The Best Electric Cars Today
We can truly appreciate the incredible fuel economy of hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight as eco-friendly commuter cars. That said, we can guarantee that flooring one won’t throw you into the back of your seat, gonads dangling in your liver. And so, with the state of our environment at the forefront of many concerns today, we felt it was time to present our picks for the most environmentally conscious cars out in the market right now—electric cars. What binds our picks together among these cars are three things—sleek styling, serious performance and zero emissions, a deadly yet environmentally-friendly combination. While there aren’t many examples of electric cars in general, here are the select few whose performance and designs resonated with us.
THE LIST
TESLA ROADSTER
We remember when an electric car was something you played with as a kid, controlling it with a plastic controller where pressing too hard on the trigger would send the car flying off the track to both our annoyance and delight. We never imagined it would one day become both a viable and aesthetically evocative means of transportation. Tesla Motors has realized that dream for us with the Tesla Roadster (available from Tesla Motors for $101,500). The Roadster has a 248hp engine that gets you from 0-60 in 3.9 seconds with a 244 mile range on a 3.5 hour full charge. It’s a pure two seat, open-top, rear-drive roadster with a carbon fiber body, sport seating, LED tail lights, and Brembo/AP Racing brakes—all of this with just zero emissions. And when you valet the Roadster, just in case your valet guy decides to take her for a spin, there’s even a valet mode to restrict speed, acceleration, and range.
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TESLA MODEL S
While the Roadster has gotten most of the press as Tesla Motors’ first production vehicle, we’re just as intrigued by the Tesla Model S (available from Tesla Motors for 2012 delivery for $50,000). Combining four door sedan practicality with simple but sexy lines, the Model S has a tremendous array of features at a relatively reasonable price point. It seats up to seven people, has a 300 mile range on a full charge and goes 0-60 in 5.6 seconds. The Model S has both versatility and value, not to mention space, with two trunks (the rear hatch for oversized items and one under the hood), as well as a 17″ infotainment touchscreen. In the end, the Model S is the ideal electric sedan, whether you’re commuting for work, running errands, or just driving for the sheer pleasure of it.
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EV INNOVATIONS INZIO
With specifications similar to the Tesla Roadster, the EV Innovations Inizio (available from EV Innovations for $139,000) is in good company. The Inizio goes from 0-60 in 4 seconds with a top speed of 170mph and a range of up to 200 miles after an 8 hour full charge of its lithium ion battery pack. Though images of the Inizio are currently limited to a computer-rendered form, if the production car even comes close to the rendered images, the Inizio will definitely provide the Tesla Roadster with some significant competition.
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LIGHTNING CAR COMPANY LIGHTNING GT
The Lightning Car Company Lightning GT (available from Lightning Car Company for approximately $170,000) is the UK’s first production electric car. The Lightning GT will generate 700+bhp, travel up to 188 miles on a full battery charge and has a 0-60 time of 4 seconds. The Lightning GT also has proprietary NanoSafe batteries which use nano titanate materials instead of graphite, making them far more thermally stable and eco-friendly given the lack of toxic or heavy metals. These NanoSafe batteries also have a life expectancy of 12+ years, as opposed to the three to five year lifespan of other batteries, while retaining up to an 85% charge capacity after 15,000 charges.
In addition, there are likely to be three charging options: overnight using a household power supply, two hours using a three phase power supply and just ten minutes using a fast charge unit. And with no gearboxes, axle or driveshafts, the Lightning GT generates incredible torque and power from the lightweight motors integrated into each wheel itself, right where you’d want it most.
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HONORABLE MENTIONS
Fisker Automotive Karma
Though not a fully electric car, the Fisker Automotive Karma is nonetheless a stunning example of plug-in hybrid technology (using both a lithium ion battery and a gasoline engine).
The Mission One Motorcycle
If it was a car, the Mission One would have easily made the cut.
