AD’s Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Electric Car

The popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is increasing rapidly. According to recent trend analysis, sales of new EVs rose by an astounding 65% in 2022, a growth that is made all the more significant by the fact that, overall, new car sales declined 8% during the same period. In 2022, nearly 6% of all new car purchases were EVs, cresting the 5% “tipping point” that analysts feel signifies these vehicles’ entry into the mainstream. So, it’s likely that, if you’re thinking about purchasing a new car, an electric vehicle will be in your “consideration set:” an option among your field of possible choices. Given that, you may have lots of questions regarding the things you need to think about in deciding if an EV is right for you, and, if so, which one you should choose.

Fortunately for you, we’re here to help. AD has been covering the EV market since its inception, and, with the help of Brian Moody, executive editor of AutoTrader—an online marketplace for car buyers and sellers—we’ve created a list of things to consider. 

1. Price

“The first thing to consider is price,” Moody says. “Most new electric cars are quite expensive right now.” To support this, Moody points out that the average transaction price for a new electric vehicle is well over $60,000, while the average new-car transaction is in the high $40,000 range. He adds that, while there is a number of small, inexpensive (sub-$30,000) gas-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs priced below this threshold, the number of affordable EVs is very low. 

However, new federal tax breaks—part of the Biden administration’s wondrous infrastructure bill—and other incentives can potentially bring those prices close to parity, as may recent price drops on popular EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Teslas Model 3 and Y. As with everything in buying a new car, do your research.

2. Range

With gasoline-powered vehicles, price tends to scale with higher performance. With EVs, price tends to scale with longer range. “So, a less expensive electric car often means it has a smaller battery,” Moody says. Many EVs that are available for under $30,000, like the Nissan Leaf or Mini Cooper EV, can travel fewer than 150 miles on a charge, while 300 or 400 miles of range is reserved for six-figure vehicles like the Lucid Air sedan or GMC Hummer truck. The $25,000 Chevrolet Bolt hatchback breaks this mold with an impressive 258 miles of range.

 It is also important to consider automakers’ stated range numbers. Many manufacturers will advertise a total range—say 200 miles—on a fully charged battery, but this comes with caveats. “They’ll often tell you, ‘don’t charge it all the way up,’ because that affects long-term battery health,” Moody says. “So, be sure to look into that as well.” 

3. Driving Habits

In a gasoline-powered car, one must take one’s regular commute into account when considering issues like fuel economy and fuel prices. Driving a big, guzzly SUV 100 miles daily could eat into one’s bank account. With an EV, the considerations are different. Unless your commute is over 50 miles each way, even the lowest-range EVs should be able to cover the distance. But this requires the ability to recharge overnight at home, or during the workday at your job.

Additionally, if you’re regularly visiting a friend, relative, or second home that is several hundred miles away, and it lacks a charger, you may not be able to make it there or round-trip on a single charge and will need to budget that into your routine.

4. Charging

The current state of our public charging infrastructure makes this a very important consideration. Charging currently works best for homeowners who have their own charging setup. “People who buy electric cars today…about 80% of them charge up entirely at home,” Moody says. This is convenient for their regular commute and daily driving, but can leave them seeking a public charger, if they need to take a longer trip. 

There is an increasing number of public chargers out there. But many public chargers are poorly maintained, unavailable to the public, nonexistent, nonfunctional, and/or incapable of charging at the stated rate. 

There are additional challenges if you live in an apartment building, and/or in a residence without access to dedicated parking or the ability to install a home charger.     

It’s also important to be aware of an electric vehicle’s capacity for fast charging. High-end EVs like the Porsche Taycan, Audi e-Tron GT, and Lucid Air offer the capability for very high-speed charging, as do more affordable vehicles like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq5. This can really speed up public charging times. However, one must be able to find a high-speed charger that is functional, available, and capable of providing high-output electricity. This is no easy task. So it is important to question manufacturers’ advertised statements on charging rates, as these are often predicated on the highest rates of charge, and these may not be readily or consistently available in the real world.

5. Climate

Electric vehicles are a lot like people: They operate optimally within a very narrow temperature band. When the temperature gets too hot or too cold, it has a negative impact on overall range. “So, if you live in San Diego, high fives all around,” Moody says. “But, if you’re in the Northeast during a polar vortex, or in the Southwest during a heat wave, that’s different. Range is going to diminish.”

6. Choice

EVs are a fast-growing segment of the automotive market, expanding into categories including small hatchbacks, midsize sedans and SUVs, and even full-size pickups. But, currently, there are not as many options as there are in the world of gasoline-powered vehicles. “There are very few legitimately large SUVs, for example,” Moody says. This is changing and will continue to change as manufacturers add more EVs to their fleets.