The automotive world is heading towards electrification at a super-fast rate. Tesla’s valuation value, which is claimed to have passed several high-end carmakers such as Toyota and VW, has pushed lots of companies to turn towards the hype train.
But unfortunately, apart from cars made by Tesla, Audi, Volkswagen, and BMW, several other electric cars are still very underrated in the electric car market. Here are some of them:
1. Elaris Finn
The Elaris Finn is just 2.87 meters long. At 31.5 kWh, however, the battery is significantly larger than in the other car that Elaris produced. The WLTP range for the 35 kW Finn is 265 kilometers. Also, with the charging power, there is again no official data. The DC charge via CCS from 30 to 80 percent should take 45 minutes, which would correspond to 21 kW on average. A full AC charge should take five hours, which would result in 6 kW.
The electric car has a navigation system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; the touchscreen measures 12.3 inches diagonally. Standard equipment includes a reversing camera, a keyless entry system, and air conditioning. Again, there is no statement about assistants, and side airbags probably do not exist either.
Elaris informs that the Finn will be available in two versions. The First Edition with better equipment will be offered for € 22,900. For the standard model of the 2021 vintage, it is €18,990.
2. Opel Zafira-e Life
Like its diesel counterparts, the battery-electric version of Opel Zafira-e Life also offers all the prerequisites for the certified conversion into a vehicle suitable for everyday use, suitable for the disabled. The 50 kWh battery housed in the vehicle floor ensures that passengers have as much space in the interior as in the combustion versions of the Zafira Life.
With the 50 kWh battery, the Zafira-e Life can travel up to 231 kilometers according to the WLTP standard. The battery pack can be supplied with energy via a wall box at home, a fast charger on the go, or via any socket. At a fast-charging station with 100 kW direct current, the battery of the Zafira-e Life recharges to 80 percent in 30 minutes. In Germany, the electric van comes standard with a three-phase 11 kW onboard charger.
3. NIO EC6
NIO officially launched on the market in 2018 with the introduction of the large SUV ES8. Meanwhile, the EC6 presented at the end of last year expands the model range. NIO advertises the crossover variant of the ES6 like the other models as a full-electric vehicle with everyday range and fast charging technology, a lot of comfort and space inside, as well as high digitization and networking.
As a range with the large 100 kWh battery, 615 kilometers are promised in accordance with the NEDC standard that is being phased out in this country. With the smaller 70 kWh battery, 430 to 440 kilometers should be possible.
The DRIVE of the EC6 consists of two engines, of which the front always delivers 160 kW (218 hp). The second electric motor in the rear generates 160 kW (218 hp) or 240 kW (326 hp), depending on the model. The electric coupe goes from zero to a hundred in 5.2 or 4.5 seconds.
NIO has not yet determined when its current and planned additional electric cars will come to Europe and the USA.
4. Škoda Enyaq iV 80
Škoda all-wheel drive has made its way into the new electric SUV model family with the Enyaq iV 80. The Enyaq iV 80 utilizes a second electric motor on the front axle in addition to the one on the rear axle, and the system torque of 425 Nm is then distributed to all four wheels.
The battery SUV is powered by two electric motors with a combined output of 195 kW. (265 hp). Thus, the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes 6.9 seconds. In the WLTP cycle, the Enyaq iV 80’s 82 kWh battery provides a range of 496 kilometers.
5. Volvo C40 Recharge
In terms of power delivery, the Volvo C40 Recharge does not need to hide behind the competition. Its electric motors installed on the front and rear axles together deliver 300 kW (408 hp), the immediately retrievable torque is an enormous 660 Newton meters.
Volvo has further developed the software control in its latest electric SUV. The result is not only a WLTP range 26 kilometers higher than the electric XC40 but also a 300 kilogram higher towing capacity (1800 kilograms). The energy is supplied by a 78 kWh battery, which can be charged to 80 percent at fast-charging stations in less than 40 minutes.
The maximum charging power at the DC column is 150 kilowatts. The three-phase onboard charger for AC charging creates 11 kilowatts. The C40 Recharge carries a substantial premium over the 2021 XC40 Recharge, priced from $55,085.
6. Opel Corsa-e
The Opel Corsa-e was developed jointly with Dongfeng, which is the base architecture for electric vehicles in the C and D segments of the company. The electric motor pushes the 1,530-kilogram five-seater forward with a quiet whir of 260 Nm of torque from the start.
In terms of specs, the car provides a power of 100 kW and can drive up to 330 kilometers in the WLTP cycle. According to the manufacturer, this 50 kWh battery in Corsa-e, Opel offers an eight-year warranty and can be charged up to 80 percent in 30 minutes with fast charging.
The Opel Corsa-e comes standard with a seven-inch screen on the multimedia navigation system, which also communicates with the smartphone. Optionally and depending on the model, a system with ten inches plus live navigation, including real-time traffic information, is used.
As for the price, the Opel Corsa-e is tagged with a € 29,900 price tag.
7. e.Go Life
Compliments to Prof. Günther Schuh from Aachen. The enterprising university lecturer and start-up founder have actually managed to revive his electric car called e.Go Life. Since July 2021, the electric car has been produced again in the form of the Special Edition Next, which is offered for € 26,560.
The e.Go has been trimmed as much as possible for low costs. Ultimately, the customer also sees this. In order to achieve the low price, the engineers first designed the production and only then the car. e.Go only re-developed those parts that were not yet available on the market. The spaceframe frame is made of aluminum, the shell of thermoplastic. This saves time-consuming painting and rust protection.
The car is equipped with an electric motor with 29 kW continuous and 57 kW peak power. The power is coming from the 21.5 kWh battery that can push the car as far as 125 km, according to WLTP.
8. MG ZS EV
The ZS EV has been visually and technically further developed. The two equipment variants “Comfort” and “Luxury” are available, each with two different battery configurations and WLTP ranges of up to 440 kilometers and five colors.
On the outside, the revised ZS EV differs from its predecessor above all by the new front design without radiator grille, behind which the charging port is hidden. In the modernized interior, the carbon fiber-look dashboard and the 10.1-inch touchscreen, which can be used to operate the (online) functions of the new MG iSMART connectivity system, catch the eye.
For the drive, there are two battery versions to choose from for the facelift of the ZS EV: The 70 kWh “long-range” battery, which costs 4000 euros extra, offers a range of 440 kilometers in accordance with the WLTP standard. The 50.3 kWh “standard range” battery enables 320 kilometers per charge.
As the manufacturer has announced, the updated vehicle will be available in December; the basic price remains the same at € 33,990.
9. DS 4 E-TENSE
For a total output of 165 kW, the plug-in hybrid DS 4 E-Tense 225 combines a turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine with 133 kW (180 hp) and an electric motor with 81 kW (110 hp) (225 hp). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.7 seconds and then to 233 km/h.
According to the WLTP standard, a battery capacity of 12.4 kWh allows for a 50-kilometer electric range. The traction battery can be filled with the plug-in for up to 1 h 50 min. The fuel consumption is given as 1.5 – 1.2 l/100 km in combination, the power consumption as 15.2 – 14.6 kWh/100 km, and the CO2 emissions as 35 – 28 g/km.
DS emphasizes that 95 percent of the materials used for the DS 4 are reusable, and 85 percent of the components are recyclable. The model consists of 30 percent renewable or recycled materials, divided into metals and polymers. The plug-in hybrid DS 4 E-Tense 225 series costs 37,900 euros.
10. Neta V
The electric vehicle has a 70 kW electric motor and 150 Nm of torque under the hood powered by a 38.5 kWh battery, sufficient for an NEDC range of 400 km, or about 300 km in WLTP. Aesthetically it is a compact two-volume; the measurements say that it is just over 4 meters long. Also noteworthy is the possibility that the car can park itself. What is surprising is the price tag Neta V has, which amounts to only 10,300 euros.
