Elon Musk’s Tesla brand has taken the top honours in a survey of the cheapest electric vehicles (EVs) to drive in the USA. A report from Zutobi, a US drivers education company, looked into the cars that are the cheapest to charge and drive across the country.
The survey found that the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus was the cheapest car to drive. From its 50kWh battery capacity, it offered 3,310 miles per $100 of charging. This equates to a cost of $0.030 per mile with a full charge costing an estimated £6.35.
Telsa’s Model 3 Standard Range Plus LFP, once again with a 50kWh battery, was the second-best value to drive offering 3,231 miles per $100 of charging. This equates to $0.031 per mile with a full charge coming in at an estimated $6.35.
Rounding out the Tesla top three was the Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor model with a 70kWh battery capacity. This offered 3,208 miles per $100 of charging, which equates to a cost of $0.031 per mile with a full charge costing around $8.88.
The car offering the fourth best value when it comes to charging and driving was the Hyundai IONIQ Electric. It offered 3,189 miles per $100 of charging and costs $0.031 per mile with a full charging priced at $4.86.
Rounding out the top five was the MINI Electric with its battery capacity of 28.9kWh. For $100 it could cover 3,136 miles and costs $0.032 per mile, with a full charge costing just $3.67.
These are impressive figures and so much cheaper than any internal combustion engine vehicle. All three of these Tesla models could in theory drive from one coast of the US to the other for just $100.
By way of comparison, Audi’s e-Tron S 55 Quattro, with a useable battery capacity of 86.5kWh, was the most expensive on Zutobi’s list when it comes to charging. For $100 of charging this high-performance sporty model could travel 1,822 miles, which equates to around $0.055 per mile with a full charging coming in at an estimated $10.98.
The milage cost for the Audi might be around 45 percent more than the best value Tesla but it still offers exceptional value compared to any ICE vehicle. This proves that driving electric is not only good for the planet but is far cheaper.
