With a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable lifestyle becoming increasingly popular, more people are turning to electric cars (EVs) as their primary means of transportation. The internet has a lot of information when it comes to finding the right EV for you, and every site comes with its own set of opinions. At Quick 220® Systems, we’ve done our part to make this financial decision easier by identifying the web’s favorite electric cars for 2019.
How did we do that you ask? After searching Google for terms such as “best electric vehicles of 2019”, we recorded the resulting EVs based on where they were listed, the frequency of their appearance, and their ranking on each site we compiled and converted our data into the graph below.
As expected, some electric cars appeared more often than others, and we excluded EVs that only appeared once due to lack of data. From what we did collect, we calculated the average ranking of each vehicle represented, with 1 being the most recommended EV and 5 being the least recommended EV. While your criteria for collecting and ranking may differ from ours, below are the summarized details of each car to help you find the best EV for your lifestyle.
Number 5: Hyundai Kona Electric
Listed by: popularmechanics.com, edmunds.com, carmagazine.co.uk, drivingelectric.com
The average ranking of the Hyundai Kona Electric from Google’s top suggested websites places it at number five on our list of the internets’ top 5 EVs of 2019. This small SUV can come with either a 39kWh or 64 kWh battery, giving it a range of 200 or 300 miles respectively. The 64 kWh battery will take more than 30 hours to charge at home with the supplied cable and a three-pin domestic socket, and nine and a half hours for the 64kWh battery with a domestic wallbox. Fortunately, Hyundai provides a Type 2 cable that gives you access to the majority of public fast chargers, and the Kona will also take a public CCS cable.
As for the driving experience, while the internet states it’s not very exciting, the Knoa Electric is regarded as a responsive vehicle both around town and at highway speeds, and is definitely one of the most versatile EVs on sale right now. Perfect for families, the Kona Electric is the most popular version of Hyundai’s compact crossover and is rapidly becoming the most appealing mainstream EV today.
Number 4: Tesla Model S
Listed by: carmax.com, carmagazine.co.uk, drivingelectric.com, edmunds.com
After studying the internet’s favorite EVs, Tesla’s Model S has earned our number four spot. Offering executive style and market history, the Model S combines excellent range and quick acceleration, with an elegant interior and room for five (with optional pop-up seats in the trunk.) The quintessential electric car, the Tesla Model S boasts a best-in-class, 100-kWh battery, an impressive electrical range of up to 300 miles, (260-265 on average) and a sporty driving experience.
With exclusive access to Tesla’s Supercharge network (120kW supply), the Model S can charge what would normally take hours, in minutes. However, when away from a Supercharge station it’s recommended that you charge your partially used battery overnight, as it can take up to a day and a half to fill the battery from a domestic outlet. Fortunately, the Model S is compatible with 240-volt outlets and when used with the Quick 220® voltage converter can drastically reduce at home charging without the cost of home charger installation.
Number 4: Nissan Leaf
Listed by: carmax.com, carmagazine.co.uk, edmunds.com
Surprise! The Model S tied with the new 2018 Nissan LEAF! Which is just as well, because if the Model S is too luxury-focused for your liking, then the Nissan LEAF is the more family and budget-friendly option. Equipped with a great reputation and a 40kWh battery, the LEAF holds a real-world range of around 200, (up to 235 miles max, depending on your driving), giving it true everyday practicality.
When it comes to charging that battery, the Nissan LEAF brings a lot of versatility. You’ll be able to recharge that battery to 80% in 40 minutes from a rapid charger if you’re really in a hurry, 8 hours from a 6.6kW charger or home wallbox, 16 hours using a 3.3kW home or public charger and 21 hours from empty to full with a three-pin plug.
While several sites weren’t blown away by its interior, it’s value as a family EV earned the LEAF internet favor. With a quiet driving experience and energy saving “E-Pedal” technology, this is a viable and affordable family-oriented electric hatchback.
Number 3: BMW i3
Listed by: carmax.com, carmagazine.co.uk, drivingelectric.com, edmunds.com
Coincidentally, the number three vehicle on our best of the internet list is the BMW i3. The first mass-produced carbon-fiber car in the world, this five-door hatchback features luxurious interiors, agile handling, and ample cargo space. The BMW i3 is garnered as a blast to drive, with excellent acceleration, nimble handling, and innovative interior design.
The BMW i3’s 42.2kWh lithium-ion battery will take up to 15 hours to charge from empty to 80%, using a standard three-pin plug and regular domestic wall socket, which a Quick 220® voltage converter can reduce to 7 hours and lower. However, when charging the i3 with a 11kW wallbox and a Type 2 fast-charging cable, you can reduce the time at home to around three hours. While its practical range of around 160 miles (193 max) doesn’t make it the pioneer among electric vehicles and it costs more than similar EVs, you get what to pay for in its quality.
Number 2: Volkswagen e-Golf
Listed by: carmagazine.co.uk, drivingelectric.com, edmunds.com
Nudging out the rival BMW i3 and earning the number two spot is the Volkswagen e-Golf. It’s essentially a well-equipped Golf that’s also electric-powered making it one of the most easily accessible electric vehicles. The trunk space holds 341 liters, while the interior and packaging offer plenty of usable space and nicely integrated technology. If you’re on the fence about going EV, the e-Golf could be the car to convert you.
The 35.8kWh lithium-ion battery gives the e-Golf a reasonable range at 125-144 miles, which is plenty for families and for city-based business users. Charging the battery on a three-pin plug at home will net an 80% charge over 13 hours and 17 hours for a full charge. Topping off while using a 3.6kW wall box at home will take just under 11 hours while a 7.2kW wallbox will see you fully charged in under six hours. If you have a 40kW fast-charger, the charge time of an empty battery will take you 45 minutes. If you find yourself needing to charge on the road, the e-Golf has access to the expanding networks of rapid chargers and can get you back to 80% capacity in 45 minutes, or be fully charged in an hour.
Number 1: Kia e-Niro
Listed by: carmagazine.co.uk, drivingelectric.com
Taking the number one spot on “the internet’s Top 5 EVs of 2019” is the Kia e-Niro. A compact family SUV, the Kai e-Niro is a prime example of the electric cars arriving in 2019, (although the e-Niro is available as a plug-in hybrid if that better suits your lifestyle). With its generous range, accessible pricing, and Kia’s famous seven-year/100,000-mile warranty, the family-oriented Kia e-Niro is one of the best all-around packages on the electric car market today.
With a 282-mile max range (250-360 for normal use) the Kia e-Niro is powered by a 64kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The standard cables include a Type 2 public charging cable and a three-pin plug for a home wall socket. While the domestic plug can take up to 29 hours for a full top-off, a Quick 220® voltage converter can do it in half the time. If you have a dedicated 7.2kW charger fitted at home or in your area, you can charge the e-Niro in roughly 9 hours. Alternatively, if you use a public 50kW rapid charger, you’ll get an 80% charge in 75 minutes. The charging versatility of the e-Niro wasn’t enough already, it’s also capable of taking a new 100kW charger, which will fully charge the car in under an hour.
While it is possible to debate the best electric vehicle for your lifestyle, what’s unarguable is that using modern domestic charging to power your EV can take an excruciatingly long time. Fortunately, with a Quick 220® voltage converter you can take the 110-120v power from two standard, out-of-phase wall outlets and combine them to produce 220-240v. This allows you to cut your EV charge time down by ½ to 1/3. That’s a huge time saver, and it makes the Quick 220® voltage converter a great charging option for charging at home or on the go, providing a fast, safe 220v charge without any permanent charging equipment installed. For more information on Quick 220® and our specialty equipment, EV charging shortcuts, and our educational content on electric vehicles follow us on social media and visit our blog at www.quick220.com. Have a question that can’t wait? Call us at 1-800-347-0394 (US & Canada) or 1-602-938-6057, or email us at sales@quick220.com to get in touch with one of our experts.