Are you going to buy an electric car in 2024 and don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, in this article we give you all the keys you need to make the right purchase decision, as well as some model recommendations based on your budget.
There is a high probability that in 2024 you will be considering purchasing your first electric car. And it is also very likely that you will find yourself swimming in a sea of doubts. Because there are multiple variables that you must carefully examine before making a decision and everything becomes a little more complicated if we add to this the lack of experience in the field of electric mobility.
Therefore, above all, you must first evaluate what your true needs are, set a purchasing budget and start examining what models the electric car market offers you in 2024. You will see that there are quite a few options to choose from and that there are all types of sizes, features, autonomy and, above all, prices.
What to take into account when buying an electric car in 2024?
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In the electric car market you will find options ranging from the A segment of city cars to the F segment of saloons and representative SUVs. This determines both the size of the vehicle and its interior capacity, as well as the price you will have to pay for its purchase.
At the same time, there are a multitude of electric propulsion systems, which differ in performance, the number of motors and the energy capacity of the battery. It is also very important to take into account what recharging possibility each model offers, which will directly influence the use you can make of the vehicle.
And finally, what exactly do you need from an electric car. It is not the same to only make urban trips and move through the Low Emission Zones (LEZ) without restrictions, as it is to take road trips and travel long distances. With almost all electric cars it is now possible to travel, but their technical characteristics determine under what conditions you will make these trips.
Therefore, it is important that you first establish what use you are going to make of the vehicle, if you are going to travel a lot by road or if you are going to concentrate most of the trips in urban environments; what space needs on board and trunk capacity you have; and what budget you have to make the purchase.
As a reference, keep in mind that a battery with at least 60 kWh of energy capacity will be enough for long trips on the road, allowing you to travel about 300 kilometers without having to stop to recharge.
To this, add at least a fast charging capacity of 50 kWh or more, which makes it easy to charge up to 80% of the battery capacity with a stop of less than an hour.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for a car to get around the city, a battery with a lower energy capacity (less than the 60 kWh mentioned above) will be more than enough, although you must always take into account the recharge capacity of its battery.
This allows you to focus on more urban cars, which have lower consumption and a range that exceeds 200 kilometers in real driving conditions (which is always different from the approved range, although the WLTP cycle is somewhat closer to reality). In addition, they are cheaper cars to buy.
Recommendations according to your budget
Next, we are going to offer you some recommendations for specific models based on your purchasing budget. We have set purchase price ranges and we include different electric cars that you can purchase with that budget.
Keep in mind that, if you are going to benefit from the MOVES III Plan, the aid will end (unless a last minute change) on July 31. From then on, the full purchase price of the vehicle must be paid.
These are the most recommended electric cars to buy according to your budget:
Less than 20,000 euros: small cars, such as the Dacia Spring or the new Citroën ë-C3, which with discounts can even stay below 20,000 euros. The MG 4 Electric also enters the list, which approves up to 350 kilometers of autonomy and, with the aid included, you can buy it for around 16,000 euros. From 20,000 to 30,000 euros: in this price range there are models such as the BYD Dolphin, the MG 5 and the MG Marvel R, always taking into account official aid. There are also other models such as the new Renault 5, which is about to be presented, the Nissan Leaf or the Fiat 500e. From 30,000 to 40,000 euros: larger models fall into this range, such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, the BYD Seal, the Kia e-Niro and the Hyundai Kona Electric, and the binomial formed by the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Cupra Born, for example. Don’t overlook the new Renault Scenic E-Tech and the Volvo EX30 either. From 40,000 to 50,000 euros: models such as the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Kia EV6 and the Hyundai Ioniq 6. More than 50,000 euros: from that price barrier, the options are much wider and you have access to higher segment models. Vehicles such as the Kia EV9, the Tesla Model S, the Mercedes EQE, the BMW i4, the Porsche Taycan or the Audi e-tron GT, are in this group, as well as the BYD Han or the Volkswagen ID.7, among others.
As you can see, the purchasing options are increasingly varied in a segment that continues to add members. If you are going to buy an electric car in 2024, take into account the parameters described above and evaluate whether any of the models recommended above fit your needs and budget.