Top 10 Electric Cars

1. Fiat 500: The 500 EV is the first fully-electric vehicle designed from the ground-up on an all-new platform from Fiat Chrysler. Two battery options are available: 24 kWh and 42 kWh. 50 kW rapid charging is standard with option for higher-power charging at 85 kW available on all but the entry-level trim.

2. Peugeot e-208: As the e-208 is pitched as a main part of the 208 range, it should come as no surprise that it drives as well (if not better) as the other models in the line-up. The 100 kW electric motor feels enough for the e-208 – something that can’t be said about some rival models – and it will deal with motorway speeds easily enough. Its natural habitat is on smaller roads, as it performs far better in town and on rural routes.

3. Audi e-tron: The pure-EV SUV is set to compete against the Jaguar I-Pace, which is similarly sized and priced to the e-tron. It will also be challenged by the Mercedes Benz EQC when that arrives later this year, and of course comparisons to Tesla’s SUV – the Model X – are natural, though the latter is larger and more expensive than the Audi. With 150 kW CCS rapid charging possible, and standard 11 kW AC – 22 kW AC will be an option later this year – it won’t take long to charge either.

4. Renault Zoe: Constant revisions to the Renault Zoe have seen driving range creep up over the years. This second generation sees that distance extended further, with a range of up to 245 miles on a charge according the official figures. The model tested saw that drop to 238 miles because of its specification, but all represent around a 30% increase in range over the previous models.

5. Jaguar I-Pace: The I-Pace is the first electric SUV from a premium European automaker. In its first year, the I-Pace became one of the most highly decorated production cars ever, winning 62 international awards. In March 2019, the I-Pace won the European Car of the Year award, the first Jaguar to win in the 50-year history of the award. In April 2019, the I-Pace became the 2019 World Car of the Year, and by also winning Best Design and Best Green Car awards, it became the first car to ever sweep three of the six categories.

6. Peugeot e-2008: Sharing the same powertrain as the 3-208, the e-2008 will have a 50 kWh battery and 100 kW electric motor. This should be good for a range of 193 miles (WLTP) on a single charge. The new model shows parent company PSA Group’s intent to electrify its fleet. The same core platform and powertrain that will be used in the e-2008 and e-208 is also used in the Vauxhall Corsa-e and DS 3 Crossback E-Tense.

7. Volvo XC40 P8 Recharge: The XC40 P8 looks identical to its ICE and PHEV brothers, bar the now obligatory blanked-off body colour grille and Recharge branding on the C-pillar. The P8 is powered by a 78kWh lithium ion battery pack mounted under the floor, that feeds two electric motors, with one on each axle to provide all-wheel drive. Power output is 402bhp, torque an outrageous 487lb ft, which in turn translates to a decidedly un-Volvo-ish turn of speed: not many cars in the Swedes’ wonderfully idiosycratic canon have made it to 62mph in less than five seconds. Volvo claims a WLTP range of 257 miles on a single charge, and hooked up to a 150kW rapid charger you’ll get to 80 per cent of that in around 40 minutes. On a standard domestic 7-11kW wall point charger you’re looking at eight hours.

8. Volkswagen ID.3: Volkswagen’s ID.3 is ushering in a new era for the company, with the launch of the electric-only ID. sub-brand. The 260-mile official range from the VW ID.3 is class leading, with really only two family-sized hatchbacks – in the shape of the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq Electric – available as challengers.

9. Mini Electric: It’s the sort of car owners give names to. It’s cute and well-put-together enough that the premium prices have never been a barrier to its rampant success. And now, there’s one that you plug in instead of fill up. Driving the front wheels, there’s a single electric motor, dishing out 182bhp – the same power as a 2.0-litre petrol-powered Cooper S. The Mini Electric is heavier however: 145kg heavier than a Mini Cooper S with the automatic gearbox.

10. Volkswagen ID.4: Available with a range of up to 323 miles on a charge, the ID.4 will prove a crucial model for the German manufacturer. It’s VW’s first pure-electric SUV, and will be built on the same MEB platform as the ID.3 and similarly-sized Enyaq iV from group stablemate Skoda. Fitted with a 77 kWh battery (net) powering a 150 kW electric motor driving the rear wheels, the ID.4 will cover more than 320 miles on a charge and complete the 0-62 mph time in 8.5 seconds. Charging is possible at up to 125 kW from ultra-rapid CCS charge points, adding almost 200 miles of range in around 30 minutes.