Meet the Fleet
- Cars that are available now (or will be soon) are at the top of the list.
- Concept cars (not yet scheduled for production) are at the bottom.
- Click a vehicle name or photo for news, discussions, and galleries for that car.
- 40 miles electric + gas
- $41,000
- Now
Chevy Volt
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
- GM calls the Volt its “most important project"
- Only vehicle to use unique "extended range electric car" architecture
- Limited availability in California, Michigan and DC, through 2011
The Chevy Volt's technology has leapfrogged standard hybrids like the Toyota Prius. This well-equipped, five-door, four-seat hatchback operates as an electric car for its first 40 miles after a full charge and then uses gas to extend its range. It burns no gasoline during the first 40 miles after a charge, drawing energy from a lithium ion battery pack. When the battery is depleted, a 1.4-liter engine kicks in to power a generator that sustains the battery charge enough to give the car another 260 miles of range.
- 50 miles + gas
- $96,000
- Now
Fisker Karma
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
- Four-seat 400-horsepower combines with two electric motors and a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine
- Sleek design from superstar auto designer
- Company has not yet granted test drives
Despite missing a series self-imposed deadlines, Fisker Automotive continues to repeat its commitment to bring the $96,000 400-horsepower four-seat plug-in hybrid to market in early 2011. That would make it the world’s first luxury plug-in hybrid.
- 80 miles
- $57,400
- Now
Ford/Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric
Electric Vehicle · Wagon/Van
- The only all-electric small truck for delivery businesses
- Ford Transit Connect platform won 2010 Truck of the Year award
- Azure Dynamics Corporation provided 55-kilowatt electric drivetrain
The Ford/Azure Dynamics Transit Connect Electric combines car-like driving dynamics, generous cargo capacity, and marketing opportunities for small businesses to emblazon the large exterior panels with green slogans such as “Zero-Emissions” and “100 percent electric.” The vehicle has a 75 mile per hour top speed and can drive up to 80 miles on a charge—matching the needs of a local delivery cycle.
- 100 miles
- $32,800
- Now
Nissan LEAF
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- Most affordable mass-produced electric sedan (in forseeable future)
- Home-based full charge around 8 hours
- Connectivity to global data center for on-board station finding (and entertainment)
Nissan is calling its new electric car—the Nissan LEAF —the "world's first affordable, zero-emission car." And with a post-federal incentive price of about $25,000—plus local and state incentives that could reduce it even further—the small EV is priced to sell. The LEAF is a well-equipped, all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and can travel about 100 miles on a single charge.
- 70 miles
- TBD
- Now
Smart ED
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
- On the road in limited numbers in Germany
- 30 kW electric motor powers the rear wheels
- Prototype system for communicating with multiple electric grids
The Smart ED is the electric version of the Smart ForTwo—with a top speed of 60 miles per hour—is unlikely to shake the car’s bad rap for being underpowered. Worse yet, the lack of size, range and oomph feeds into the perception of electric cars as glorified golf carts. Smart has not committed to bringing the Smart ED to the United States.
- 200 miles
- $109,000
- Now
Tesla Roadster
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
- Fostered the EV renaissance
- Screaming fast, nearly silent, and sporty as hell
- First step for Tesla's efforts to make electric cars cool
The Tesla Roadster will turn any driver into an electric car acolyte. The two-seat, soft-top sports car can do 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. The Roadster’s audacious acceleration comes from a 185-kilowatt electric motor powered by a 53-kilowatt-hour battery pack made up of 6,871 individual cells.
- 120 miles
- $34,000
- Now
Think City
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
- Small two-seat car with plastic body
- Price and dealership network is still in development
- Company has still not proven itself as mass producer
Rescued from the brink of bankruptcy, Think emerged in late 2009 with a vehicle, a battery pack, and a manufacturing facility. With that in place, the company moved production of the plastic-bodied two-seat micro-car, capable of about 120 miles of range, to a manufacturing facility in Finland. The company is aiming for annual production of 5,000 units of The Think City —but faces tough competition from major automakers now producing electric cars.
- 100 miles
- $40,000
- 2011
Ford Focus Electric
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- Ford's first passenger electric car
- Full recharge between 3 and 4 hours on 240V Level 2 charging station
- Liquid cooled and heated batteries for durability and cold weather performance
The all-electric version of the popular Ford Focus is set to be launched in 19 markets in late 2011. The 100 mile range, five door hatchback provides many features that make it an enticing EV package, including higher speed charging, highly customizable displays, and liquid cooled/heated batteries.
- 100 miles
- TBD
- 2012
BMW ActiveE
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- Test program to lease electric version of BMW 1-series sedan
- Four-seat, three-door hatchback—similar in size to a Honda Fit
- Part of BMW’s larger MegaCity electric car program
Beginning in 2012, a few hundred drivers will lease BMW’s the all-electric four-passenger ActiveE—essentially an electric-drive version of the BMW 1-series. The BMW ActiveE will allow the company to further refine the requirements for a line of large-volume future electric cars.
- 200 miles
- $35,000
- 2012
BYD e6
Electric Vehicle · Wagon/Van
- Pure electric five-seat wagon with 200 miles of range
- Great at car shows, but production at any real scale is questionable
According to the manufacturer, the BYD e6 can accelerate from zero to 60 in 14 seconds, has a top speed of 100 mph, and a range of 250 miles on a single charge. As a wagon, it could be among the most practical of EV offerings. But product delays, unproven vehicle quality, and tough economics raise doubts on BYD's ability to deliver.
- 60 miles + gas
- $28,800
- 2012
BYD F3DM
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
- DM stands for dual mode; works alternately like a Prius or a Volt
- Big promises, but very few vehicles delivered
- Specs don't realistically add up
China’s BYD Auto has shown production versions of its F3DM plug-in hybrid at major global auto shows—but has not been able to deliver on its big promises. If it can turn things around, with help from Warren Buffet's big investment, it would deliver a very affordable sedan with 60 miles of electric range—and 300 miles more of Prius-like driving.
- 120 miles
- $39,900
- 2012
Coda Electric Sedan
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- Conservatively styled four-door, five-passenger sedan
- Zero-to-60 time of 8.5 seconds
- Serviced at Firestone locations; similar to Apple's "Genius Bar" approach
Southern California automaker Coda Automotive announced plans to bring a new electric car to the US from China in 2011. The Coda Electric sedan is based on an existing gas-powered four-door car, known as the Hafei Saibao 3, built in Harbin, China. Re-engineered with a lithium ion battery, the Coda sedan promises a driving range of 120 miles. The scrappy California company may be the first start-up to offer a practical and affordable electric car to mainstream buyers.
- 20 miles + gas
- TBD
- 2012
Ford C-Max Energi
Electric Vehicle · Wagon/Van
- Versatile and functional "multi-activity" platform
- Could be 20 miles of electric drive, and then 40 mpg
- Lots of details not yet known
Ford hasn’t actually unveiled many of the specs of the C-Max Energi yet. There’s that 500-miles-plus range, and Ford said that the car will get more than 40 mpg in “charge-sustaining” mode, i.e., with the gas engine running. It may also have more all-electric range (approximately 20 miles) than the Prius plug-in’s 15 miles, but those reports are unconfirmed.
- 75 miles
- TBD
- 2012
Honda Fit EV
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- Honda has loads of experience building electric drive vehicles
- Honda Fit is a winning design for a small EV
- Range numbers and top speed consistent with other small electric cars
Using the popular small-but-spacious format of the Honda Fit, the company will offer a fully capable five-passenger electric car by 2012. Honda is not new to electric cars, having produced a limited run of the Honda EV Plus in the late 1990s, as well as the current Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric car. The Honda Fit EV promises 70 to 100 miles of range, and a top speed of 90 miles per hour.
- 75 miles
- $29,100
- 2012
Mitsubishi i
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
- Small and zippy, but total power and range is marginal
- Overall package falls short of competing small electric models
- Base-level price starts at $29,900, but quickly jumps up with options
The Mitsubishi i (formerly i-MiEV) is one of the front-runners in the race for a mass-market EV. It claims a max speed of 80 mph and a range of about 75 miles. But the Mitsubishi i's small size and modest electric drivetrain will keep it off some shopper's list.
- 150 miles
- $57,400
- 2012
Tesla Model S
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- Striking Maserati looks
- Huge battery for long driving range
- 17-inch touch screen to manage controls
Tesla's striking follow-up to the Roadster is more practical and affordable. The Tesla Model S is a bright vision of what a practical and desirable all-electric sedan could be. Tesla set a big goal for itself to deliver on all that it has promised.
- 50 miles
- TBD
- 2012
Toyota FT-EV
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
- Just 50 miles of range
- Toyota not giving many details
- Could push the envelope on car connectivity
Toyota tries to redefine commuting with a 50-mile, 70-mph small commuter car. The FT-EV, based on the platform of the iQ, will be like the EV baby brother to the hefty new Toyota RAV4 EV SUV.
- 13 miles + gas
- TBD
- 2012
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
- Best suited to drivers with short commutes
- Will boost Prius average mileage from 50 to about 75 mpg
- Toyota still shows reluctance about lithium batteries and plug-in technology
Unlike Bob Dylan’s fans who sobbed and booed when he went electric at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, Toyota’s hybrid followers are cheering the company’s intention to produce the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which could boost mileage on a Prius from 50 miles per gallon to the equivalent of 75 or so.
- 100 miles
- TBD
- 2012
Toyota RAV4 EV
Electric Vehicle · SUV
- A reincarnation of the original RAV4 EV from the California mandate days
- Toyota and Tesla's first cooperative endeavor to bring an EV to market
- Could be built at Tesla's new factory in California
After reaching an agreement with Tesla, Toyota has once again embraced the concept of a small battery-powered SUV. Given the success of the beloved original RAV4 EV, the reincarnation of this vehicle with Tesla underpinnings will have big shoes to fill. Is the "Toyesla" alliance up to the challenge?
- 30 miles + gas
- TBD
- 2012
Volvo V70 Plug-in Hybrid
Plug-in Hybrid · Wagon/Van
- Demo project but Volvo looks serious, especially in Europe
- 30 miles all-electric range for now, but will probably be lower to reduce cost
- Company focusing on safety for EV batteries
The Volvo V70 plug-in hybrid demonstration car uses a 11.3 kWh battery pack, to deliver 30 miles of EV range. That could be pricey, but Volvo will work to reduce cost by sizing the battery to meet, but not exceed, consumer needs. The battery pack is combined with a front-wheel drive diesel engine with a rear-wheel drive electric motor. Despite not having a conventional hybrid on the market, the company appears to be very serious about electric-drive technology.
- 100 miles
- $40,000
- 2013
BMW i3
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- Impressive carbon fiber body
- BMW driving dynamics, and aggressive regen braking
- Might be available with range-extending small gas engine
Likely the lightest EV on the market, the i3 has a liquid-cooled 22-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack on board. It offers 90-plus miles of range, and a 170-horsepower electric motor driving the rear wheels.
- 30 miles + gas
- $100,000
- 2013
BMW Vision
Plug-in Hybrid · Coupe
- Very expensive, limited-production plug-in hybrid
- 350+ horsepower and 4.8-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration
- Better aerodynamics than a Prius
“It’s the sports car of the future, the way BMW imagines it.” That’s how Adrian van Hooydonk, director of BMW’s group design, described the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics” two-door four-seat vehicle. BMW’s overarching goal was to combine breath-taking speed and groundbreaking efficiency. The company is promising a run of 5,000 to 10,000 units of The BMW Vision by 2013.
- 80 miles
- TBD
- 2013
Volkswagen E-Up!
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
- Electric version of VW's small concept car
- Up! series also includes hybrids and diesels
- Tiny platform could be up-sized for US market
The Volkswagen e-up is a 10.5 foot minicar that seats four—three in front and one in back. Top speed is less than 85 miles per hour, with a 0-60 mph pace of about 11 seconds. The e-up! weighs about 2,400 pounds—with more than 500 pounds coming from the 18 kWh battery pack that can deliver about 80 miles of range from a single charge.
- 95 miles
- TBD
- 2014
Volkswagen E-Golf
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- Electric version of VW's popular Golf
- Will be VW's second electric car
- Includes advanced features to maximize use of regenerative braking
The Volkswagen E-Golf—officially called the Golf blue-e-motion—will be VW's second electric car entry to hit the market in 2014 after the E-Up! kicks off VW's EV future the year before. By placing an electric drivetrain into one of the most popular small cars in the world, VW hopes to convince the car-buying public that EVs have attained much more than niche status.
- 30 miles + gas
- TBD
- Concept
Audi A1 E-Tron
Plug-in Hybrid · Coupe
- Sporty subcompact body
- Plug-in hybrid with very small gas engine
The A1 e-tron is a small plug-in hybrid. The subcompact's 12-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery is matched up with a front-mounted 102-horsepower electric motor and an efficient lightweight 252cc Wankel rotary engine. After 30 miles of all-electric driving, the gas engine allows for an additional 125 miles, according to Audi. The car is probably targeted to crowded urban centers in Europe.
- 30 miles + gas
- TBD
- Concept
Mitsubishi PX-MiEV
Plug-in Hybrid · SUV
- Fully capable SUV that could break 100 mpg
- James Bond high-tech features
- Still just a concept
The Mitsubishi PX-MiEV, a mid-sized SUV plug-in hybrid, initially debuted at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The vehicle’s lithium ion battery pack stores enough energy to provide about 30 miles of all-electric driving. When the batteries are depleted, a 1.6-liter 114-horsepower four-cylinder engine kicks on to either charge the battery or provide power to the wheels.
- 18 miles + gas
- $90,000
- Concept
Vision S500
Plug-in Hybrid · Sedan
- Plug-in builds on Mercedes conventional hybrid technology
- Mercedes ride quality and luxury features
- Still in concept phase
The Vision S500 Plug-in Hybrid can drive for about 18 miles solely on electricity. In the new European test cycle, that would produce a rating of about 75 mpg or 74 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Think of the possibility of a 70+ mpg S-Class sedan with all the comfort, safety and luxury of a top-of-the-line Mercedes.
- 90 miles
- TBD
- Concept
Volvo C30 Electric
Electric Vehicle · Sedan
- High-quality Volvo C30 platform
- Crash testing ad nauseum
- Volvo is serious about plug-in technology, but hasn't set firm production dates
The stats for the Volvo C30 Electric sedan may seem unimpressive: a range of about 90 miles, acceleration from 0-60 mph in 11 seconds, a top speed of about 80 miles per hour, and a leisurely eight hours to recharge the 24 kilowatt-hour battery pack from 220-volt household outlet. But when it comes to performance and safety, Volvo is testing its plug-in prototypes perhaps harder and longer than anybody in the industry, before committing to producing their electric models.
- 100 miles
- $27,000
- Discntd.
Aptera 2e
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
- Devoted fans love the radical innovation
- Company teetering on bankruptcy
- Not entirely practical
Winner of the funkiest EV design award, the Aptera 2e (formerly Type-1), looks like a cross between a motorcycle and ultralight single-occupant airplane. Built near San Diego, the Aptera 2e is competing in the Automotive X Prize competition. Thousands of potential buyers paid a $500 refundable deposit in anticipation of production scheduled for late 2008, and then delayed a few more times. Only time will tell if the company can deliver to its loyal fans.
- 30 miles + gas
- TBD
- Discntd.
Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid
Plug-in Hybrid · SUV
- The only plug-in hybrid SUV with set production date: 2012
- Built on proven Escape Hybrid platform
- More than 100 Escape plug-ins currently under testing
Ford is claiming that the Ford Escape Plug-in hybrid, a fully capable small SUV, can travel 30 to 35 miles using little or no gas—if driven in town and if the batteries are charged for six to eight hours using common household current. After those 30 or so miles, the vehicle reverts to acting like a conventional Escape Hybrid—which happens to be the most fuel-efficient SUV currently on American roads.
- 100 miles
- TBD
- Discntd.
Mini E
Electric Vehicle · Coupe
- Pilot program includes 500 vehicles
- Great Mini styling with all-electric drivetrain
- Just seats two; battery takes up back seat
Approximately 500 of the Mini E cars were produced—and beginning in June 2009 leased to municipalities and individuals in Southern California, New York, and New Jersey. The long-term prospects of a mass-produced Mini E are uncertain, but that’s not the point of the project. BMW’s main goal was to learn about the driving and charging experiences of real-world drivers—and to use that info for creating a small all-electric car by 2013.