelerates and has no reliability issues associated to other EV's. Hit the Meyers Motors web sight, and also research Corbin Sparrow, a vehicle before its time to be sure!
I have had the good fortune to meet Dana Meyers, a man of true vision! If you believe in doing your part to save the earth and want to do even more, to help yourself and your familiy's economic condition... invest in an EV that costs only 2.5 cents per mile to run. Join Dana Meyers and become a part of the GREEN REVOLUTION!
MetroMPG.com 4:21PM (2/07/2007)
There's also Zap's Xebra. Americans are buying and driving these cars/mini pickups right now as well. I suppose they could be considered a step above the NEV (registered as motorcycles, they're not legally restricted to 25 mph).
I would say the growing number of electric bicycles and bike conversion kits deserve an honourable mention too.
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Ronald Gillingham 3:26PM (11/19/2008)
I saw the Zapp at the Sacramento Auto show. The finish of the sheet metal is not what is commonly considered "class A" surface. Also the fit and finsih of the closures, hood, doors, ect was at best POOR. This is an example of the difference between what is commonly acceptable in China, does not quite cut the mustard here is the USA. The interior trim continued the theme of "cheap looking" construction. The Instrument Panel has the most tacky laminate film on the center stack. the edges of the part were inconsistan and the adhesive was lifting off at the edge. I would not use it for more than inner city small package delivery, meter maid, ect. Not anything I would own personally or drive on "my time"
Tony Belding 12:14AM (2/08/2007)
What about the Tango? I was under the impression that a few are being built -- by hand, really -- to sell while raising funds needed to establish more volume production. And of course Commuter Cars are taking pre-orders.
Manny, thanks for posting that info about The Silence! I hadn't heard about it, but I know of the T-Rex and think it's way cool. I've been aware of this video for some time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv4ghO8mLEA Until now I was unaware of any plans to commercialize it; I had assumed it merely somebody's homebrew conversion of a T-Rex. It could make a great competitor for the Wrightspeed X1.
The Vectrix scooter looks like an attractive and fun little EV if they can get it into production, which I think should be getting very close now.
I must admit I am drawn to the sporty and fun-to-drive class of vehicles, and I tend to look askance at NEVs. NEVs reinforce the golf cart image that EVs need to move away from, and they exemplify the "punishment cars" that Martin Eberhard has spoken of.
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michael 12:46PM (2/08/2007)
Here is an interesting 3 wheeled electric vehicle I saw in Italy in November.
http://web.tiscalinet.it/Pasquali/english.htm
The speed is around 25mph and it is designed as a city car.
It seats two people in tandem and it is slightly larger than a regular scooter, although obviously it is weatherproof.
I saw it zipping around in traffic, and it looks like you could have 3 of them abreast in a single lane.
If they were selling these for about $7500 it would revolutionize city transport. You could have trains and buses designed for docking a dozen of them for high speed travel, and then you undock at the station and drive to your destination.
The only downside I see is that collisions would not be fun, although you are far more protected and visible than a scooter or bike.
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Skarrin 6:49PM (2/08/2007)
The Twike is also available:
http://www.twike.us
Not cheap, but unlike the NEVs it has decent speed and real range.
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Hugh E Webber 5:58PM (2/15/2007)
You left out the hottest one! The Wrightspeed X-1 sportster does 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds. See video on Fox LA:
http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=2363474&version=1&locale=EN-US
Hugh E Webber
Electric Auto association, Florida chapter
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Jeff Finsand 5:27PM (2/20/2007)
The real breakthrough is not the new cars but the technology. Soon we will be able to order the components (motor, bateries and controls) and have them installed into any car,
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rob matthies 2:34AM (4/19/2007)
Many of us would like to own the type of vehicle that uses the least fossil fuel: The electric car. Some magazines, including Popular Mechanics and Mother Earth New, agree that the electric vehicle (“EV” for short) is the least harmful to the environment. However, as Ralph Nader stated in, “Who Killed The Electric Car”, the car companies have been merely teasing us with EV concept vehicles, thereby buying time, and pre-empting small companies from entering the market.
A few rich movie stars might be able to afford the $80,000+ lithium-powered electric vehicles. However, a lithium battery pack might last only two years, and the replacement cost for a lithium pack is $40,000 or thereabouts. This might explain why Tom Hanks is the only purchaser, thus far, for the lithium-powered eBox EV.
Furthermore, the raw material for lithium batteries comes from only a few countries. A small war, or a bulk purchase (to hoard) from a giant corporation, could put an end to the supply of lithium batteries. And what would EV owners have? Another sad story, while the planet burns.
Here's my entry in your EV "contest" ..
.. a mythical an EV with a per-mile cost that is 75% cheaper than gasoline, and also accepted depleted batteries from the scrap pile, thereby reducing landfills at the same time? Can you imagine driving a car with a clean conscience? What if, instead of using costly lithium, or yet-to-be-perfected technology, it used the same type of battery that is already in your car?
For several people in the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby, this is not just a dream. Our group has such a vehicle: A pickup EV that has three battery breakthroughs. You can do an Internet search for, “battery breakthroughs revived battery electric pickup truck”, without the double quotes, to check it out.
Don’t forget to google our two other battery-breakthroughs. Reviving batteries is just one of our three battery breakthroughs, so far. And, we’re working on two more battery-breakthrough ideas.
Rob Matthies
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steve 2:09AM (9/24/2008)
Great comments, very informative. Hope manufactures take note.
Especially here in `Rip Off Britain`.
Paul Henson 1:26AM (4/24/2007)
Plenty of great innovation...
Here's an idea for all manufacturers: make the battery packs removable (and standardised).
Instead of electric vehicles all plugging in at home, the service stations would replace them just as we have been 'replacing' conventional fuel, and recharge them at all hours.
Energy demand could be managed more efficiently, with on and off peak power production being 'smoothed out', to help prevent overloading.
The customer wouldn't have to wait for recharging, enabling longer trips.
Anyone want to pay me for this idea?
Cheers.
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Paul Henson 1:36AM (4/24/2007)
Here's an idea for all manufacturers: make the battery packs removable (and standardised).
Instead of electric vehicles all plugging in at home, the service stations would replace them just as we have been 'replacing' conventional fuel, and recharge them at all hours.
Energy demand could be managed more efficiently, with on and off peak power production being 'smoothed out', to help prevent overloading.
The customer wouldn't have to wait for recharging, enabling longer trips.
Anyone want to pay me for this idea?
Cheers.
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Jayne A 12:45AM (5/15/2007)
What about the Water fuel. I would love to see this become a reality. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=345337036240214195&q=water+fuel+technology&hl=en
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Dan P. 9:41AM (5/29/2007)
Check out Jerry Halstead's web sight. As he says‘Helping people get rid of Gas since 1995’. He is now building his second EV out of a Ford Prob. ""http://www.evconvert.com/""
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Skip Tracer 3:09PM (5/29/2007)
A car that only goes 25 mph? And has a range of 40 miles? Even in a city, 25 mph is too slow.
What are these NEV rules that limit how far and fast these vehicles can go?
I'm not interested until someone can design something to replace my current car.
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Skip Tracer 3:14PM (5/29/2007)
The Water Powered Car is a fraud.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fuel_cell
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