What was once considered the domain of the wealthy, arrogant tech employees seeking to belittle the rest of us for our gas guzzling ways, has graduated into the realm of every-man. The combination of lowered cost, enhanced performance, increased driving range, and the dissemination of charging stations across the United States and Europe, makes the prospect of owning an electric vehicle much more viable. There are options to consider for every budget range. Here are six of the most affordable under $30,000:
Renault Twizy – $10,675 
This odd-looking contraption is no joke, it’s an electric car available in the UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. We’ve covered it before, highlighting how French teenagers over the age of 14 are legally allowed to operate the vehicle so long as they possess a “certificate of safety;” no license necessary. But as strange as Twizy may look, the vehicle can reach maximum speeds of 30 miles per hour and drive up to 61 miles in range — ideal for any cramped metropolitan area. In addition to the $10,675 (€6,990) cost, users must pay $56 (€50) battery rental fee.
Smart Fortwo Electric Drive – $25,750 
Those on the fringe of purchasing/leasing a smart car ought to factor the Smart Forttwo Electric Drive into the equation, the Smart Car’s equivalent of an electric vehicle. Forttwo is currently available in United States and Canada for approximately $25,750 (€16,000). It features a driving range of 93 miles (150km) and a top speed of 77 m/h (125 km/h) with a single gear transmission system.
Nissan Leaf – $30,000 
For a few additional thousand dollars, users can purchase the Nissan Leaf, a Japanese-designed electric vehicle that first launched in 2010, but has since sold 150,000 units worldwide. The vehicle is considered amongst the most popular EVs, possessing a 24kWh battery that lends itself to respectable 120 mile (193 km) drive range and a maximum speed of around 90 m/h (144 km/h). The 2015 Leaf costs $30,000, but provides a slew of rebates and tax incentives that drop the vehicles costs a bit closer to that of the standard gas-consuming sedan. A 2016 version of the Leaf is slated to launch with a 25% larger battery that’ll significantly up the driving range.
Mahindra E20 – $8,183 
The relatively unknown E20 is an EV developed by the Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra; it’s currently available in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bermuda, with hopes of eventually penetrating the western market. E20 comes equipped with a lithium ion battery that charges in five hours and provides a 75 mile (120 km) driving range at up to 34 mph (56 km/h). It’s low performance places it in the same urban-vehicle class as the Twizy; at least the E20 is less expensive and more importantly, less absurd looking.
Chevrolet Spark EV – $25,000 
Arguably considered Nissan Leaf’s largest competitor for the position of budget EV, the Chevy Spark costs $25,000 and features a driving range of 82 miles (132 km) with a top speed of 89 mph (144 km/h). It's powered by a 21.3 kWh lithium-ion battery that can be fast charged from 0 to 80% capacity in 20 minutes using an optional connector, or fully charged in seven hours at a 240-volt charging station. The Spark is currently available in the United States, South Korea, and Canada.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV – $22,995 
Continuing in a similar school of design embodied by the Twizy and FortTwo, Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV is loaded with incentives that can lower the vehicles cost to approximately $16,000 if fully leveraged; essentially making it the most affordable four-door EV on the market — plus it’s a hatchback. i-MiEV includes a 16 kWh 330 V lithium ion battery and its 47 kW engine that enables it reach a maximum speed of about 80 mph.
Source: Makeuseof.com and GreencarreportNew Link
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