They’re also some of the safest cars to drive, with EVs like the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3 receiving five-star safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If you’re concerned about air pollution from cars, EVs are the way to go. While vehicles running on gasoline emit about 11,000 pounds of CO2 equivalent annually, all-electric vehicles emit about 4,000 pounds annually while producing zero direct emissions. Because of all of these benefits to the environment, especially when compared to alternatives, EVs are a popular buy.
Here are some of the most affordable electric cars on the market that combine functionality with safety. Most of these options meet the requirements for the federal tax credit, so they were assembled in North America and are powered by batteries with materials sourced from the US or its free trade partners. I’ve broken down how much you can save on each EV if it qualifies. The prices listed here exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, dealer fees, optional equipment, and other miscellaneous costs.
120 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent)Up to 259 miles on a single chargeMax speed: 90.1 mphMax power: 200 horsepowerAccelerates 0-60 in 6.5 secondsPrice: $26,595
The Chevy Bolt took the best affordable EV title on our overall list and it tops this one too. It’s a highly efficient EV with some powerful safety features. The standard model includes Chevy Safety Assist, with front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, distance indicator for a vehicle you’re following, and auto high beams, which adjust to traffic conditions. Don’t worry about charging: Customers who purchase or lease a 2022 or 2023 Bolt EV or EUV will get a free home charging station. Chevy covers the installation of a Level 2 (240-volt) charging outlet at your home, which means faster and more convenient charging. There are also more than 40,000 public charging stations. Unfortunately, you can’t get a $7,500 EV tax credit with the Bolt because Chevy reached its cap of 200,000 credits on the 2022 and 2023 models of the EV and EUV. Still, the Bolt’s sticker price is low for a dependable car.
121 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent)Up to 212 miles on a single charge (with 60 kWh battery)Max speed: 106 mph (on the SV Plus)Max power: 214 horsepowerAccelerates 0-60 in 7.4 secondsPrice: $27,800 ($20,300 after full federal tax credit)
The Nissan Leaf comes in two models: the S and the SV Plus – and both are eligible for the full federal tax credit. The standard Leaf S has a 40 kWh battery, meaning a range of 149 miles per full charge, and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds. The SV Plus has a more powerful 60 kWh battery and a higher range per full charge – up to 212 miles. You’re covered for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, under a warranty that will take care of any defects in the materials or workmanship of your car battery. Another feature included with both the S and SV Plus is an 8-inch display that can be integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can also remotely start a charge, check on how much your Leaf has charged, and turn on the heat or A/C. The e-Pedal function allows you to start, accelerate, decelerate, and stop by using the accelerator pedal. For safety, there’s automatic emergency braking that detects pedestrians, warnings for lane departures, blind spot warnings based on radar, rear cross traffic alert warnings, high beam assist, rear automatic braking, and more. The SV Plus comes with Nissan’s semi-autonomous driving mode with ProPILOT Assist.
Max speed: 130 mphMax power: 288 horsepowerAccelerates 0-60 in 5.6 secondsPrice: $43,300 ($37,464 after partial federal tax credit)
The BMW 330e sedan maximizes performance and efficiency with a total power output of 288 horsepower. It also prioritizes safety with an active protection system that detects accidents and automatically prepares for them by closing the windows and moonroof, pre-tensioning safety belts, and activating post-crash braking. You can use the BMW Assist eCall feature for any emergency requests. This vehicle comes with luxury touches, including power-folding, heated side mirrors, and a better-than-the-standard 10-speaker sound system. The windshield wipers are rain-sensing, and the two-way glass moonroof activates with just a touch. The vehicle and key memories are better than your average car’s – they stores your most recently used temperature, lighting, mirror, and other preferences for a seamless ride. The 330e sedan starts at $43,300 without including a federal tax credit (which is capped at around the $5,800 mark). You’re covered under BMW Ultimate Care, which includes an 8-year/80,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty.
Up to 230 miles on a single charge Max speed: 120 mphMax power: 452 horsepowerAccelerates 0-60 in 4 secondsPrice: $39,974 ($32,474 after full federal tax credit)
This six-seater F-150 is also eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit. It has a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, a 15.5-inch touchscreen, a B&O sound system, plenty of safety features, and a phone-as-a-key capability. The FordPass app is central to this experience. You always know how much charge is left on your battery through the app. You can use the app to earn points towards maintenance, and you can even start/stop, lock/unlock, schedule a start, and locate your vehicle from the app. BlueOval charge network includes more than 75,000 chargers across North America – so if you’re on the road, you can find a charger on the way. Ford BlueCruise hands-free driving works with a camera that faces the driver: You can take your hands off of the wheel for more than 130,000 miles of highways in North America. When it comes to safety, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, auto high-beam headlamps, and intelligent adaptive cruise control are just a few included features.
74 MPGe (miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent) Max speed: 112 mph Max power: 455 horsepower Accelerates 0-60 in 4.3 secondsPrice: $41,300 ($33,800 after full federal tax credit)
This list is all about electric cars, but the Volvo S60 at a price point of $41,300 had to make an appearance. It’s on the list of cars eligible for the tax credit, and you don’t even have to plug it in. You’ll reduce tailpipe emissions (fully electric cars eliminate them altogether) and reduce fuel consumption. The car comes with an air purifier and a Bowers & Wilkins audio system, and it has Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play built-in. The 2022 Extended Range model is eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, but if you get an older standard model, then your savings will drop to around $5,400. The S60 Recharge is more expensive at $51,250, but it’s fully electric. It has 455 horsepower and similar perks to the S60. It, too, is eligible for the full $7,500 credit. On your end, make sure to file Form 8936, Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit (Including Qualified Two-Wheeled Plug-in Electric Vehicles) with your tax return, You have to provide your vehicle’s VIN on the form. You cannot simply go out to a dealership and expect the dealer to give you these savings up-front. However, according to the US Department of Energy, starting in 2024 you should be able to get your credit at the dealer.
