Imagine a car which has zero emissions, government subsidies of £3,500 off the purchase price, and is tax-free. Oh, and it requires less maintenance, has lower running costs, AND creates nearly no noise.

This car is not a mere fantasy, it exists today in the form of an electric vehicle (EV). But despite all these benefits, electric cars only comprise 1-2% of UK annual car sales - so why aren’t more UK drivers buying EVs?

In a survey by YouGov, the most common concern for 81% of respondents was their range. But the ranges of EVs are improving all the time, meaning many options are available if you require a car which provides significant mileage.

Here, Yellow Car Shop have assessed the longest-range EVs, comparing their top speed, 0-60 mph acceleration time, range, and budget bracket.

1. ‘The Splash Out’ - The 2021 Tesla Roadster

Top Speed: 250 mph

Range: 620 Miles

0-60 mph in: 1.9 Seconds

Price: £38,000 (Base Series) - £250,000 (Founders Series)

Pros:

A supercar for the real world: The Tesla Roadster has ‘Supercar’ status, but offers spacious, practical design

A luxury vehicle: The Roadster boasts a lightweight, removable glass roof, and showcases a sleek, modern, and minimalist ‘spaceship’ style design.

The look is complemented by futuristic features such as fingerprint warlocks and DriverAssist

All-Wheel Drive

Seats 4

Cons:

Not released yet: The Roadster has been in development since 2017 and was due to come out in 2020, but this was delayed by COVID-19. Tesla may have to delay the release further to update the vehicle’s design, so it’s now speculated to be coming out in 2022. You can reserve your Roadster for a deposit of £29,000

The price tag: The Founders Series costs a staggering £250,000!

Design flaws: Some reviewers have expressed doubts about certain design components, including the ‘butterfly wheel’ which is not road legal in some areas

2. ‘The Investment’ - The Tesla Model S Long Range

Top Speed: 162 mph

Range: 405 Miles

0-60 mph in: 2.3 Seconds

Price: From £73,990

Pros:

Cheaper than the Roadster: At £73,990 The Model S Long-Range is more affordable than its £250,000 counterpart

Similar features to the Roadster, but more practical: The Model S has more space than the Roadster; it can be transformed into a seven-seater AND includes extra storage space

Offers Semi-Autonomous Driving Assistance

Can seat 7

Cons:

BIG!: The Model S is pretty chunky. Get used to inching around country lanes and squeezing into parking spaces!

Price: While it’s cheaper than the Roadster, buying a Model S is still not a decision to take lightly seeing as it costs £73,990

3. ‘The Compromise’ - Volkswagen ID.3

Top Speed: 99 mph

Range: 340 Miles

0-60 mph in: 7.1 Seconds

Price: From £32,000

Pros:

Seats 5

Offers a quiet, smooth, and responsive drive

A practical vehicle which provides a decent amount of space and a reasonably large boot

At 340 Miles range, it offers a lot of distance for its price

Cons:

Too familiar perhaps? Little difference between the appearance of this vehicle and the Volkswagen Golf

Not flashy: Some reviewers have found the ID.3 ‘unmemorable’ on account of its practical design. But for a daily-use car, it’s a great compromise.

4. ‘The Best Of Both Worlds’ - The Polestar 2

Top Speed: 127 mph

Range: 292 Miles

0-60 mph in: 4.1 Seconds

Price: From £49,900

Pros:

A happy balance: The Polestar is fantastic value for money, and a great compromise between a practical car and a Supercar

Qualifies for the UK’s low emission car grant: You can get up to £3,000 off the purchase price when you buy a Polestar 2!

Has Four-Wheel Drive

Has Android User Interface: Connects easily to Google Maps

Has a decent amount of space in both the cabin and the boot

Seats 5

Includes a front boot for extra storage

Cons:

It can be difficult to find charging points for non-Tesla electric cars

Design hitches: The back windows don’t wind all the way down, and someone needs sit in the driver’s seat for the windows to work

Only connects to Android phones: Not so good for Apple users!

5. ‘The Eco Warrior’ – The Hyundai Kona Electric

Top Speed: 126 mph

Range: 256 Miles

0-60 mph in: 6.4 Seconds

Price: From £17,396

Pros:

Seats 5

Has a decent-sized boot

Offers value for money: The Kona Electric has a range of up to 256 miles, and a top speed of 126 MPH. Not bad for a car starting at £17,396!

Fuel efficient: One of the most energy efficient electric cars around, with an 120 MPG-e rating

Handles well: Offers a responsive drive and does 0-60 in under 7 seconds

Cons:

Boxy design: The vehicle is square, with a functional interior.

Sources

https://www.tesla.com/en_GB/roadster

https://www.carwow.co.uk/hyundai/kona-ev

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/polestar/2

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/tesla/model-s/driving

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/hyundai/kona-electric

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=rEsqhY9TCt8

https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/news/161273/all-new-tesla-roadster-for-2020

https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/electric-cars-longest-range

https://uk.motor1.com/news/448027/top-10-reasons-drivers-not-considering-ev/

https://www.pocket-lint.com/cars/news/tesla/137055-tesla-everything-you-need-to-know

https://www.buyacar.co.uk/cars/economical-cars/electric-cars/651/electric-cars-pros-and-cons

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/hyundai/kona/150kw-premium-64kwh-5dr-auto/first-drive

https://electrek.co/2018/08/11/tesla-roadster-spaceship-interior-production-design-will-be-better-elon-musk/

https://www.aviva.co.uk/aviva-edit/your-things-articles/are-electric-cars-the-most-environmentally-friendly-choice/

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/electric-cars/100285/could-you-live-with-an-electric-car-the-pros-and-cons-of-owning-an-ev

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-next-gen-roadster-trunk-first-look/#:~:text=When%20Elon%20Musk%20unveiled%20the,its%202%2B2%20seating%20configuration.

https://www.caranddriver.com/polestar/polestar-2#:~:text=Engine%2C%20Transmission%2C%20and%20Performance&text=Each%20produces%20201%20horsepower%20and,2.2%20ticks%20during%20our%20testing.