There’s something undeniably exhilarating about the roar of a motor as it speeds down a street. Even more thrilling, if it’s our car and our motor doing the purring, of course. Let’s face it, for some of us, the road we often travel on looks less like Top Gear’s race track and a lot more like the iconic images of urban overcrowding.The route to our office(s) can be a long haul, slow crawling, noisy and smelly.
Even so, some of us have opted to work remotely, as often as possible to save time, reduce gas cost and increase our car’s performance. However, for those who are unable to work from home, perhaps now is the time to upgrade to an electric vehicle.
Put to rest the notions that electric vehicles (EV’s) are overpriced, difficult to charge and slow. The new generation of EV’s want for nothing when it comes to technology and state-of-the-art design. As a matter of fact, popular EV’s like Honda Fit, Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf deliver lower MPG’s and lower emissions than your standard vehicles.
Honda Fit
This car packs a lot of sass, not in vain, and it’s called Honda Jazz in Europe. This fuel-efficient compact has just unveiled its 2015 model, and is excellent in terms of price and performance. The manual transmission has six gears that have been reviewed as smooth and fun, going up to 4,000 rpm in sixth gear, at 80 mph.
It has the classic Honda look and unique squinting headlights of a Civic; but more compact in the outside and surprisingly roomy on the inside. The backseat passengers will be very pleased to know that Honda went the extra mile to add 4.8 inches of rear legroom, which makes carpooling far more comfortable.
This Fit EV, launched in 2012 for the very first time, has a very modest starting price of $15,525. It has many high tech features: push button start, Honda lane watch, SMS text message function, smart entry, the unique Econ button and the Eco Assist System.
The Econ button enhances fuel efficiency while driving with a slow and steady transition at higher revolutions. The Eco Assist System is our personal favorite, because it displays information that helps you develop a fuel-efficient driving style, by showing an analysis of your driving and how much energy your car is using as a result. How cool is that?
Chevy Volt
For a rush of energy, Chevrolet has unveiled its new EV that can be plugged in any common 120V household outlet. Unlike its ultra-luxurious cousins, your Volt can be charged anywhere you go, provided you have an extension cord. Its starting price is $34,185, but thanks to new government initiatives, you can get up to $7,500 in tax credit, because green drivers deserve it; taking it down to a final starting price of $26,685.
It’s top-notch lithium-ion battery, takes you 38 miles without any gas for your daily commute. With the gas-powered generator, you can go further, about 380 miles for those longer journeys on the highway.
Chevrolet and all of us thank Volt users, because they have driven over half a billion of electric miles since the car’s launch in 2010, reducing gas consumption by more than 25-million gallons.
Nissan LEAF
This 100% emission free EV takes you 84 miles before you need to recharge its powerful battery. The Leaf gives you more miles than needed for the average American round-trip commute. And once the battery starts running low, your LEAF will let you know on time so you can plug it in any good old 120V outlet.
Its Intelligent Key, allows you to open and start your car just by having the key on you. The push button start is seamless and it even has tunes that greet you when you turn on your Nissan. It’s the quietest EV; ideal for city commutes. No tailpipe emissions and no noise pollution. It’s a winning combination. To top it off, there’s the savings you get for saving the planet. If you drove 20 miles a day, per year, you could save around $2,224, and get up to $7,500 in tax credits and government incentives. We seem to have run out of reasons why not to drive an EV!
Electric cars may still seem futuristic, but the diverse range of plug-in electric vehicles now offered, in at least parts of the US, means drivers have more options in alternate powertrains than ever before. EV’s even look and feel similar to standard vehicles; yet you will notice how it’s positively impacting your wallet and planet. So why not take your next commute in a Honda Fit, Chevy Volt or Nissan LEAF?