Cheapest electric cars 2022: The lowest-priced EVs available to order in the UK right now
Price, performance and range details for the 10 most affordable EVs on the market - from city cars to family SUVs
With fuel prices on a seemingly endless rise and the ban on petrol and diesel cars edging ever closer, it’s no wonder interest in electric cars is increasing.
2021 saw more EVs sold than in the previous five years combined and there is still strong demand for the zero-emissions vehicles despite parts and supply issues.
While many buyers are exploring the higher end of the EV market - with models like the Audi Q4 e-tron, Ford Mustang Mach-e and Tesla Model 3 - not everybody can afford to spend more than £40,000 on a new car.
While those models are sharp-looking and desirable, they're also relatively expensive, especially compared with a combustion-engined car.
But not all EVs are expensive, so here we’ve rounded up the 10 cheapest new electric cars on the market.
Due to last year’s changes to the Plug-in Car Grant and the unpredictability around the policy we’ve decided to remove it from our figures so all prices here are before the grant - currently worth £1,500 - is applied.
1. Smart EQ fortwo (£22,225)
The unique Mercedes-backed city car has been brought bang up to date to meet the changing automotive landscape. The shape is instantly recognisable but the tiny petrol motor has been replaced by a single 80bhp electric motor. A 17kWh battery offers between 75 and 80 miles of range, and charging at a domestic 7kW wallbox takes just under three and a half hours. If the tiny two-door isn’t big enough, there’s always its big brother... Photo: Smart
2. Smart EQ forfour (£22,295)
As the name suggests, this is a four-door, four-seat relative of the fortwo. The forfour uses the same electric drivetrain as the fortwo with the same power, battery capacity and charging time. The added weight of the larger car means it’s a second slower to 62mph (hardly a concern in city driving). Photo: Smart
3. Fiat 500 (£23,835)
The latest Fiat 500 is another familiar name given an electric makeover. It’s a 100 per cent new car, sharing nothing but its name and immediately recognisable styling with the previous version of the retro city car. The cheapest versions come with a 90bhp electric motor and 23.8kWh battery good for a claimed 118 miles of driving. Spending an extra £3,500 will upgrade this to a higher spec model with a 118bhp motor and 42kWh battery with 199 miles of range. Photo: Fiat
4. Nissan Leaf (£28,495)
The Leaf is the granddaddy of mainstream EVs. Apart from the slightly gawky looks it’s a fairly standard family hatchback but with an all-electric drivetrain. Cheaper “standard” versions have a 148bhp motor and 40kWh battery with 168 miles of range while the E+ costs £2,500 more and gets a beefier 212bhp motor and a 62kWh battery with a 239-mile range. Both accept DC rapid charging of up to 50kW and feature Nissan’s neat e-pedal which allows for single-pedal driving. Photo: Nissan