In 2021-2022, The Cheapest Electric Cars will be Available.
As electric car sales continue to increase around the world, more people are becoming interested in the various options available. Sure, everyone has heard of Tesla, and everyone has a friend who has been driving a Prius for the past ten years. However, it's possible that you're finally ready to join the zero-emissions movement. Keep up the good work, old sport! I'm sure you've previously looked up "how does EV charging operate" and similar terms. Excellent work. Your next question should be, “What are the cheapest electric vehicles on the market?” My friends, there's no need to look any further. We've collected a list of the most recent and best affordable EVs for you below.
Is it true that electric cars are more expensive than fuel vehicles?
We can discuss about this all day, but it's probably more relevant for its own post. No, but also yes, is the short answer.
Electric car pricing in the current worldwide market is driven by a range of factors. Before an EV's first sale, supply chains, extra features, and overall production costs can all affect the MSRP.
The cost of batteries is now one of the most important aspects in the pricing of an electric vehicle. Battery packs are important for any electric vehicle's longevity and performance, but they are costly.
New battery chemistries and assemblies, such as solid-state batteries, may one day lead to lower-cost electric vehicles, or at least lower-cost manufacture.
The current electric vehicle industry is highly depend on lithium-ion battery cells, which are sourced and manufactured by a few number of companies, such as those in China. Importing different resources and parts from outside the country increases the entire price a carmaker must consider charging consumers in order to make a profit.
You can easily go out now and buy a vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE) that is less expensive than an electric vehicle.
EVs, on the other hand, have come a long way in the last decade, and there are lots of good electric vehicles that are not only cheaper but also more technologically advanced than their ICE equivalents. EVs are built for long-term use and are based on software rather than mechanics.
They also produce no emissions, which is a huge plus.
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| A 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric charging / Source: Electrify America |
The most cheapest electric vehicles on the market right now
You may be new to this world, which is fine; we're happy to have you here. So we'll start out easy by introducing a couple of low-cost electric vehicles that are already available... or will be shortly.
Now, the phrase "affordable" is a little subjective. Everyone's financial position different, and it's safe to say that most of us won't be going out to buy a new Rimac Automobili Nevera anytime soon.
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| Rimac’s Nevera electric hypercar… This one does not qualify for our list, believe it or not. |
There are presently a variety of affordable EV options available to you, with even more on the way.
We've also included a separate list of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs), which are smaller and have a lower top speed but can still transport you around town safely and cleanly.
Keep in mind that the list prices are the manufacturer's suggested retail prices and do not include any state or federal tax credits, taxes, or fees for destination or documentation except as otherwise stated.
Nissan LEAF S 2022
The Nissan LEAF is the first on our list, as it is one of the longest-running electric vehicles in production. The LEAF has been the best-selling plug-in EV for several years, ever since it launched in 2010 (yes, even before the Tesla Model S), until the Tesla Model 3.
Nissan, on the other hand, has yet to deliver a second EV to the public, but have one on the way in the form of the upcoming Ariya.
We previously reported on Nissan's pricing for its 2022 Nissan LEAF EVs, which was very aggressive. The pricing reflects the fact that the 2022 models are very similar to the 2021 ones. The LEAF S is the most affordable of the five LEAF trims offered for the 2022 model year.
The LEAF 40 kWh starts at $27,400, making it one of the most cheap electric vehicles on the market in the United States. This 2022 EV might be yours for about $20,000 if you qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit.
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| The 2022 Nissan LEAF / Source: Nissan USA |
Chevy Bolt EV 1LT 2022
The Chevy Bolt EV is the next all-electric car from classic automaker General Motors. The Chevrolet Bolt was introduced in 2016 as GM's lone electric car. The legacy carmaker has also introduced the Bolt EUV since then, but that's it so far.
GM, on the other hand, has a few electric cars in the works, including an all-electric Hummer. However, the Bolt and Bolt alone presently hold the EV crown, and those EVs have recently suffered their own set of challenges.
Following twelve reported fires and three injuries due to defective batteries, GM has issued a recall for all Bolt EV and EUV vehicles from 2017 to 2022, requiring battery modules to be replaced at a cost of $1.8 billion.
Chevy recently stopped manufacture and sales of the Bolt EV and EUV until it is certain that battery supplier LG can deliver "defect-free" cells.
The production of the 2022 Bolt vehicles has been stopped until the middle of October. However, you can expect the Bolt EV 1LT to keep its MSRP of $31,000 before taxes and fees when sales restart. It will almost certainly have a more secure battery module.
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| 2022 Chevy Bolt EV / Source: Chevrolet |
SOLO ElectraMeccanica
Our second car to highlight as one of the most cheap vehicle options is a little more unique, but still an outstanding form of transportation.
The SOLO is a three-wheeled electric vehicle from ElectraMeccanica, a publicly traded electric vehicle designer and manufacturer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a new manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona.
The SOLO is the company's flagship vehicle, an environmentally friendly electric vehicle built specifically for commuting and deliveries in urban environments.
This three-wheeled electric vehicle may look odd at first, but it has been carefully built to deliver time and time considering its 100-mile range and top speed of 80 mph, making it safe for highway use.
In most places, the SOLO qualifies as a motorbike, in addition to being smaller and more compact on the road and in parking spaces. This means cheaper registration, insurance, and operating costs while still being eligible for HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) access.
Regardless of the fact that it has four wheels, the SOLO is one of the most affordable electric vehicles on our list. The ElectraMeccanica SOLO will have an MSRP of $18,500 when it begins shipping to customers before the end of the year.
The following is a list of the cheapest electric vehicles available now and in the future.
| Electric Car Model | MSRP (USD) | Release Date |
| Kandi K27 (2021) | $17,499 | Available |
| smart EQ fortwo coupé (2021)* | $24,435* | Available* |
| smart EQ forfour (2021)* | $25,117* | Available* |
| smart EQ fortwo cabrio (2021)* | $27,206* | Available* |
| Nissan LEAF S (2022) | $27,400 | Available |
| Kandi K23 (2021) | $27,499 | Available |
| Nissan LEAF SV (2022) | $28,800 | Available |
| MINI Cooper Electric SE Hardtop 2-Door (2022) | $29,900 | Available |
| Chevy Bolt EV 1LT (2022) | $31,000 | Prod. Paused |
| Nissan LEAF S (2021) | $31,620 | Available |
| Nissan LEAF S Plus (2022) | $32,400 | Available |
| Chevy Bolt EUV LT (2022) | $33,000 | Prod. Paused |
| Hyundai IONIQ Electric (2021) | $33,045 | Available |
| Mazda MX-30 (2022) | $33,470 | October-21 |
| Chevy Bolt EV 2LT (2022) | $34,200 | Prod. Paused |
| Nissan LEAF SV (2021) | $34,910 | Available |
| Nissan LEAF SV Plus (2022) | $35,400 | Available |
| Hyundai Kona Electric (2022) | $37,390 | Available |
| Nissan LEAF SL Plus (2022) | $37,400 | Available |
| Chevy Bolt EUV Premier (2022) | $37,500 | Prod. Paused |
| Nissan LEAF S Plus (2021) | $38,220 | Available |
| Kia Nero EV (2022) | $39,090 | Available |
| Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (2021) | $39,990 | Available |
| Volkswagen RWD ID.4 Pro (2021) | $39,995 | Available |
| Nissan LEAF SV Plus (2021) | $40,470 | Available |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E Select (2021) | $42,895 | Available |
| Volkswagen AWD ID.4 Pro (2021) | $43,465 | Available |
| Nissan LEAF SL Plus (2021) | $43,970 | Available |
| BMW i3 | $44,450 | Available |
| Volkswagen RWD ID.4 Pro S (2021) | $44,495 | Available |
Updated 9/16/2021 * – Not currently available in the U.S.
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| Ford’s Mustang Mach-E Select / Source: Ford Motor |
NEVs and other reduced electric vehicle options
We also listed several more unique EVs, such as the aforementioned SOLO, as well as available NEVs in a different list. NEVs are different from other electric cars in that they are designed for shorter, more local commutes.
As a result, most don't exceed 25 miles per hour as a standard requirement, and they're much smaller to fit into smaller spaces.
| EV Model | MSRP (USD) | Release Date |
| Electric Import Cars Grunt NEV | $4,800 | Available |
| Electric Import Cars Pak Yak Basic NEV | $7,500 | Available |
| Electric Import Cars Pak Yak Pro NEV | $9,500 | Available |
| GEM e2 NEV | $10,814 | Available |
| GEM e4 NEV | $13,701 | Available |
| E-Z-GO Liberty NEV | $14,599 | Available |
| Kandi K27 NEV | $15,499 | Available |
| GEM e6 NEV | $16,851 | Available |
| ElectraMeccanica SOLO | $18,500 | Nov/Dec 2021 |
| MOKE America NEV | $20,975 | Available |
| Kandi K23 NEV | $22,499 | Available |
| Aptera Motors SEV (250 mi) | $25,900 | 44562 |
| e-ride Industries EVX2 Patriot NEV | TBC | Available |
| e-ride Industries EVX4 NEV | TBC | Available |
Updated 9/16/2021
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| Electric Import Cars’ Pak Yak Pro NEV truck / Source: Electric Import Cars |
Cheapest electric vehicles FAQ
What’s the cheapest electric vehicle available in the US?
Kandi America, based in Dallas, Texas, and owned by Chinese manufacturer Kandi Technologies, now gets the record. The K27 EV from the manufacturer is under $18,000. A NEV version is also available.
What is an NEV?
NEV stands for Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, and it refers to a type of electric vehicle that is designed for shorter, slower travels, such as around your neighbourhood or to the store down the street. They have a top speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) and a maximum loaded weight of 3,000 lbs (1,400 kg).
Do NEVs qualify for the federal EV tax credit?
Given the fact that they are electric vehicles, NEVs do not now qualify for federal tax credits. NEVs, on the other hand, are already far less cheap than bigger electric vehicles.
Will new EVs be added to these lists?
Without a question. There are plenty of new electric vehicles on the way, some of which may be less expensive than the ones listed above. This page will be updated every few months with the most up-to-date pricing and availability.
Anything we missed?
Are there any electric cars that are highly cheap that we've missed? Do you have any suggestions for vehicles to be added to the list?
Please let us know in the comments section below.
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