Electric cars are on the rise. I wasn't even aware there were actually over ten companies manufacturing electric vehicles. SO here is a run down of the top 10 and what they have to offer.
Nissan is the first automaker to put over 20,000 pure all-electric cars on U.S. highways. 50,000 will be delivered globally by the end of 2012. The 2012 LEAF includes DC Fast Charge and backup camera and starts at $35,200 or $369 per month. The Nissan Leaf is battery-electric with a 100-mile range per charge. LEAF Test drive. This 5-door, 5-seat, hatchback has the right size and range for many who drive under 100 miles daily, or for households with more than one car. Nissan will open a 150,000 electric car plant in Tennessee in 2013.
General Motors wants to be the plug-in leader with the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid with 40 miles of electric range and 500 miles per gasoline fill-up range. The Volt has a starting price of $39,145. In 2013, deliveries start for the Cadillac ELR using a plug-in hybrid drive system similar to the Volt and for the Chevy Spark EV, GM’s first pure battery electric small city car. GM will delivered about 10,000 plug-in cars in 2011 and up to 65,000 in 2012.
Ford will be selling at least five all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars by the end of 2012. The best seller will be the Ford Focus Electric, an all-electric that will compete with the Nissan LEAF. The Focus Electric can now be ordered starting at $39,200. Ford will soon take orders starting at $33,745 for a 2013 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, an exciting Crossover SUV that seats 5. The Ford Fusion Energi is a plug-in hybrid version of the popular sedan. In the future, the Ford Focus and Fusion will be available any way the customer wants it: all-electric, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, or fuel-efficient sedan.
Toyota world-leading seller of hybrids, will offer both plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars. With a starting price of $32,000, Toyota hopes to sell 15,000 Prius Plug-ins in 2012. Toyota is also selling the new battery-electric SUV, the RAV4 EV, with a 100-mile electric range. As city cars grow in popularity, the new pure battery-electric Scion IQ EV will compete with the Mitsubishi i and the Smart ED with dealer sales starting in Summer 2012.
Honda is preparing the Honda Fit EV and a plug-in hybrid for sale. The 2013 Fit EV can soon be purchased for $36,625 or $399 per month lease. The new EV will use Blue Energy lithium-ion batteries. Honda’s plug-in hybrid is likely to to be a premium midsized sedan, similar to its Clarity FCX, and be priced in late 2012.
Mitsubishi i fits tight parking spaces and tight electric car buyer budgets. The Mitsubishi i can now be reserved starting at $29,125. This fun-to-drive 5 door, 4 seat hatchback, has a wheel base 5 inches wider than Japan’s popular iMiEV for the U.S. market, but the micro-compact will still be able to fit in those precious city parking spaces too small for most EV. The more powerful U.S. version of the iMiEV has an electric range of 62 miles (EPA adjusted) with a 16kWh lithium battery.
Smart is putting 300 of these electric city cars into the San Diego Car2Go car sharing program. Fleet leasing of the Smart Fortwo ED is also underway in the United States using Tesla battery packs, but these second generation cars are underpowered on steep hills. Dealer sales are likely to start with a more powerful generation-three 2013 model year with a 55kW EM-motive motor and 17.6kWh ACCUmotive lithium battery.
Tesla owners are the first to put 10 million electric miles on U.S. roads. Tesla is delivering the roomy Model S hatchback that starts at $57,400. Production of the Roadster has stopped, with deliveries totaling 2,500. The Model S is a luxury sedan with remarkable electric range options of 160 to 300 miles per charge. Tesla is working with shareholder Toyota to bring back the Toyota RAV4 EV, an electric SUV. Tesla has partnered with shareholder Daimler to put Smart EDs on U.S. streets. In the future, the Tesla Model X will be a Crossover SUV for those that want more premium styling and interiors than alternatives from Chevrolet, Ford, and others.
Fisker Karma is a luxury sports plug-in hybrid for those who can afford over $100,000. With 20kWh of lithium batteries, you could go 50 miles before the 2L turbo engine is engaged. The Karma invites you to accelerate, using two electric motors that deliver 403 horsepower, so your mileage may vary. In theory it’s a 4-seater; with a tight fit in the back seat. With a naughty 900 lb/ft of torque, the Karma could rival the Bugatti Veyron, in theory. And lets face it this is one of the best looking cars ever made.
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