Electric cars are becoming more and more common with each passing day. As of yet, sales of a 4-seater electric car is approximately 2% in the US. However, it has been estimated that by the end of 2025, electric cars will account for nearly 9% of the US market.
Electric cars or EVs (Electrical Vehicles) are available in different models. Many people are hesitant to purchase electrical cars because they’re unaware of the pros and cons that come with them.
If you’re interested in buying an electric car, there are certain things that you should understand about EVs. Here’s everything that you need to know:
What Types of 4-Seater Electric Cars are Available?
To sum up, there are two main types of 4-seater electric cars that are available in the market today. These are hybrid electric cars and pure electric cars.
Both types of electric cars continue to evolve every day, with different models being introduced. They’re available in all shapes and sizes that cater to the needs of all.
There are plenty of 4-seater and 2-seater models with different features. But almost all the models are based on a plug-in hybrid electric car or a pure electric car.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Cars (PHEV)
Plug-in hybrid cars can run on both electricity and conventional fuels. They come with a battery that needs electric power to run. Most plug-in hybrid electric cars can run for approximately 50 miles on electric power easily.
Once the batteries run out of power, they can switch to using conventional fuels. You can easily take your car to the nearest gas station for refueling, and when you’re done, you can recharge your car’s battery at any time.
Plug-in hybrid cars are ideally used by people who travel for shorter distances. For short drives, they don’t have to switch between using electricity and fuel.
A hybrid car can run mostly on electricity when there aren’t any large distances to be covered.
Plus, if they ever do run out of power, they have a backup fuel system that will save them the trouble of having their car towed back home.
Maintaining plug-in hybrid electric cars is easier than maintaining conventional cars; however, they still have more moving parts than a pure electric car. That’s why the maintenance cost of pure electric cars is much lower than that of hybrid electric cars.
Read Hidden Costs of Owning an Electric Car
Pure Electric Cars/ Battery Electric Cars (BEV)
Pure electric cars or battery-operated electric cars, on the other hand, run solely on electricity. They have batteries that require electric power for charging.
Unlike a hybrid electric car, a pure EV can run for multiple days without requiring any recharging.
Most cars can run on a simple 120-volt outlet, which means you don’t have to go out of your way to purchase a separate home charger. In very rare cases, does a car require a 240-volt outlet for charging.
A pure electric car has fewer components making its maintenance much simpler and less costly. They don’t require fluid changes or car tuning like in regular cars or even in a hybrid electric car.
Check out, How Much Does it Cost to Convert a Car to Electric
Which is the Best 4-Seater Electric Car?
Unlike regular cars, buying an electric car is a lot more difficult. The process itself is fairly smooth; however, choosing the right 4-seater car for your use can put you in a pickle. It’s because there are so many models available that it’s hard to choose one.
Fortunately, to make the decision easier for you, we’ve made a list of some of the best 4-seater cars that are available in the market today. Let’s look at the 5 best 4-seater electric cars of all time:
1. Mini Cooper SE
The Mini Cooper SE is one of the latest models of 4-seater electric cars. It’s really fun to drive and has many features that make it even more appealing. It’s one of the first electric cars designed by Mini, and it’s a great first attempt, to say the least.
The only drawback of this car is that it has a shorter overall range. With a fully charged battery, the car can only run for 110 miles. But the good news is that it comes with 181 horsepower and loads of torque to accompany it; the car drive is very fun.
Moreover, the car comes with a 50 kilowatt fast charger, which can be fully charged in an hour. The best part is that it’s easily affordable. Its starting price is around $29,900.
2. Audi E-Tron
Ever since Audi made a debut in 2019 with its first purpose-built battery electric car, minor changes have been made to the latest model. The car itself has taken the market by storm because of its excellent performance.
The latest model comes with a 95 kilowatt-hour battery that allows the car to run for 222 miles easily.
The starting price of the Audi E-Tron is approximately $66,995, which also includes the destination. It’s a perfect car with a combination of various software and hardware updates that enhance its performance and take it to the next level.
3. BMW i3
The BMW i3 is another innovative electric car that’s available in the market for around $44,450. The best part about it is that it is eligible for a federal tax credit that goes up to $7,500. It has a 42 kilowatt-hour battery that takes about 6 hours to fully charge.
Although it has a relatively short range of about 153 miles, it is still one of the best 4-seater electric cars that you can get. This car will give you a comfortable ride every time, and if you want something classy to drive, this is it.
4. Hyundai Ioniq Electric
The basic model of the Hyundai Ioniq Electric is still one of the best 4-seater electric cars that you can get to this day.
It offers a range of 170 miles and is an affordable car that you can get for $30,000. For first-time buyers, this would make a great purchase.
The car has a permanent magnet electric motor with 134 horsepower. Moreover, it offers 218 pound-feet torque making it a smooth ride every time. It’s nothing too fancy or extravagant, but it’s perfect for daily use.
You can always use a fast charger to fully charge your car in an hour. The batter has 38.3 kilowatt-hours.
5. Kandi K27
If you want a low-range and a low-budget car, getting Kandi K27 is the best option for you. This 4-seater electric car has a range of 59 miles and is inexpensive.
You can get Kandi K27 for just $19,999; however, if you apply for the federal tax credit, you can save $7,500 and get the car for $12,499.
The range is its only drawback; otherwise, it’s a perfect fit for every household. If you don’t travel for long, this would be the ideal car for you with aesthetics to top it all off.
The car has a battery of 17.69 kilowatt-hours. The charging time for this car is 7 hours. The top speed of the car is approximately 101 kilometers per hour, making it a fun drive.
Also, read, Should I Buy a Used Electric Car?
How do 4-Seater Electric Cars Save Money?
The cost of operating an electric car is much less than a conventional car. It’s because an electric car has fewer components that make its maintenance easier.
Furthermore, electricity cost per unit is much cheaper than the unit cost of conventional fuels like gasoline and petrol.
In 4-seater electric cars, the price drops automatically because they’re smaller in size and have less range than bigger cars. Even still, they can reduce the running cost of your car to a great extent.
If you were to make a rough estimate, the average cost of car fuel is approximately twice as much as the cost of electricity. Moreover, if you charge your car in off-peak hours, you can save even more money.
If you have a solar panel at home, that’s even better. Using solar energy would eliminate your electricity cost. While solar panels are expensive, you should consider them a one-time investment with minimal maintenance over the years.
Additionally, these cars are also safer for the environment. Conventional fuels contribute greatly to the production of smog which is a serious environmental hazard. Many diseases like asthma are spread because of air pollution caused by vehicles.
If you’re an environmental enthusiast, you’d be happy to know that an electric car does not have any tailpipe emissions. This makes it environmentally friendly and a true “green” option. Throughout their service life, an electrical car has lowered carbon emissions. Even the battery operated
On top of reducing air pollution, electric cars also play a part in reducing noise pollution. The engine noise you hear when you drive your car can be loud, and during long drives, it can give you a headache. Fortunately, electric cars do not make any engine noise.
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- What Would Happen if Everyone Switched to an Electric Car
- How Much Power Does an Electric Car Consume?
- Best Portable Electric Car Heaters – Buyer’s Guide
- Components in Electric Cars and How Electric Cars Work
- What is the World’s Fastest Electric Car
Our Final Thoughts
Now you know how the two basic types of electric cars function. If you don’t want to take any risks, you can always opt for a plug-in hybrid electric car. But if you want to quit cold turkey on consuming gasoline-powered cars, getting a pure electric car is the best choice you have.
We also discussed the 5 best 4-seater electric cars that you can find in the US. With the ever-increasing technology, EVs are becoming more and more popular, and they offer countless features that make driving them even more fun.
Most 4-seater electric cars are expensive because of the long-term benefits they have to offer. But if you look at the bigger picture, you can recuperate that cost in the long run.
Plus, with more people showing an interest in an electric car, there is a chance that their prices may drop so that everyone can afford one. Of course, the latest models will always be expensive as they always are, even with conventional cars.
My name is Matthew, staying in Seattle, Washington. Electric Vehicles (Electric Cars & Electric bikes) caught my attention for the last few years and my love for electric cars and bikes is everlasting. I spend many of my weekends traveling to various places all over various cities with my electric vehicle (e-bike and electric car). Here I am sharing my expertise, experience, and invaluable information about electric cars and electric bikes. Check out more.