Looks like we are living in the future of automobile already; electric cars are here in droves. Different models, shapes, colors… it’s an exciting time. Boasting of the best available automobile technology both in aesthetics and performance, these cars are just as pleasant as normal cars.
The benefits of having an electric car such as tax cuts, savings accrued from not buying gas, and positive environmental impacts, have made car enthusiasts world over to start making it a goal to get at least one EV in their fleet.
It’s no doubt the newly released electric cars will top the value rankings for the future, but for the past, with a mix of price, performance, and longevity, we bring you 10 electric cars that hold their value longest.
10 MITSUBISHI i-MiEV
The i-MiEV from Mitsubishi made this list—don’t be surprised. Reputed to be the first-ever electric car to hit the market, thus becoming the oldest electric car still in production, the i-MiEV hasn’t done too badly in the value contest.
With not much performance value to offer anyway—it's slower, smaller, and covers fewer miles when compared to other electric vehicles, but i-MiEV is the cheapest electric vehicle in the world. It's incredible affordability and its rarity have earned the i-MiEV a spot at the 10th place on this value list.
9 AUDI A3 SPORTBACK E-TRON
A hybrid, the A3 Sportback e-Tron from Audi made the list even though it has been discontinued. This hybrid EV has an 8.8 kWh battery with an incredible all-electric range of 580 miles. It has an acceleration ability of 60 mph in 7.6 seconds and an impressive top speed of 140 mph.
The discontinuity of this hybrid car in 2016 hasn’t affected its value drastically, as car enthusiasts who are skeptical about splashing out big on top-range electric cars are opting for these not so pricey used hybrids to test the waters.
8 2016 CHEVROLET SPARK EV
It’s so much fun to drive Chevrolet Spark EV. This all-electric variant offers a more quiet and pleasant drive in comparison with its gas-powered twin. Sharp steering coupled with nicely balanced and responsive handling makes it seem more like a video game than an actual, physical experience.
Packed with a 21 kW lithium-ion battery, the Chevy Spark EV produces 130 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated acceleration of 60 mph in 8 seconds, covering a total range of 82 miles per charge. These impressive stats have made the Spark EV good bargain for EV enthusiasts over time.
7 FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC
2011 Green Car Vision Award winner and top five Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal 2011 winner are some of the feats the Focus Electric has achieved. A 5-door hatchback electric car, the Focus Electric has an upgraded liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack of 33.5 kWh capacity with a maximum range of 76 miles.
Two price cuts in the past made the Ford Focus Electric quite affordable when compared to other electric vehicles in its class. Affordability, a relatively good specification, and longevity have earned Ford Focus Electric the seventh spot on this list.
6 2016 TESLA MODEL X
After a couple of delays and reschedulings, the Tesla Model X finally got released in late 2015, with an upgraded version released in 2016. Adorned with uniquely styled vertically opening doors, the Model X delivers an incredible range of 295 miles per charge. Fitted with a 100 kWh battery, the Model X does 100 mph in 3.1 seconds.
The Tesla Model X is a high-performance EV by all standards, and it’s not a surprise that its value remains considerably high even after years of use, thereby earning it the number 6 on our list.
5 2012 RENAULT ZOE
The French are well known for their exquisitely brewed wines and fun-filled parties, but with the Renault Zoe, they’ve also staked a decent claim to the EV game. The 2012 Zoe is a five-door supermini electric car fortified with a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery delivering a range in excess up to 150 miles when fully charged.
Zoe has been the top all-time selling EV in the French market and also topped European sales for two years consecutively – in 2015 and 2016. Its relatively early release means it has been in the EV game for a bit and remains quite valuable years after its release.
4 2017 CHEVROLET BOLT EV
Taking the fourth place on this list, the Bolt EV from Chevrolet has some awesome features like its subcompact hatchback design and its 280 miles range on a single full charge. It boasts of acceleration from rest to 60 mph in 7 seconds, and a top speed of 91 mph. The EPA-rated range for Bolt is 238 miles, and there’s a documented report of an owner who did 313 miles on a single charge.
Although it was released in 2016, the Bolt won three major car awards in 2017 and also got listed among the Best 25 invention of 2016 by Time Magazine.
3 2014 BMW i3
BMW described the i3 as “a revolution” and, quite frankly, it wasn’t all hype. World Green Car of the Year and World Car Design of the Year at World Car of the Year Award in 2014, also UK Car of the Year and Best Super-mini at the 2014 UK Car of the Year Awards are some of the attestations to the value the i3 holds.
This high-roof hatchback 3-series is BMW’s first mass-produced zero-emissions vehicle. For a car that does 62 mph in 7.2 seconds at a top speed of 93 mph with a maximum range of 124 miles at full charge, you shouldn’t wonder too much why it has an incredible resale value even after some years of use.
2 2011 NISSAN LEAF
Top speed of 93 mph, acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 9.9 seconds, and a range of 100 miles per charge have all combine to earn the 2011 Leaf top spot in electric vehicle ranking, with World Car of the Year in 2011 and other numerous European awards to show for it.
An incredible total of 400,000 Leafs has been sold as at March 2019, making this EV the world’s best-selling highway-capable electric car of all-time. The Leaf is reported to have retained an incredible 34.3% of its value even after 3 years.
1 2012 TESLA MODEL S
Cars will come and cars will go... or so we thought until Tesla made the 2012 Model S. This car doesn’t seem to be going anywhere any time soon. A road beast since its first release, the Tesla Model S boasts of an EPA range of 370 miles.
This car does so well in sales you’d think it is candy. It twice topped the monthly new car sales ranking in Norway in 2013, achieving the same feat once in Denmark in 2015. The newer models are juicier, but the older folks haven’t lost their tastes. For its value and longevity, the 2012 Tesla Model S takes the top spot on our ranking.