The EVo-Ten…our pick of the best (new & used) EVs available in 2019
It’s come to this. Thankfully.
We now have a choice of electric vehicles in Australia, enough for a top ten. Or as we’d like to call it, the EVo-Ten.
We’re pretty excited about the EVo-Ten because, frankly, who would have thought we’d be able to even get to double digits 12 months ago?!
2018 was actually a big year when it comes to the electric vehicle market in Australia. Enter the Renault Kangoo and Zoe in June, with the Kangoo extremely popular with fleet buyers – for obvious cargo-carrying reasons – while the Zoe was popular with pretty much anyone who’s was, or still is, waiting for the Ioniq/Kona/Tesla Model 3 (delete as applicable).
Believe it or not, the two Renaults were the first new electric vehicles to be released on the Australian market since the BMW i3 in 2015. True story. Seriously.
Y’all ready for this?
We’ve judged the EVo-Ten on a number of EV nerdy criteria, including price, influence on the marketplace, appeal to mainstream buyers (rather than people who use nerdy EV criteria to judge stuff) and how much useful info is available from the dealer (like, have they ever actually driven an EV?).
10. Mitsubishi i-Miev: One of the earliest mass market EVs released in Australia. Small and consequently one of the most efficient EVs on the market. Can be had for as little as $10k now!
9. Tesla Model X: Large 7 seat SUV with towing capability. This ticks the boxes for most sporty families, at a cost.
8. Tesla Model S: The E-Type of the EV world and now truly iconic amongst not just EVers but also rev heads who appreciate ludicrous mode, sub 11 second quarter miles and autopilot!
7. Hyundai Kona: Small SUV with a large 400km real world range. So popular that this is one of the few Hyundais with a world wide waiting list!
6. Jaguar I-Pace – Who doesn’t love a Jaaag! A gorgeous interior with a ground up and contemporary / modern body.
So far, so good. Now, let’s jump straight into the top five…
5. Hyundai Ioniq – Australia waited 2 years longer than the rest of the world for the Ioniq to be released but it was so well received the dealers ran out within 2 months of it going on sale. Now you’ll have to wait until 2020 for the new model to be released.
4. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – considered by many to be an imposter given it’s not a true EV. The truth is the Outlander PHEV has enabled many to experience electric drive for the first time and help their drivers understand that they actually don’t drive all that far all that often.
3. Nissan LEAF 24Kwh Gen1 Aust Delivered – Only 500 sold in Australia when released in 2012 and many more were left unloved on new dealer forecourts for a few years more. The truth is most LEAF owners love their cars and most of our customers simply never plan to sell their cars!
2. Nissan LEAF 24Kwh Gen1.5 Import – The Australian delivered LEAFs are, like an eastern suburbs brick veneer near good schools, tightly held. With import rules relaxed many more LEAFs (with better specs) are now readily available.
Aaaaaand….drum roll please!
The EVo-Ten winner for 2019 is…
1. Nissan LEAF 30 Kwh 1.5 Import
Yep, it’s small and, some would say, not the most sexy EV on the road, but it’s fast, easy to charge up, simple to run and maintain, and it goes and goes and goes.
Plus, at a young-professional / downsizing-retiree kind of price, it has mass market appeal amongst a huge demographic. In fact, more and more people are cottoning onto the LEAF low-km Japanese import market as the source of a great entry-point EV.
Agree? Maybe not? Don’t care? We’d love your thoughts!
And, of course, if you’re looking for an electric car charger for your Tesla, Hyundai, Nissan, Jaguar or Mitsubishi EV or PHEV, we have a great range of products that can be shipped to you anywhere in Australia or New Zealand!