Audi has recently delayed its shift to electric vehicles until 2030. Jaguar is struggling until it can make the expected transition next. Ford and GM are reducing their electric efforts. Other carmakers have talked about closing their dealerships in order to stop the financial bleeding.
I have two electric cars, and another is on order. It will be included in this list. But we live in a world that is currently undergoing a transition. All transitions can be ugly, but this one is particularly so because the ecosystem wasn’t prepared for this shift.
This transition will likely result in a new list of automakers and the closure or purchase of many existing ones.
We’ll talk about five of the best electric vehicles in the world today — some aren’t even available in the U.S.
The best electric car charger on the market is my final Product of the week for 2024.
Electric Cars: Understanding their Practicality
It is important to know how the “best” list was created. I have owned two electric cars and one plug-in. A plug-in makes more sense for the majority of people right now than a fully electric car because it doesn’t depend on the current charging infrastructure for long distances.
Electric cars are currently best used for short trips of less than 200 miles. You can charge your car at home and avoid the public charging stations. The main reason for this limitation is that Level 3 chargers, except for Tesla, have not been reliable. The majority of people who charge their cars at home do not experience this inconvenience. They also have the advantage of never having to go to a charging station in public that might not be working or accessible.
The majority of electric cars sold today combine internal combustion engines (ICEs) with electric technology. These two technologies are often in conflict. Developers did not design them together and may not have come from the same century. Electric cars are supposed to be reliable, but they’re not. This is because legacy technology and newer tech don’t get along.
For the best option, I will choose from a list that includes electric cars built from scratch, without much of the legacy technology, and with a range of at least 300 miles, which, for most people, is enough to charge them at home.
You may want to increase your minimum range if you commute more than 200 miles roundtrip. Cars with a range of over 600 miles are on the way. If you have a range requirement of 200 miles, I would suggest a plug-in or ICE vehicle until 2026, when new electric cars will be available with longer ranges and better batteries.
Since only Tesla currently has this, I would prefer cars with NACS ports (Tesla’s North American Charging Standard) over those without J1772 ports, as the industry seems to be moving towards the NACS standard. You’ll also likely see an increase in the resale price of your car when you’re done with it.
Here are my top five picks for electric cars.
Tesla Model 3: The New Model
Tesla has just updated its Model 3 Tesla just updated its Model 3.
The improvements in the Tesla line are well worth the wait. The Model 3 is currently the most affordable and updated electric car. It sets the standard for reasonably priced, new-generation designed electric vehicles. It is available with a 333-mile range configuration, which exceeds the minimum range I set and offers decent performance.
Tesla’s fit-and-finish has improved in recent years (early Model 3s were often delivered incomplete), and it is still one of the most affordable cars on the market.
Tesla, too, is in good financial shape. Of the only electric car vendors, Tesla is the one most likely to be around in five more years. This is always an important consideration, given that we have already seen several electric car manufacturers fail. The price of the fully configured model starts at $30,000 but is closer to $45,000. This still represents a good value.
Lucid Air Sapphire
If I were rich, I’d buy the Lucid Air Sapphire. This car has a maximum of 1,234 horsepower and is the fastest supercar (1.89 seconds to 0-60). The Tesla Model X is comparable in size and price. A fully configured price of $250,000 is not cheap. If you’re looking for a high-performance electric vehicle in the U.S., this is your car.
The Lucid Sapphire is one of the first cars to use a 900V charging system (good luck finding a charger with 900V today), which makes it future-proof. It can be configured to have a range of up to 427 miles.
This car was used in a Gumball rally, but it was not able to use Tesla chargers. It was the only time it didn’t break the record. The benefit of this charging network is again highlighted. This is yet another design from the ground up that shows what could be done if money was not an issue.
Fisker Ocean Extreme
Because I am not wealthy, I ordered the Fisker Ocean Extreme. It is much more affordable, starting at around $65,000. (Prices begin at a cost-effective price of $38,000). The Fisker Ocean Extreme is also a new design and has a configurable range of 364 miles.
The Fisker not only looks good but also has some unique features, like a fold-down driver’s table similar to an airline tray. It would be great to have a table for my burgers while traveling. You can also use it to sign a bill.
Ocean Extreme is one of the most beautiful electric cars I have ever seen, and I invested in it despite the fact that the company has a poor financial standing.
Rivian R1S/R1T
The Rivian R1S or R1T SUV (there are two possible configurations) has a range of up to 410 kilometers on the pickup and up to 390 kilometers on the SUV. It is the first electric vehicle with a 4-motor option. This should be better than two motor electrics on off-road surfaces or in snow or ice because it allows you to vary the power at each wheel individually.
Rivian is one of the most technologically advanced electric vehicles on the market. It has some unique and interesting features, such as a sliding RV-type tray underneath the rear truck bed. Depending on the configuration, this vehicle costs between $80,000 and $120,000, but the four motors are worth the difference.
This truck has out-raced a Ford Raptor when towing a trailer. It’s more affordable and practical than a Tesla Pickup, but it’s still impressive.