The auto world is on the brink of a revolution again – like the time cars moved from leaded fuels to unleaded ones, causing the entire machinery under the hoods to change. At that time too, decades ago, the switch from lead-based to unleaded fuel was made to protect the environment. The emissions of the leaded fuel were toxic and working towards slowly poisoning everything around. Years have passed and now the emissions of the unleaded fuel we use are also slowly building up – leading to global warming and other effects the governments of the world do not want to get up and take note of.

Many automobile companies have woken up to the demands of the increasing eco-conscious consumer base and have been slowly introducing the lowest-emission vehicles that technology can allow. So this includes hybrids, pure EVs and of course, hydrogen-fueled cars as well. Consumers are willing to shell out those extra bucks for their cars to be environmentally savvy and are also ready to make a few sacrifices to speed and acceleration for the same. They don’t mind stopping every now and then for a charge either. But the cars we are talking about are the ones that outdo traditional guzzlers in performance, speed, luxury and basically everything. These are the 20 most advanced low-emission cars of the future other than Tesla, that are available to buyers right now…

20 BMW i8 Roadster: The Electric Convertible

via netcarshow.com

This one is not a car, consider this as a work of art. It’s absolutely gorgeous and seems to have revived the i8 from the midlife crisis it seems to be facing, with newer and fresher models all around.

The electric motor on this also received an update and now produces 143 horsepower, 12 more than the i8 that escaped the drop top.

The car’s combined output is now a cool 374 horsepower and it is still very fast – it can dash 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and run at a flat out speed of 155mph. Frankly, its looks are enough to get it sold and become a market leader in the convertible EV race.

19 Rimac C-Two: An Electric Motor For Each Wheel

via cnet.com

Rimac, a Croatian automaker, is behind this awesome all-electric supercar. Dubbed as C-Two, this hyper-car is already considered as a legend by its admirers. Each wheel of the C-Two is paired with a liquid-cooled synchronous DC electric motor and all four of them collectively thrash out an incredible 1888 horsepower and a wealthy torque of 1696 ft-lb. The car brags of a 0-60mph sprint in a brisk 1.85 seconds and can attain a top mark of 258 mph – incredible enough to make it the fastest four-wheeler ever on earth. To add more to its glory – it gives a range of 403 miles on a single full charge. The C-Two is a limited production supercar with just 150 units being sold at a whopping $ 2 million each and will be delivered by 2020.

18 Koenigsegg Regera: 1500 Horsepower

via carbuzz.com

The Swedish speed buckshot Koenigsegg Regera boasts of a colossal 1500 horsepower and an equally enormous 1465 ft-lb of torque. The Regera uses a hybrid powertrain that combines a 5-liter twin-turbo V8 with three electric motors and a leading-edge battery power. This plug-in hybrid’s potent engine is tied to a single-speed fixed gear transmission.

The name Regera means “to rule” in Swedish and it certainly will rule the roost when delivered to its cost-doesn't-matter buyers.

This handcrafted sports car is a limited edition PHEV with only 80 units under production. All of them have already been sold at a super priced US$ 1.9 million each.

17 Jaguar I-Pace: The Jag Goes Electric

via carmagazine.co.uk

The 2018 I-Pace is Jaguar’s maiden entry in the electric car bazaar. This chic SUV’s electric motor jets out a massive 395 horsepower and 513 ft-lb of torque. An impressive 298-mile range with equally impressive off-road capabilities and a 0-60 mph sprint of 4.5 seconds the I-Pace is already a hit among its prospective buyers this year. This all-electric performance SUV also has a built-in All Wheel Drive traction. With an elegant and dynamic appearance as well as Jaguar’s characteristic onboard luxury, this zero tailpipe emission beauty can take you miles effortlessly. And the I-Pace can be recharged even when it’s raining or snowing.

16 Mercedes-Benz EQ: The Future Is Here

via youtube.com

One look and we are sold. It’s as futuristic as they get and seems to have a rather avant-garde personality. EQ stands for electric quotient, and much like a person with a higher IQ, this one seems to float above the other EV mishmash as well with its looks alone. The specs are pretty similar to the I-pace – two electric motors power the front and the rear wheels respectively.

Apparently, this one would be able to churn out more than 400bhp and be one very powerful variant indeed.

It also promises to zoom 0-62mph in less than five seconds, making it a very powerful contender to Tesla’s insane speeds. Oh, and did we mention it can also be charged wirelessly?

15 Audi A3 Sportback E-Tron: Can Run As A Hybrid Only

Via audi.ca

Well, it’s an Audi, so it has to be good, right? The A3 e-Tron gives you all the luxury of the Audi, and all the power of the Audi, with all the low-emissions of a Tesla! It beats the BMW i3, Chevrolet Volt and the Ford C-Max Energi with its e-motor. If you run it only on its electric motor though, you would not be happy with the very limited range of 16 miles – this is a car meant to run as a hybrid only. It does have a roomy behind and the ultimate in luxury interiors to compensate. But it looks really bland for a car named “Tron”.

14 BMW i3: Go-Kart Like Handling

via motortrend.com

The pod-like BMW i3 is loved for its zippy spurt when on city roads and a go-kart-like handling. The i3 is the best-selling zero-emission car in the domestic market. The five-door luxury hatch is built primarily on carbon fiber to lower down its weight and step up its performance. This electric-powered car attains an efficiency rating of 129 MPGe in the city traffic conditions and 106 MPGe on highways. Also nicknamed as BMW’s Mega City Vehicle, it can do 114 miles on a single full charge. With a small gasoline range extender engine, i3 REX – a plug-in hybrid variant, it can achieve a commendable 180 miles on a single full charge.

13 Honda Clarity EV: A Lease-Only EV

Via insideevs.com

The all-electric Honda Clarity is currently pegged only for California and Oregon residents. This lease-only EV has a range of 89 miles and is pegged at city commuters.

The Clarity EV’s powertrain includes 120kW AC Synchronous electric motor paired with a single-speed direct-drive transmission.

This mid-size luxury car is equipped with almost all of Honda’s premium features like Honda Sensing Suite and Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System. This four-door sedan’s aerodynamic design and elegant looks make it stand apart from other EVs. Also, the eco-friendly beauty is available on attractive lease plans combined with incentives and rebates –a green initiative from the state governments.

12 Kia Soul EV: No Whining Allowed

via caranddriver.com

The Kia Soul EV is actually an electric version of its sibling the second-generation Kia Soul. The all-electric Soul EV carries an electric motor rated at a worthy 109 horsepower and a torque of 210 ft-lb. The 2018 model year Soul EV gives a savvy 111 miles range that is good enough to convince its eco-conscious buyers. Plus its electric motor doesn’t whine the way other ones too. Currently, this subcompact crossover SUV is available only in the select states in two trims. The Soul EV also brings along an array of lucrative government incentives and happiness with her to woo eagle-eyed buyers.

11 Nissan Leaf: A Best-Selling EV

via autotrader.ca

A perfect name for an environment-friendly car the Leaf is labeled as the all-time best-selling highway-savvy all-electric car in the history of automobiles. The Leaf gives a healthy 151 mile’s range on a single full charge with efficiency ratings of 125 MPGe in the city and 100 MPGe on the highways. With more than 300 thousands buyers across the globe, the Leaf has certainly ruled the compact car segment for almost eight years. This five-door hatchback is loaded with modern features and comes with a handsome federal EV tax credit benefit. To add more to its award-winning career – its electric mill coughs up a rock-solid 147 horsepower and 236 ft-lb of torque.

10 Ford Focus Electric: Ford’s Take On An EV

via greencarreports.com

The 2018 Ford Focus Electric comes equipped with an array of features - SYNC 3 infotainment system, HID headlights, and DC fast-charging competency.

The Focus Electric is a spin off of its older brother, the Ford Focus.

This five-door electric hatch uses a permanent magnet electric traction motor rated at a modest 143 horsepower and 184 ft-lb worth of torque. On a 33.5 kWh lithium-ion battery, it achieves a worthy 115 miles range on a single full charge. A single-speed automatic can give acceleration to a top speed of 84mph. This green car, like most other electric vehicles, comes loaded with attractive government price bonanza to boost sales.

9 Hyundai Ioniq EV: Highest Efficiency Ratings

via greencarguide.co.uk

The Hyundai Ioniq EV is the indomitable leader of the clan when it comes to the efficiency ratings. With an EPA figure of 150 in the city and 122 on the highway, the Ioniq Electric rules the compact car market. Currently only available in California, this five-door car comes with an industry-exclusive lifetime warranty of its battery. One can travel up to 124 miles on a single full charge. The car uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor to give a worthy output of 118 horsepower and 218 ft-lb of torque. It is equipped with a good amount of features and other government incentives make it a great value for money.

8 Chevrolet Bolt EV: Second To Only The Tesla

2015 Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept all electric vehicle. Front ¾ in city scape. Bolt EV Concept builds upon Chevy’s experience gained from both the Volt and Spark EV to make an affordable, long-range all-electric vehicle to market. The Bolt EV is designed to meet the daily driving needs of Chevrolet customers around the globe with more than 200 miles of range and a price tag around $30,000.

From the house of GM, the Bolt was unveiled with a lot of thunder in 2016. The Bolt EV‘s electric motor is rated at 200 horsepower and 266 ft-lb of torque – a substantial output for a subcompact. It is the first rationally-priced all-electric car that boasts of an astonishing range of 238 miles on a single full charge. It also achieves inspiring MPGe figures – 128 for city and 110 for highways. Equipped with all modern features and a realistic price tag it was an overnight success. One year after its launch it became the second largest-selling plug-in car in the domestic market, a spot just below the Tesla Model S.

7 Volkswagen e-Golf: The Modern Day EV

via caranddriver.com

Riding on the success of its sibling the Volkswagen Golf, the e-Golf is a modern day car. Everything is unchanged except the core of the e-Golf that carries a 134 horsepower 214 ft-lb electric motor instead of a gasoline engine.

The EPA figures for the zero-emission car are 126 MPGe for the city and 111 MPGe for the highway.

The 2017 example of e-Golf gives an EPA-estimated range of between 89 to 125 miles on a single full charge of its 35.8 kWh Li-ion battery. With a 0-60 sprint in a quick 8.5 seconds coupled with a top speed of 85 mph, it is a great buy for the city commuters.

6 Fiat 500e: The 500 Goes Electric

Via motor1.com

The Fiat 500e uses a permanent-magnet, three-phase synchronous-drive electric motor to churn out an effective 111 horsepower and 147 ft-lb of torque. The 500e has got enough brawn to sprint its way through the jam-packed traffic in the cities. Its 24 kWh liquid-cooled/heated L-ion battery supplies a modest range of up to 100 miles on city conditions. The EPA rates the 500e at 122 MPGe in the city and 108 MPGe on the highway. This eco-chic three-door hatch fits the lifestyle of the modern world. The Fiat 500e embodies the company’s tagline that says “ugliness is the worst form of pollution”, and is basically the cutest thing around.

5 Hyundai Kona Electric: Electric Sophistication

Via motor1.com

The Hyundai Kona Electric stands tall for its sophisticated looks and driving range. This compact ute has witnessed a roaring success since its launch. The Kona Electric uses a 133 horsepower electric motor and a 39.2 kWh battery to achieve an economical driving range of around 150 miles on a single full charge. Later in 2018, buyers can also opt for an optimized 201 horsepower electric motor and a 64 kWh battery power combination that can realize a worthy 258 miles range on a single full charge. Equally, impressive MPGe numbers are 132 in the city, 108 in highway and 120 collectively.

4 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive: The Classic Goes E

via caranddriver.com

The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive from Daimler has been in business for almost ten years now. Also known as Smart ED, this zero-emission all-electric city car can squeeze into the tiniest parking spaces so it makes sense for jam-packed traffic cities.

They are also very easy to maneuver and have been selectively selling only their electric engines in the domestic market.

With a range of 58 miles on a single full charge, it won’t take you far, and it won’t take you fast. But it is low-emission to please the environmentalist in you. Many attractive offers on its MRP also make it a good small car to buy.

3 Toyota Prius: Leading The Pack

via guideautoweb.com

There are people who love the Prius, and there are people who hate it – but this is the car that is forcing the Big Three to sit up and take stock of their gas guzzlers. It has become so popular so fast, especially with eco-conscious celebs like Emma Watson and Cameron Diaz driving it, that Ford is desperately trying to make a competitive model to stand against it. It is not fun to drive with many calling it about as easy to maneuver as a brick, but it is big and spacious, and literally zero emission. Which is quite a feat for a car of this size!

2 Hyundai Nexo: A 370-Mile Range On A Single Charge

via caranddriver.com

The Nexo is not an electric car. It is a hydrogen-fueled car so being made under Hyundai’s eco-friendly banner, and promises to be a flagship product with never-seen-before technology. It is not as fast as the others with a claimed 0-60mph sprint of 9.5 seconds, but it does have a very impressive range of about 370 miles on a single full charge, far more than what Tesla offers for now. It is aimed to be launched in late 2018, and for the time will be sold only in California, as a test market. Plus it comes loaded with all the pricey features you want from a good car including remote parking, semi-autonomous assists, and blind-spot monitoring.

1 Toyota Mirai: Solely A Hydrogen Car

Via motor1.com

Mirai in Japanese means future and for Toyota, this may as well be the car of the future. The Mirai will run solely on hydrogen but it is not low emission. It is however very safe emission because the only byproduct it will produce is water! Again like the Hyundai Nexo, it will only be sold in California, to begin with, because California is the only place where hydrogen fuelling exists. So while it may be facing a very limited market as of now on the domestic shores, other states are scrambling to catch up with hydrogen fuel as well. The powertrain has an incredible warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles!

Sources: CarAndDriver.com, Motor1.com, CarMagazine.co.uk