Unfortunately, a new car is not cheap. Certainly not when you are looking for a fully electric car, because these are often considerably more expensive than the average car with a combustion engine. Nowadays, there are quite a few models that are considerably cheaper on the market than before, but which cheap electric cars are really worth looking at?
A small side note
The selected models and prices mentioned below were collected in mid-2024. With the speed of developments in the electric driving market, there is a chance that even cheaper or better models have been launched on the market at the time of reading.
Cheapest electric cars based on purchase price
The Dacia Spring is by far the cheapest electric car. For just over €18,000 you can already have a fully electric Dacia Spring and yet this model is not nearly as popular as you might think.
Below we have listed a number of cheap electric cars, including models that are in great demand at car dealers.
- Citroën ë-C3 (around €25,000)
- Fiat 500e (just under €29,000)
- The electric Opel Corsa (€31,000)
- Peugeot e-208 (over €35,000)
- MG5, MG ZS and MG4 (between €32,000 and €35,000)
Is that all you need to look at when comparing?
The cheapest options are often not the best options. As sad as it is, when something is much cheaper than all the alternatives, there is often a damn good reason for it. With the electric cars above, this is particularly clear, because the Dacia Spring is not a model that you can use daily for long distances. The interior of the car is downright poor, the maximum charging speed of 7 kW (30 kW on a DC charger) is particularly annoying and a battery pack of 26.8 kWh is hardly suitable for a trip through the Netherlands.
Does that make it a bad investment? Not at all, because thanks to the very low price, the price-quality ratio is fine, which makes this model a very conscious choice. The other mentioned cheap electric cars all have their disadvantages, but here the question is mainly what you need yourself.
Many of these models do have a good range or maximum charging speed. Keep in mind that the prices mentioned are the entry-level prices and that optional packages can increase the price (considerably). The prices may also have changed since the time of writing (both up and down).
If you are looking for a cheap electric car, never look at the price alone. At the very least, look at:
- The maximum charging speed (and therefore charging time) for AC and DC charging;
- The actual range of the electric car;
- The features and functions included in the price;
- The question of whether you get a (good) charging cable with your purchase;
- Possible towing capacity (for models with a tow bar).
In addition, it is always wise to take a test drive first, so that you know whether the chosen model actually suits you.
Soon significantly more cheap electric cars (or is that a myth?)
There are many people who have indicated that it is wise to postpone the purchase of an electric car, because many cheap electric cars will be added in the foreseeable future. Car manufacturers are indeed working hard to put affordable, strong models on the market, especially because the smaller, economical and cheap cars are particularly popular at the moment. At the same time, they are working hard on more features and functions and larger battery packs to significantly increase the range of the cars.
Does this mean that more cheap cars with a plug will come onto the market? Yes, certainly, but here too the question is what you need. These cheap electric cars will mainly be intended for commuters who commute between work and home every day. They are not cars with which you can make complete weekend trips and certainly not cars with which you can go on holiday during the summer holidays or winter sports. This applies to all the cheap models above.
However, if you are only looking for the cheapest possible electric car, then it is good to keep an eye on the Asian and American brands. They have little problem with compromising on quality in order to make a cheaper electric car than the European brands that have a somewhat higher standard.
Choosing the cheapest charging station
All this also applies to comparing charging stations and charging cables. When you choose the cheapest charging station, you can still charge safely, but it will never be optimal. The cheapest charging stations have a low maximum charging speed and are often hardly equipped with useful features, such as Dynamic Load Balancing, remote control and options for locking the charging station via mobile phone. Therefore, take the time to compare the charging stations at your leisure, so that you can find a suitable model for your situation.
