Top 12 cheapest and longest range electric cars of 2020

The future of the automotive industry lies in the electric car. Anti-pollution regulations are forcing manufacturers to develop cars with less and less emissions, seeking to ensure that the average number of cars sold does not exceed the known 95 g/km CO₂. Otherwise, they will pay millions in fines.

The main consequence is that the offers for 100% electric cars are growing a lot. The problem is that, although increasingly affordable options appear, we still talk about expensive cars, at least in terms of initial investment.

It is important to know that when we talk about electric cars, the purchase price is not everything. To find out if it is worth buying an electric car, it is advisable to do an economic study taking into account how much it costs to recharge, maintain or put a charging point in the garage. If what drives you is the potential savings, only in this way will you know if you are right with your purchase.

If you are considering making the jump to electric, we leave you a list with the 12 cheapest electric cars currently for sale in Europe and another with the 14 electric cars with the greatest battery range.

These lists only include electric cars that you can currently buy in Europe. That’s why you will not see models like the Tesla Model Y. Nor have we considered cars that are not classified as passenger cars. You will not see neither light industrial (vans), nor Renault Twizy type quadricycles, nor the vehicles that are driven without a license (Aixam type). What we have included are the different versions of the same model when it has several motors or battery capacities.

Prices are for the basic version (the least equipped) and without taking into account special promotions, financing or government incentives. They serve as a reference, but sometimes they are far from reality. If you are really interested in a car, my recommendation is that you go to a dealer and ask for it.

The 12 cheapest electric cars

Seat Mii Electric (from 18,490 euros)

The first electric car Seat has come to the market in a big way, positioning itself as the cheapest electric car in the European market. With a 36.8 kWh battery and a range of 259 kilometers, it has positioned itself as the great alternative for urban and peri-urban mobility. It is based on the Mii combustion platform, which at the same time is shared with the Skoda eCitigo and Volkswagen e-up!.

Skoda eCitigo (from 19,850 euros)

The Skoda eCitigo is the first electric car from the Czech manufacturer. It is exactly the same car as its brothers SEAT Mii Electric and Volkswagen e-up!. All three are made in the Czech Republic and are set to be a best seller this year 2020.

Peugeot iOn (from 21,852 euros)

The Citroën C-Zéro is the twin of the Peugeot iOn and the Mitsubishi i-Miev (already discontinued). It is for strictly urban use, both in terms of dimensions and range, of about 100 km in real driving conditions. The lack of updates and the arrival of more attractive offers have greatly limited its possibilities.

Citroën C-Zero (from 21,877 euros)

The Citroën C-Zero is one of the oldest electric cars on the European market. Based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the French model refuses to die. Its price and limited battery range have limited its use to the fleet market for private and public entities. It is common to see it as part of carsharing.

Volkswagen e-up! (from 22,585 euros)

The Volkswagen e-up! Its is the third of the “triplets” in the ranking. Despite being the same car, if you want to wear the Volkswagen badge you will have to pay something more. Like its siblings, it has a few more than worthy 259 kilometers of driving range, enough to go beyond the borders of the city.

Smart EQ Fortwo (from 24,450 euros)

The Smart fortwo electric drive changed its name in 2018 and was renamed the smart EQ fortwo, following the line of the rest of the Daimler group. Aesthetically it is more successful than the predecessor model, but it has lagged behind in specifications. With 17.6 kWh of battery and an approved battery range of 133 kilometers, it is enough if you do not leave the city, but scarce if you want to go further.

Smart EQ Forfour (from 25,150 euros)

The Smart EQ Forfour is the Fortwo’s older brother, but it seats 4 occupants. The electric powertrain is the same, but its larger dimensions make it lose a few kilometers of battery range up to 129 km. Again, it is a perfect car for day to day in the city, but very limited if you want to get out of it.

Opel Corsa-e (from 28,650 euros)

After 6 generations of Opel Corsa and 13.6 million units sold, we finally have an electric one. The Opel Corsa-e has 330 kilometers of driving range, thanks to a 50 kWh capacity battery. Its motor produces 136 hp, more than enough to move it freely. It is manufactured in Figueruelas, Zaragoza.

Peugeot e-208 (from 29,600 euros)

The Peugeot e-208 is the brother of the Opel Corsa-e, with which it shares the platform. Its technical characteristics are practically the same, 136 HP, 50 kWh and 340 kilometers of battery range.

Renault ZOE (from 30,115 euros)

The French brand has opted for continuous improvement with this model, which has gone from having 22 kWh and 88 HP in its launch version in 2013 to 52 kWh and 136 HP in the last update. It is currently for sale with two battery capacities: 41 kWh and 52 kWh. With the first, it equips a 109 hp motor – with the second, you can equip it with 109 or 135 hp. The driving range is 300 kilometers in the version with battery and small motor and 386 kilometers in the version with battery and large motor.

The price we indicate is with proprietary battery. If you choose to rent, it drops by around 8,000 euros in exchange for paying a monthly fee (from 74 euros per month) depending on the number of kilometers traveled.

Peugeot e-2008 (from 32,550 euros)

The Peugeot e-2008 is the brother SUV of the e-208 and at the same time a relative of the Opel Corsa-e, with which it shares an electrical power system. It offers 136 HP of power and 50 kWh of battery, but its larger size makes the approved battery range drop to 310 kilometers.

Volkswagen e-Golf (from 33,225 euros)

The Volkswagen e-Golf continues to hold on to the market waiting for the arrival of the Volkswagen ID.3, although its days are numbered. Its specifications are somewhat underwhelming for a 2020 electric compact: 35.8 kWh and 232 kilometers of approved battery range. However, it may be sufficient depending on the use. For the nostalgic ones, it is one of the last opportunities to buy an electric Golf before its disappearance.

The 14 electric cars with highest battery range

If we talk about the cars with greater battery range, we practically have to turn the previous list. There is a huge correlation between the price and the range of electric cars. Therefore, from listing the most affordable electric cars on the market we now turn to talking about models in most cases of the premium segment.

Unlike previous years, the range of all the cars on the list are finally homologated according to the WLTP cycle, much more realistic than the old NEDC, which was not very demanding, giving electric cars battery range far above use. In this case, the figures are much more reliable, although as always, they can vary significantly depending on driving conditions.

As a curiosity, this list should incorporate the Hyundai Nexo hydrogen fuel cell, which after all is an electric car and zero emissions. Unfortunately, it still has the important limitation of the shortage of hydrogen filling stations in Europe, something that makes it very difficult to increase sales beyond some testimonial units.