From the fun car to the Tesla hunter
As big as conventional cars, the e-mobile offer is far from over. Nevertheless, it is already colorful and diverse.
The number of electric cars in the German market is growing steadily. Among the more than 30 current models, some are particularly interesting. A selection.
To get used to: VW E-Golf
Novel mobility in the guise of the traditional automobile - if you want to change as little as possible when switching to the electric car, choose Germany's long-term bestseller in the electric version. The current Golf is well thought out and well done, even if slight weaknesses such as the lack of active battery cooling could annoy frequent drivers. However, the 100 kW / 136 hp compact is a phase-out model, will be replaced by the VW Neo by 2020 at the latest. Although it has been completely redesigned, it shouldn't require the buyer to get used to it, either, in the good VW tradition. The prices for the E-Golf start at 35.900 euros, the range is given as 231 kilometers (WLTP).
The bestseller: Renault Zoe
Inexpensive, quick to recharge, easy to handle and also quite respectable - Renault's e-small car Zoe is not for nothing the most popular Stromer in Germany. For the city, the weaker version (68 kW / 92 PS) with a small battery (22 kWh) is ideal, while over-land operations with the more powerful version (80 kW / 108 PS) can be completed more risk-free and more relaxed. Also reassuring is the larger power reserve (41 kWh), which is sufficient for up to 316 kilometers drive (WLTP). Prices start at 21.900 Euro plus battery rent.
The world bestseller: Nissan Leaf
What the Renault Zoe is for Europe, the Nissan Leaf on a global scale: a successful model for electric mobility. In Germany, the compact developed with a focus on the US market could never really prevail, which should not least be due to the getting used to optics. Technically, there is little to complain about the here also missing battery cooling. The top model delivers 160 kW / 217 PS and offers a range of 385 kilometers. This is suitable for every day and highway. With a price between 32.000 Euro and 46.500 Euro, the Nissan should have a hard time against VW Neo and Tesla Model 3.
The classic: Peugeot Ion / Citroen C-Zero
The two French are identical twins of the Mitsubishi EV, the 2010 under the name i-MiEV the electric age started. Old but not outdated, Ion and C-Zero with a range of 100 kilometers (WLTP) and a performance of 49 kW / 67 PS are pure short-distance cars for the city. In return, however, the price with 21.800 Euro is quite attractive. When Mitsubishi, now no longer available in Germany, came to Europe, buyers still had to invest around 35.000 Euro. But also Ion and C-Zero are discontinued models: For the coming year, the first own electric cars of the two PSA brands are expected.
The Fashionable: Hyundai Kona Electric / Kia E-Niro
More contemporary body style, coupled with promising technology - the Hyundai Kona Elektro mini crossover and its widely-owned Kia e-Niro group brother place electromobility at the heart of the automotive society. With a range between good 300 and almost 500 kilometers (WLTP) depending on the battery and engine variant, attractive performance and high fast-charging capability (up to 100 kW charging power), the duo is currently one of the most sophisticated offers beyond the premium manufacturers. The prices start at just under 35.000 Euro.
The wannabe revolutionary: Tesla Model 3
Californian newcomer Tesla has made established e-mobility automakers look old for years. Conquered with Model S and Model X initially the premium market, the model 3 should also appeal to average consumers. With a starting price of initially 58.000 Euro, however, this should only be possible to a limited extent. Even though a range of 530 kilometers (WLTP) and a performance of 335 kW / 456 PS offer neat equivalent. A real revolutionary should be the middle-class sedan but only with the announced basic variants, which will probably cost just under 40.000 Euro in Germany.
The avant-garde: BMW i3
If you want to accuse the German car industry to have slept on the electric car for a long time, you have to exclude BMW. With the small car i3 built entirely around the new drive, the Munich 2013 were avant-garde in many respects - for example, with extremely lightweight construction and innovative sales models. Although the momentum of the pioneering years at BMW seems to have silted up, the i3 has been carefully kept fresh over the years. It now offers a travel-capable range of up to 359 kilometers (NEDC) and up to 135 kW / 184 horsepower. The prices for the top variant are salted with at least 41.150 euro for a small car however. Even the weaker base model with a smaller battery still costs 37.550 Euro.
The fun mobile: Citroen E-Méhari
Initially intended for driving along the Cote d'Azur, the Citroen e-Méhari is now also suitable for our latitudes. Since the beginning of 2018, the electric beach buggy has not only been available as a convertible, but also with a fixed roof. At the same time, modern security systems and convenience extras such as central locking were introduced on board. Of course, this has not turned the plastic car into a serious everyday car. The four-seater is always a charming eye-catcher and an uncomplicated companion for leisure. The prices for the 50 kW / 68 hp beach car start at 25.270 euros plus battery rental, the range is given as 195 kilometers (NEDC).
The Tesla fighter: Audi E-Tron
Audi plans to start chasing upstart Tesla in the spring with a large electric SUV. The E-Tron is less a visionary than a conqueror that fits the Model X perfectly. The basic data are similar: the four-wheel drive has an output of up to 300 kW / 409 hp, drives around 400 kilometers (WLTP) and costs a lot of money. While there are hardly any extras for the Tesla in the price list, the Audi option catalog is extremely long, so that the entry-level price of 80.000 euros can be easily brought to a six-digit Model X level. Even if the E-Tron is not a big hit, the good brand image and the high-quality workmanship should not only draw Tesla contempt into the dealership.