Note that Coda has had problems, the BMW Active E is not coming to production, but the i3, which is more of a compliance vehicle (due in US next spring). Would like to see some more of these types of tests, now that there are more all-electric cars available.
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Track Tested: 2012 Tesla Model S — Edmunds.com
This is a video from one of the first production Tesla Model S P85 performance sedans
Note: Anything you read or hear about DC quick charger taking 20 mins. to 80% charge…these are commercial chargers that are yet to be installed anywhere, using a huge SAE combo connector, not available for home charging. (IMO, they are trying to set a standard outside of Tesla superchargers, which, I think, all would be better off licensing from Tesla, as Tesla has a head start and more on the way, but, who am I to make sense?) So, looks like multiple charging standards abound, sucks for consumers again. More: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084771_gm-bmw-complete-testing-of-new-ccs-quick-charging-stations-for-electric-cars
Note: These cars are mainly available/to be available in California, some also in Oregon and/or other states as well. Check the car maker websites for availability. Also, before leasing a car, be sure to check the fine print for such things as mileage limitations, taxes may be different on a lease in your city/state, and such, just be sure you’ll actually be getting a deal that works for you.
Finally there is some competition among EVs! (…at least in the state of California). These all-electric cars are available now or due out this year (most by summer season), and most are offering a lease option of $199/month. Some have special lease deals that are not offered nationally, but depends on dealership. Some are available in Oregon and/or other states also, (or will be in more states at some future time). This is partly because of a California law that stipulates car makers offer a certain percentage of EVs in that state, and partly due to the fact that Electric Cars will be the standard of the future globally (mark my words).
Nissan Leaf $199/month lease available. Nissan also offers free rental cars for your family vacation/other long travel, though, more limited than the 500e rental car program. Leaf website: http://www.nissanusa.com/electric-cars/leaf/
(See previous post “2013 Luxo-Sport Sedans, Leaf, Rav4 EV & More”, posted May 3rd, for a couple vids on this car)
The Honda Fit EV is one of the most viable EVs on the market today, in that, although it shares it’s platform with the gas version of the Fit, they raised the car a bit and put the battery underneath instead of taking up trunk space, and it is otherwise quite competitive with the other EVs listed here. 80+ mile range and the shortest charge time w/240-volt charging station at home. It’s available for lease (lease-only, not purchase), and, (as I write this), they JUST reduced their lease price (Starting June 1st) to $259/month. That might seem a bit more than the $199 the others have announced, however, the lease price for the Fit EV includes insurance and maintenance, unlimited miles, and, (unlike the others), for Californians, this one also qualifies for a $2500 CVRP rebate. (When I started writing this earlier, that price was $389 w/12,000 mile yearly limit.) Even though they don’t offer free car rentals for your long trips, this seems like it might be the best value of all EVs listed here. The fight is on even as I write this! http://colbytrudeau.com/2013/05/29/honda-fit-ev-lease-price-reduced/ Translogic: http://translogic.aolautos.com/2012/07/09/translogic-106-honda-fit-ev/
There is one more car coming with a $199/month lease this summer, but first, I have to say something. I have a particular animosity toward GM for the way they handled things in the past with the EV-1, and also, (and especially), how they have really confused the market (got in people’s heads) with the way they have marketed the PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid gas/Electric Vehicle) they call the Chevy “Volt”, by calling it an “extended range” electric, which, I have to say, it is not. It is plain and simply, a plug-in HYBRID gas/electric vehicle, whose main drive is an electric motor with a LIMITED RANGE. Once the battery is depleted (about 35 miles) they keep you tied to Big Oil by keeping the electric motor powered by the gas-combustion engine, (they call it a “generator” because, rather than directly powering the drivetrain, it supposedly powers the battery when it is depleted. It is a gas combustion engine. Period.). I think they want you to think, by calling it a generator, that it is a small thing, something like a lawn-mower engine, but, it is a full-fledged 1.4 liter, 4 cylinder gas-combustion engine, make no mistake, (gas, oil, spark plugs, radiator, drive belt, etc, all that comes with a gasoline engine, NOT found on an all-electric car.). Also, note, once the battery is done, this car only gets 37 MPG at best (I’ll talk about “MPGe” in some later post also). …I took a test drive in a “Volt”, so I know that they are very adamant about it being a generator and not an engine. I also recall the first ad or brochure for this car talking about how the “electric car is not dead”, and how, TWO years after the first “Volt” was made available, this one older lady drove it for 12,000 miles without using any gas at all (please take note, that is, 12,000 miles over a TWO YEAR PERIOD, the average american drives 15,000 miles in ONE YEAR, so this is someone who only drove it 6,000 miles PER YEAR, …who does that? Obviously this person only drove it on electric on purpose and then either drove their other car or got a ride or was a retired homebody. Marketing. Period.) In any case, it is obvious from the moment you go to the page on their website for the “Volt” that they are playing off your concept of “Range Anxiety”, by telling you that it has gas for backup/extended range. Marketing B.S. at it’s best. They quelch your “range anxiety” with gasoline. This is not how you quelch range anxiety, it has just the opposite effect, reinforces it by showing you that gas is still the answer to range anxiety, but I’ll save that for another day. So, this is why I don’t appreciate the “Volt” being compared with all-electric cars because it is a PHEV, …yes it has the furthest EV (battery only) range of PHEVs currently out there, but, Hybrid it is. In any case, GM does have a new all-electric vehicle which, to me, shows they have the technology (and could have done this a few years ago):
Chevy Spark EV is GM’s answer to the current all-electric EV market, starting in California & Oregon in June, although this appears to be a vehicle they plan to sell globally. Range is claimed around 80 miles. Note that the short charge time is not at home, but via SAE combo DC fast-charging stations yet to be available. The fastest charge time is 7 hours w/240 volt charging unit at home. This is one of the first vehicles with Siri eyes free connect. Web: http://www.chevrolet.com/spark-ev-electric-vehicle.html
I’m having difficulty finding an independent U.S. drive video for this car, once it is selling this summer I am sure I will find something and post it in a future blog, for now, here’s a preview vid:
Not currently offering $199/mo. leases, (but, could this change this summer?):
Ford Focus Electric This, IMO, is the second best looking car in this bunch, (Fiat’s 500e is the best looking, but a bit small). At one point in time this car had a $199/month lease program, but currently $284/month. Perhaps when the Chevy Spark starts showing up in show rooms this summer along with the 500e and Leaf going for $199/mo. leases, could Ford join in the EV lease war?
Mitsubishi i-MiEV Currently $221/mo. lease listed on their website, though, I saw online, one dealership had been advertising $69/mo. back in January, but I don’t see this currently. ($221/mo. supposedly only until May 31st…maybe this means this summer will be $199?) This car has been around for a few years in Japan before coming to the US, and has not had the best reviews. http://www.mitsubishicars.com/MMNA/jsp/imiev/12/showroom/overview.do
At some point I will list all EVs (or find a list and repost it), but, for now, this is about the EVs in a lease-affordability war.
(Note: When I use the term “EV”, I mean electric-only vehicles, that is, vehicles powered solely by a battery, charged by electricity). (One day I will also find that list of all the acronyms for cars and post it. 🙂
Driver Benji 