In a context marked by climate issues, buying an electric car is increasingly at the heart of the news. But what is the price of an electric car? How to choose it well? How to find a cheap used electric car? What car insurance is suitable? We help you answer all these questions by comparing the electric cars on the market.
Buying an electric car: everything you need to know before
The price of an electric car is often a barrier for motorists. Fortunately, dealers are giving more and more attractive discounts on certain models . This is particularly the case for electric vehicles at the end of their commercialization, as well as less widespread models. Some agents offer attractive rates in order to attract a new category of customers.
Note that a conversion bonus, ranging from €2,500 to €5,000 , will be granted to you for the purchase of an electric car in exchange for the destruction of your old vehicle. But on condition that it is a private car or a van, that it has belonged to you for at least 1 year, and that it is registered in France. The registration of the car to be destroyed must also be dated before January 2006 for a petrol vehicle and before January 2011 for a diesel vehicle.
For the purchase of an electric car, you can also benefit from the ecological bonus, the maximum amount of which can go up to €7,000 . State aid that can significantly reduce the price of an electric car.
However, let’s add a caveat with regard to the batteries of vehicles that run on electric power, the performance of which tends to decline over time . This phenomenon is explained by the irreversible aging of the components. However, a new battery is capable of remaining efficient for 10 years. This equates to around 100,000 km if you drive a lot.
In addition, technological progress has made it possible to gradually increase the autonomy of these vehicles. Something to delight those who wish to buy an electric car soon.
How much does an electric car cost?
The cost of an electric car generally remains high compared to a thermal car. This price difference is mainly explained by the very high cost of the battery made with lithium, a rare and expensive metal.
Car manufacturers are constantly improving the range capacities of their range of electric vehicles, which explains the still high prices. Even if, today, models like the Hyundai Kona or the Citroën C-Zero are available for less than €30,000.
Electric car: price comparison
Here is the price of the best-selling electric cars in France in 2020:
| Models | New purchase price |
| Renault Zoe | From €32,300 |
| Peugeot e-208 | From €32,700 |
| Tesla Model 3 | From €49,990 |
| Hyundai Kona | From €20,450 |
| DS 3 Crossback E-Tense | From €37,300 |
| Kia e Niro | From €37,000 |
| Citroen C-Zero | From €27,500 |
| Nissan Leaf | From €33,900 |
| Peugeot e-2008 | From €37,850 |
| BMW i3 | From €39,950 |
Buying a cheap electric car is possible
Several options are available to you if you want to buy an electric car at a reasonable price .
Buy a used electric car
Buying a used electric car is one of the most economical options for driving greener. To find the rare pearl, do not hesitate to scour the Internet. There are many sites dedicated to the purchase of used vehicles which, in addition to offering interesting models, also give you an idea of the price of a used electric car.
New electric models under €10,000
Bet launched by French car manufacturers seeking to democratize access to a zero-emission vehicle. They each unveil in turn an electric car offer for less than €10,000.
This is the case, for example, of the new Citroën AMI currently available for sale from €6,900 . But note that this electric micro-city car belongs to the category of cars without a license .
The Renault group also recently announced the forthcoming release of the Dacia Spring, an electric car with a purchase price of around €10,000 , ecological bonus deducted.
Comparison of electric cars: battery and autonomy
Today, manufacturers are engaged in a frantic race to improve the autonomy of electric vehicles.
To give you an idea, the Renault Zoé and the Peugeot e-208, the two best-selling electric models currently in France, announce around 450 km of autonomy .
But other models, such as certain Teslas for example, approach 500 km of autonomy, and the Tesla Model S even approaches 600 km.
Which electric car has the most range?
Here is a comparison of the autonomy of electric cars drawn up by NewMotion:
| Model | Autonomy announced |
| Tesla Model S | 593km |
| Tesla Model 3 | 560km |
| Tesla Model X | 470km |
| Jaguar I‑PACE | 470km |
| Audi e-tron | 417km |
| Hyundai Kona | 400km |
| Kia Niro | 380km |
| Mercedes EQC | 355km |
| Nissan Leaf e+ | 355km |
| Opel Ampera-e | 345km |
An electric car without battery rental or with?
When you buy your electric car, you will be offered two options: a classic purchase with a so-called “integral” battery, or a purchase with battery rental. The main difference between these two formulas lies mainly in the price .
Buying an electric car with battery rental means lowering the bill by more than 8000 euros. Added to this is the rental contract, which varies according to the annual mileage. So you pay according to the kilometers you travel. Unlike the full purchase, the price of the battery will be diluted throughout the year, which will make a significant difference to your savings. For example, count around €104/month for 15,000 km with the Renaud Zoé.
Conversely, be aware that the investment of a full purchase begins to be amortized on average after six years.
To charge your electric vehicle at home, use Carplug charging stations!
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Electric car insurance comparator
As for a thermal car, you can ask us for an auto insurance quote for your electric vehicle. At lesfurets, we compare for you the offers of around thirty specialized insurers (the largest panel on the market) and we select the best for you. This will give you an idea of the price for insuring your electric car , and you can immediately take out the offer that suits you best.
