That the fully electric car has taken flight is beyond doubt. In the past five years, sales of electric vehicles have increased almost tenfold. This growth is largely attributable to company car drivers.
The individual isn't yet ‘convinced’. Due to the combination of a limited driving range, long charging time, and a limited number of charging stations, they'd rather hold off on the shift to electric driving for a while. And then, of course, there's the relatively high purchase price. There isn't a single electric car available for under €20,000. And the average person simply doesn't have that budget.
To make electric driving truly attractive, the purchase price will need to come down. This can only be achieved if the demand for electric cars increases and production volumes rise. A (temporary) purchase subsidy, which may well be introduced, could break this impasse.
Five ‘affordable’ electric cars for 2020
In 2020, a handful of relatively affordable (<€25,000) city cars will launch, making electric driving accessible to a broader audience. We've listed the cheapest new electric cars that are on the way for you.
- Skoda CITIGOe iV – €23,290
- SEAT Mii Electric – €23,400
- Volkswagen e-UP! – €23,475
- Smart EQ fortwo coupe – €24,000
- Smart EQ forfour – €24,000
Fierce competition for Citroen and Peugeot
This means the Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot iOn, which have been on the market for some time, will face tough competition. Although the Citroen and Peugeot are each slightly cheaper than their new competitors at a purchase price of 22,360 euros, their range significantly lags behind that of the Skoda, SEAT, and Volkswagen. The latter can travel 200 km on a full battery, while the French cars can only manage 90 km.
Can these electric city cars tempt you to start driving an electric car?
2 responses
Hello Frits
Have you read how many children have to work in those factories where our batteries are made under very bad conditions????
Everything has its downside, doesn't it. I don't know anymore either...
Dear Cobie,
I have read it, and unfortunately, I cannot verify its truth. Fossil fuels have also claimed lives.
I do think that as a society, we are rushing too quickly after this development, and wanting to change too quickly.