While few manufacturers, apart from Renault, really believed in the future of electric a decade ago, brands have since had to start the forced march, caught in a pincer movement by the injunctions of the authorities and the ecological aspirations of motorists.

Today, about fifty electric vehicles are offered by almost all manufacturers. Thanks to the various bonuses (€6,000 in aid until 30 June 2022 and a conversion bonus depending on income), it is possible to access a clean car with a budget close to that of a thermal model.

For example, the Renault Twingo Electric is priced at €15,750, while the Dacia Spring starts at €12,695, compared to €18,690 for the Volkswagen e-up.

If we add to this a registration document often free or reserved parking spaces in cities, the electric car is therefore a relevant option, provided you choose it well...

A question of use

The first question to ask is that of its use. We will not invest in the same vehicle depending on whether we make small daily trips in the city center or that we travel several tens of kilometers on the main roads.

The progress made in the autonomy of electric models makes it possible to cover vast distances without moving the ball in the stomach for fear of running out of battery. However, it is still true that the electric car is much more relevant for urban drivers.

With a clear vision of your movements, you can fall back, or not, on a small or medium city car. However, care should be taken to choose a battery of at least 50 kWh. Below, the range of action, even in the city, is quickly limited.

On the other hand, heavy rollers will have to bet on larger vehicles, with larger batteries (70 kWh) and therefore more expensive. The initial investment can go from single to double or even triple, but with models that can now reach 500 km of autonomy, the spatial barrier is almost lifted.

Weight and measure

The other important criterion, which follows directly from the first, is the size of the vehicle. An SUV will not consume the same amount of energy as a city car, but will offer better comfort.

We must therefore ask ourselves the question of what we are looking for: an efficient car to make trips at lower economic and ecological costs or a vehicle to live.

Again, the available budget will act as a justice of the peace. With prices that can soar beyond € 50,000, the most comfortable models are still not accessible. By putting the means, we can have a powerful vehicle (more than 400 hp), all-wheel drive (two electric motors are placed on each axle) and pleasant to live.

OUR "ELECTRIC CAR" DOSSIER

Finally, there is the question of recharging. If you own a detached house in which it is easy to pull a domestic wire to the car or install a special box, or if you live in a dwelling that has charging spaces, you are better equipped to buy an electric vehicle, unlike a motorist who does not have access to these facilities.

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