What are the standard prices of electric cars?

10 July 2022

Electric car - what does the price depend on?

The prices of electric cars are higher than those of petrol cars. On the other hand, when it comes to operation, they compare much more favourably with fuel-powered vehicles. It turns out that the prices of electric cars in Poland are mainly determined by their high production costs. These cars are powered by batteries, which cost up to several tens of thousands, and this is only one part of the whole structure. The more technologically advanced and design-oriented the car model, the higher its price.

Even the cheapest electric car will still be more expensive than a larger and more efficient petrol vehicle. We are talking about efficiency here because, in the case of green cars, it is measured in the number of kilometres the car is able to drive on a single battery charge. As this factor is closely linked to battery power, it significantly affects the price of an electric car.

What factors influence the price of electric cars?

The factors that determine how much an electric car costs are numerous. It is already known that the price is largely generated by the cost of production and materials, as well as the performance of the vehicle. However, that is not all. The specifications of the specific variant of the car play a big role. This includes not only the safety and assistance systems selected or the type of battery, but also, among other things, the visual finish of the car (e.g. the type of material on the seats). It is estimated that around half the price of an electric car is the battery itself. This is expected to change over time due to the decreasing cost of lithium-ion batteries.

TOP 10 lowest priced electric cars

Electric car - the price of such a device is low, when it oscillates within the range of PLN 100 thousand. Due to the fact that in Poland it is possible to get a subsidy for the purchase of an electric car, the cost of purchase may amount to several tens of thousands. Below are 10 proposals for cars that belong to the attractive price bracket:

Nissan Leaf - by far one of the most popular electric car models on Polish roads. It has many features to improve safe driving, such as assistance in keeping a proper distance from other vehicles or 360° cameras. In its basic version, it accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. It is capable of driving 270 kilometres in the city or more than 380 on long journeys on a single charge. It has a fast top-up mode;

Opel Corsa-e - a model with modern LED driving lights that do not disturb other road users. It has numerous driver assistance systems, such as when parking. Additional options include heated seats or leather trim. It is also possible to purchase a version with an inductive smartphone charger. The maximum range of this car on a single charge is approximately 330 kilometres;

Dacia Spring - a stylish and modern SUV that can travel a maximum of 230 or 305 kilometres on a single charge, depending on driving style. It features a sizeable boot and space. It is equipped, among other things, with emergency braking assistance in risky situations or hill-starting. In order to drive a little more kilometres if required, an energy-saving mode can be activated;

Smart Forfour - a small and compact vehicle that can be managed via a mobile app. Among other things, it is possible to set the right temperature inside the car before the journey starts. Its range on a single charge is expected to be more than 150 kilometres. The model features a recuperation system for energy saving and recovery;

Renault Zoe - this compact car is capable of travelling almost 400 kilometres on a single charge. It informs when the driver exceeds the speed limit and brakes if a pedestrian, for example, unexpectedly enters the road. Seat and steering wheel heating can also be selected among the options when configuring. Upholstery elements are made from recycled materials, further adding to the electrics' ecological credentials;

The Fiat 500 - a car with impressive ranges, as it can travel up to 460 kilometres in urban space. It has a fast charging mode and assists in staying in a given lane. The design is reminiscent of older models, so the overall effect is retro, but with a modern twist;

Kia e-Soul - this car offers around 450 kilometres of range on a single charge. Noteworthy is the traffic jam operation system, as the car automatically adapts to the movements of the vehicle in front of it. The large screen allows you to comfortably watch the navigation or control the sound;

Peugeot e-208 - this option offers 360 kilometres of range and the possibility to use the fast charging function. The car has a panel that displays 3D messages and is able to recognise road signs. It also takes care not to get too close to the vehicle in front of it;

Mazda MX-30 - the range of this car is approximately 200 kilometres on a single charge. The car can be purchased with headlamp washers, a keyless access system for the car, a windscreen defroster function or lights that change themselves as needed on the road.

TOP 10 highest-priced electric cars

The price tag for electric cars around the world can run into millions of dollars. However, not all the most expensive cars can be bought in Poland. Here are the cars for which you have to pay at least several hundred thousand zlotys:

Porsche Taycan - the range varies depending on the driving mode, but can be over 500 kilometres. It accelerates to 100 km/h in just over 5 seconds. Its top speed is 230 km/h;

Mercedes EQC - the range on a single charge is 430 kilometres. In fast-charging mode, it is ready to drive after 40 minutes. It can be controlled via a voice assistant and also features intelligent parking with 360° cameras. In the event of an emergency, the PRE-SAFE® Sound system activates a special noise to dampen the noise from the accident;

Tesla Model S - the range of this model is even more than 630 kilometres. The top speed is 322 km/h. The car has a 17-inch screen on which you can watch films or play games. Fans and filters take care of the high air quality inside. It supports the driver when entering another lane;

BMW iX - all-wheel drive, over 400 kilometres of range and gesture control. An eSIM card can be installed in the car, so it becomes an additional smartphone and you can even talk in it without a phone. Each passenger in the vehicle can adjust the climate control settings to suit their own preferences;

Audi e-tron S - a model with as many as three engines, with a sporty character. The average range, depending on the driving mode, should be around 340-380 kilometres. Battery status can be monitored via a mobile app;

Volvo C40 Recharge - the model has a range of more than 430 kilometres. It has a system that limits the speed if the driver exceeds the speed limit. It also incorporates a collision avoidance system or an inductive smartphone charger;

Tesla Model Y - another Tesla model with a range of around 530 kilometres this time. It has 2 engines and accelerates to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds. The glass roof has filters to protect against the sun's harmful rays;

BMW i7 - the range of this car is around 600 kilometres. The car has a glass roof and heated seats. It assists with parking and maintaining an appropriate speed on the road. The air conditioning is divided into 4 zones;

Mustang Mach-E GT - can go up to 490 kilometres on a single charge. It has a Brembo high-performance brake system and can be controlled via a mobile app. It features interesting colours and a sporty design;

Jaguar I-Pace - range is 470 kilometres. The vehicle has a built-in heat pump that regulates the temperature inside in an eco-friendly way. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in less than five seconds. A special system monitors the fatigue level of the person driving the car and informs when a rest is needed.

Should price play a key role when choosing an electric car?

The price of electric cars is a huge cost for many people, even after subsidies. Fortunately, there are offers that make it easier for users to use their dream cars without taking out a loan. This is, for example, leasing. On the internet, you can see instalment proposals on the dealerships' websites and get an idea of what the monthly price of electric cars is without having to buy them. The cost of a car should not be the main factor in deciding whether or not to buy one. How much comfort you get from driving quiet electrics, and how much you can save when running them, is definitely worthwhile. Most importantly, however, is how much the use of electric cars translates into the state of the environment. If you want to buy a car, you don't have to choose from the latest. Many dealers have second-hand models on offer, e.g. Hyundai, Nissan or Volkswagen, which you can get for as little as a few tens of thousands of zloty. The price of a small electric car like the Smart Fortwo is not high either.

As you can see, the price of an electric car depends on many factors. The situation is different for new and used models. A lot also depends on the battery capacity or what equipment variants you choose. You can buy both a small car for less than 100 thousand zloty and a hugely efficient vehicle for around a million zloty. In cities such as Warsaw, where there are quite a few chargers, you can even bet on a car with a not very impressive range.