The first month of the new year has ended, the groundhog has seen his shadow, and gas prices, which were falling until just after the year turned, are creeping upwards again. How are your resolutions doing? If one of them was to buy an electric car, at least for local commutes, you’re in luck: there at least four electrics available this year that are NOT hybrids or modifications of existing brands. Even better, a couple of them are nearly affordable. Here’s a brief rundown:
Myers Motors NMG ($29,995):
This zippy little one-seater may seem more like an outfit than a mode of transportation, especially when you take note of the wild array of available colors, but its lithium batteries and DC motor can actually dive you about 45 miles-worth of travel, at speeds of up to 76 mph. It comes with a bucket seat, power windows, an AM/FM/CD player with an iPod plug, and six cubic feet of storage space. Lack of an internal combustion engine combined with a lesser likelihood of the vehicle being used for joy rides should also make finding the cheap auto insurance rates much easier than with gasoline powered autos. Sources say a Myers will be announcing a two-seat version sometime in Spring, and that it will be available before the end of the year. The name NMG, says our source, stands for No More Gas.
Aptera 2e (mid $20′s):
This car has been delayed, much to the great disappointment of those who watch the industry, but is scheduled for delivery late this Fall. It’s been designed with a composite body that can eke a whopping 120 miles from the onboard batteries, as well as offering a top speed of 95. This is a front-wheel-drive three-wheel car.
Commuter Cars Tango ($108,000):
The Tango is more famous for being owned by actor George Clooney than anything else, and is a bit odd, even for an electric. For one thing, it offers tandem seating for two in order to retain the ability of lane split, and passengers are enclosed by a racecar-inspired roll cage. Its current battery configuration is only about 60 miles, but it can accelerate past 120 mph. A proposed lithium ion power pack will give it a better range: 150 miles.
Tesla Roadster ($109,000)
The Tesla is the most well-known, and quietly likely the most anticipated, electric car on the road at all. It’s 3.9 – second acceleration from zero to 60 rivals that of standard gasoline cars, as does it’s top speed of 125 mph. Unsurprisingly, it’s also got the best range of all electric cars: up to 220 miles. Rumor has it that there’s a sport model coming out this year, also.
These four cars are just the cream of the crop of available electrics, and represent those models most likely to actually sell. Of the four, the Tango has the shortest wait-list.
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