April 02--With all the hype surrounding the unveiling of the affordable Tesla Model 3 electric compact, it's worth revisiting the EV marketplace to see how the competition measures up.
The competition for the Model 3, according to Tesla, is gas cars. For traditional automakers with electric offerings, the Model 3 helps raise the profile of the market but Tesla will likely take the lion's share of that attention.
The new 2017 Chevrolet Bolt is considered the most direct competitor since they are the only mass-market electric vehicles with a 200-mile range. Though the plug-in market has cooled due to low gas prices and more efficient gas cars, the age of electrification is here. Automakers, from BMW and Mercedes-Benz to Hyundai and Ford, are offering multiple models with a plug, and the list of affordable pure electric vehicles continues to grow alongside vehicle range.
(Front-wheel drive unless noted. EVs capable of Level 3 fast charging will charge the battery 80 percent in under 30 minutes.)
Tesla Model 3: The affordable Tesla was revealed March 31, drawing hundreds of thousands of $1,000 reservations showing intent to order. Read the overview>>>
Vehicle type: 5-seat compact
Battery power: Expected to be between 40 and 60 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion pack
Range: estimated 215 miles
Acceleration: 0-60 in less than 6 seconds
Torque: n/a
Curb weight: n/a
Cargo volume (rear seats up): n/a
Level 2 (240-volt) charge time: n/a
Price before available credits: $35,000
Availability: Late 2017
2017 Chevrolet Bolt: Bolt beats Tesla to market but won't match the performance options.
Vehicle type: 5-door hatch
Battery power: 60 kwh lithium-ion pack under the floor between the wheelbase, same as Tesla
Range: estimated 200 miles
Acceleration: 0-60 in less than 7 seconds
Torque: 266 pound-feet
Curb weight: 3,580 pounds
Cargo volume (rear seats up): 16.9 cubic feet
Level 2 (240-volt) charge time: 50 miles in 2 hours; full charge in 9 hours
Price before available credits: $37,500
Availability: Nationwide by late 2016
2017 Hyundai Ioniq EV: Ioniq will be the only car offered as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or all-electric EV. Interesting approach that other automakers could adopt as plug-in sales increase, but it could also splinter a very small segment of car buyers.
Vehicle type: Compact sedan
Battery power: 28 kwh lithium-ion battery
Range: 110 miles
Acceleration: n/a
Torque: 215 pound-feet
Curb weight: n/a
Cargo volume (rear seats down): n/a
Level 2 (240-volt) charge time: n/a
Price before available credits: n/a
Availability: Fall 2016
2016 BMW i3: A quirky carbon-fiber box with barn doors, no b-pillar, and recycled materials throughout, the eco-chic i3 is available with a range extender.
