These seven brands are working on a cheap electric car

From 2035 you will no longer be able to buy a new car with a combustion engine in the EU. Everyone will therefore have to switch to electric driving sooner or later. A frequently heard objection to electric cars is that they are a lot more expensive than cars with a combustion engine. The Dacia Spring is actually the only budget option with an electric powertrain. The solution is clear: there must be more cheap electric cars. And that is being worked on.

1. Tesla Model 2

Tesla is known as a pioneer when it comes to electric cars. It is therefore logical that the leading EV brand comes with an option at the entry level. Still, things are not going smoothly for the Americans. CEO Elon Musk already indicated in 2020 that Tesla was working on a budget Tesla, which was popularly renamed the Model 2.

However, in early 2022, Musk announced that work on the Model 2 had stopped, as Tesla’s priorities were the Tesla Cybertruck (which is still not on the market) and the electric truck Tesla Semi. Musk has since announced that development on the Model 2 has resumed, but the day when we actually see the entry-level Tesla introduced seems a long way off. Many people expected Tesla to announce the Model 2 at a big press conference in early March, but then it was only hinted.

2. Volkswagen ID.2all

The Volkswagen ID.2all is one of the most anticipated budget EVs. The compact hatchback was officially presented on March 15 and should cost less than 25,000 euros. In short, it will be the affordable EV for the average consumer.

The ID.2all may be the next in the ID. series, but the slip-on does it completely differently. For example, the ID.2all is on a new version of the MEB platform. Volkswagen has also listened to feedback from previous models by, for example, bringing back physical buttons.

The production version is expected in 2025. The attractive price tag, according to chief designer Andreas Mindt, is achieved by being creative. Volkswagen stuck to the basics with the design. For example, no chrome was used on the outside and the interior was also kept simple but effective.

3. Renault 5

Renault also wants to tempt consumers with an affordable electric car. The electric Renault 5 is on the new CMF-B EV platform, but the technology is not completely unknown. The chassis uses 70 percent of the components of the successful Clio and Captur.

In addition to comfortable chassis, Renault can also rely on extensive experience with EVs. The Renault Zoe was one of the first electric cars and our editors named the Renault Megane E-Tech Car of the Year 2022 last year.

The French seem to want to trump the ID.2all specifically with the affordable Renault 5. For example, Renault aims to market the Renault 5 in 2024, a year earlier than the ID.2all. Renault has not yet announced anything about the price, but we expect that the chic Renault 5 will only be slightly more expensive than the ID.2all.

4. Cupra Raval

Volkswagen is not the only brand from the Volkswagen Group to market an affordable EV. The Cupra Raval must become the entry-level model for the Spaniards.

Until last week, the car was called UrbanRebel, but Cupra has officially renamed the EV to the Raval. It is part of a trio of affordable electric cars from the Volkswagen Group. Just like the ID.2all, the Raval is on the new version of the MEB platform.

Cupra has already released some specifications about the Raval. The compact hatchback will be 4.03 meters long. This puts it in the class of the Seat Ibiza. The Raval will have 226 hp and will complete the standard sprint in 6.9 seconds. The range is up to 440 kilometers. The price will be between 20 and 25 grand.

5. Skoda ‘Small’

The new compact and affordable EV from Skoda is currently simply called Skoda ‘Small’ and, just like the Volkswagen ID.2all and Cupra Raval, will cost around 25,000 euros.

The design remains mysterious for now. In the photos released by Skoda, we only see the main lines of the new EV. The final design must be saved for the official unveiling. Skoda has proudly revealed one detail about the Small: the trunk is very large for its class.

6.Nio ‘Firefly’

Several rumors have already come out about an affordable electric car with which the Chinese Nio wants to delight us. For example, it was announced in February that Nio is going to build a factory in the Chinese city of Chuzhou to produce the new affordable electric car. This EV should be released in 2024 and would be specifically intended for the European market. For that reason, it would also be a much more compact model than we are familiar with from Nio so far. Within Nio, the plans are known under the code names ‘Project Firefly’ and ‘Alps’.

A few weeks ago, more details about Nio’s plan came out. The EV will not be marketed as a Nio, but under a sub-brand. Nio does this because it wants to build up a status as a premium brand.

7. BYD Seagull

Nio is not the only Chinese brand that wants to bring an affordable EV to the European market: BYD is also taking up the challenge. The new model is called Seagull and was presented by BYD at the Shanghai Automobile Exhibition last month.

BYD recently unveiled the BYD Seal and BYD Dolphin. The BYD Seagull should be the next in line of BYD products in the Netherlands. In Shanghai BYD announced some specifications of the Seagull for the Chinese market. Then we are talking about a very compact hatchback of 3.78 meters long. There are two battery packs to choose from: a 30 kWh LFP battery with a range of 305 kilometers or a 38 kWh LFP battery with a range of 405 kilometers. That is according to the Chinese measurement method, so only subtract 100 kilometers. The Seagull has 75 hp and has a top speed of 130 kilometers per hour.