Consumer Reports puts electric cars to the test
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More and more car companies are coming out with cars that are all-electric—no gas needed. Several claim the equivalent of 100 miles per gallon or more. The government tax credit of up to $7,500 could have you thinking about getting an electric vehicle. Consumer Reports just tested some of the latest entries.
Ford calls the Ford Focus Electric the most fuel-efficient compact car in America. Consumer Reports finds that it can get the equivalent of 107 miles per gallon. The engineers compared it with other all-electric cars, including the much smaller, sub-compact Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
Consumer Reports found the i-MiEV even more fuel-efficient, getting the equivalent of 111 miles per gallon. It’s also easy to park, but it’s slow and cramped, and it rides stiffly. In fact, Consumer Reports engineers thought it was more like a glorified golf cart.
With any all-electric car, a primary consideration is how far it will go on a charge. Consumer Reports found the i-MiEV’s range is around 60 miles. It takes 21 hours to recharge the i-MiEV on household current, but you can get a 240-volt charger installed in your house that will cut that time down to 6 hours.
The most luxurious all-electric car so far is the Tesla Model S. It claims a range of up to 65 miles. Special charging stations can charge the battery halfway in just 30 minutes.
Consumer Reports’ initial impression of the Model S is that it’s quick, agile, roomy, and refined. But it’s also expensive, starting at $57,000, and the top-of-the-line model is closer to $100,000.
The Ford Focus Electric falls somewhere in the middle. The one Consumer Reports tested costs $41,000. Its range is about 80 miles. And a full charge takes less than 4 hours with a 240-volt charger.
The Ford Focus Electric performed well at the Consumer Reports test track, with impressive ride and handling. It proved a lot more fun to drive than the Nissan Leaf—the first of the new wave of electric cars
Manufacturers are delivering a steady flow of all-electric cars. Electric versions of the Toyota RAV4 and Smart ForTwo are just out. And others are expected soon, including the Chevrolet Spark EV, Honda Fit EV, and Fiat 500e.
Ford calls the Ford Focus Electric the most fuel-efficient compact car in America. Consumer Reports finds that it can get the equivalent of 107 miles per gallon. The engineers compared it with other all-electric cars, including the much smaller, sub-compact Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
Consumer Reports found the i-MiEV even more fuel-efficient, getting the equivalent of 111 miles per gallon. It’s also easy to park, but it’s slow and cramped, and it rides stiffly. In fact, Consumer Reports engineers thought it was more like a glorified golf cart.
With any all-electric car, a primary consideration is how far it will go on a charge. Consumer Reports found the i-MiEV’s range is around 60 miles. It takes 21 hours to recharge the i-MiEV on household current, but you can get a 240-volt charger installed in your house that will cut that time down to 6 hours.
The most luxurious all-electric car so far is the Tesla Model S. It claims a range of up to 65 miles. Special charging stations can charge the battery halfway in just 30 minutes.
Consumer Reports’ initial impression of the Model S is that it’s quick, agile, roomy, and refined. But it’s also expensive, starting at $57,000, and the top-of-the-line model is closer to $100,000.
The Ford Focus Electric falls somewhere in the middle. The one Consumer Reports tested costs $41,000. Its range is about 80 miles. And a full charge takes less than 4 hours with a 240-volt charger.
The Ford Focus Electric performed well at the Consumer Reports test track, with impressive ride and handling. It proved a lot more fun to drive than the Nissan Leaf—the first of the new wave of electric cars
Manufacturers are delivering a steady flow of all-electric cars. Electric versions of the Toyota RAV4 and Smart ForTwo are just out. And others are expected soon, including the Chevrolet Spark EV, Honda Fit EV, and Fiat 500e.
I am all for the electric cars for around town, but what happens if you want to take a trip to Olympia from Seattle? Only a hybrid would do in a case like that. Till they are able to extend the range of the electric I will have to stick with the old gas burner. Where I live now the closest WalMart is 70 miles away and no charging station there. Not much chance of using one for that trip. In time they will be able to come up with some kind of storage device that will allow a car to do 200 miles or more on a charge than I would go out and buy one, but not till then I am afraid.
Granted, electric cars are an incredibly good thing for our environment. Question: How much does it increase your electric bill to run a battery charger for 6 to 12 hours. Would this be like running an electric dryer for 6 to 12 hours?
@jjccamis We have had our Leaf now for 2 years and have put just over 22,000 miles on it driving from Mukilteo to Seattle and back several days a week. The average cost for electric is $25-30 a month. So to drive 22k miles it has only cost us about $650 vs. $2500-5000 in fuel.
 @jjccamis In the first month of driving a leaf I drove about 450 miles and it cost $11 in electricity.
@TacomaUntapped Thanks, that answers my question Good to know.
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 @jjccamis also I use the "trickle" charger that comes with the Leaf and plugs into the regular outlet. Never any problems so far.
tesla has a govt. tested range of 265 miles (not 65 as it says in your article). Â Some Model S owners have driven it over 400 miles on a single charge....and as you pointed out it can add 150 miles of range in just 30 minutes. Â This can be done at Tesla solar powered stations for FREE! Â The Tesla is in a completely different league from any other electric car on the market.....and that is according to ALL the industry analysts that test drive it.
 @cap nap There are only 8 of the quick charge stations in the country (none in this state) so the 30 minute charge shouldn't be considered an option. That said the Tesla would be the only one I would consider buying.
@cap nap i thought the range on the Tesla depended on which battery pack you got?
 @watcher  @cap it does. I'm assuming consumer reports tested the smallest and cheapest version rather then the largest (which is well worth the extra 10k)
You may get tax credits, but then the state wants to put gps trackers in your highly efficient car and tax you by the mile. Not a big selling point.
 @SkaBob Since these electric cars don't buy gas and pay any fuel taxes, which support the road maintenance and repair costs, how are electric cars supposed to pay their fair share? I suppose their license fees could be increased based on weight since that is a major factor in road breakdowns.Â