Cost is a major barrier to entry for would-be electric car buyers. After all, not everyone can afford a Tesla Model 3 (the cheapest of which is £44,490, at time of writing). But as more manufacturers enter the market space - precipitated by a new law which effectively bans buying new combustion engine cars by 2030 - prices are starting to come down.
And don’t forget, you can also choose to lease instead of buy - which could make more economic sense for you.
Below we look at the top 10 most affordable EVs available in the UK today, based on data from https://ev-database.uk. All figures include the UK government grant. But first, a few notes on other factors you’ll want to consider when choosing an EV.
Range anxiety
Many would-be electric car buyers are put off by the limited range of some electric cars. But it's worth considering how far you actually need to drive on a day-to-day basis; if you only need a range of 40 miles to get to work and back, a lower-range (and cheaper) car could suffice. Besides, reliable fast chargers are becoming increasingly common, so longer journeys are possible even with a short-range EV.
In our list, the Renault Zoe ZE50 R110 has the longest range - 200 miles - which is reflected in its higher price tag. This means you could comfortably drive from Bristol to Birmingham (89 miles) and return again on a single charge.
Speed
There's a lingering misconception that EVs are a bit slow - but all the cars in our list can reach the UK motorway limit of 70mph. Indeed, the Mini Electric and the Peugeot e-208 can both hit 93mph - just in case you have a private race track to try them out on!
Boot capacity
Early EVs tended to have limited boot space, but newer models have upped their game. On this list, the MG ZS EV offers 448 litres of space (1,375 litres with seats down); while the Renault Kangoo Crew Van ZE33 boasts 1,300 litres - rising to a whopping 3,400 litres with the seats down.
Charging speed
How fast your EV can charge is also a key factor. On this list, the MG ZS EV is second quickest, at 80kW on DC, while the fastest is the Peugoet e-208, which can charge at 100kW DC. Modern charging systems mean you could add more than 100 miles of range in 20-30 minutes - the time it takes to enjoy a coffee and a sandwich at a service station.
Ease and simplicity of use
This is down to personal opinion of course, but the Volkswagen e-Up! often gets plaudits for its superior build quality and ease-of-use, while the Renault Zoe ZE50 R110 is much-loved because of the 200+ mile range - which means if you use it for short trips every day, you might not need to re-charge it for weeks.
Top 10 cheapest EV cars in the UK:
Renault Zoe ZE50 R110
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£26,195
Peugeot e-208
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£25,550
Renault Kangoo Crew Van ZE 33
Credit: art_zzz - stock.adobe.com
£25,478
Mini Electric
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£24,900
MG ZS EV
Credit: VanderWolf Images - adobe.stock.com
£22,495
Volkswagen e-Up!
Credit: Lefteris Papaulakis - stock.adobe.com
£20,195
SEAT Mii Electric
Credit: vivoo - stock.adobe.com
£19,800
Citroen C-Zero
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£17,520
Skoda CITIGOe iV
Credit: VanderWolf Images - stock.adobe.com
£17,455
Smart EQ fortwo coupe
Credit: art_zzz - stock adobe.com
£17,350
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