The article was originally produced on October 20, 2014, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

3 X electric cars

Is it now time to let the current take over in the city's cars?

It has taken a long time, but now it seems that electric cars are finally appearing for real as a full-fledged alternative to those with conventional fuel engines. For those of you who live in the inner city with the possibility to charge the car during the night, there will soon be no reason to buy anything else if you are only going to drive shorter trips to work, kindergarten or the store. Starta and Driva have tested three different electric cars perfectly suited for the dense city traffic. All three with completely different character traits and none worse or better, just different in their own way. Until the turn of the year, anyone who buys one of these cars can take part in the so-called super environmental car premium of SEK 40,000, but here it is first come, first served as the money is limited and about to run out. 

BMW i3 – A reliable German.

When BMW began work on its i-line, they did it from scratch. Something that is clearly noticeable with the i3. The car looks like nothing previously produced by the Bavarian car brand. Cool exterior lines that also continue on the inside. So-called "suicide doors" for easier entry into the minimal but still fully functional rear seat. Material choices that feel taken straight from a design store with a Scandinavian theme. All materials in the cabin have an ecological theme that largely consists of recycled materials. The list can be made long of how incredibly elaborate the i3 feels. With a very square shape and good turning radius, the i3 is a joy to drive in dense morning traffic in a paralyzed city. The good performance also owes a lot to the low weight achieved thanks to extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced plastic in the chassis and body. If you want to take longer trips than just with electric drive, there is a two-cylinder engine that guarantees a range of up to 30 miles in addition to the 13-16 miles promised with pure electric drive.

Renault Zoe – An electric car in the French way

Unlike many other electric cars, the Renault Zoe is relatively cheap to purchase. Unfortunately, there is a hidden cost and that is renting the battery. What that price ends up being per year depends entirely on how far you drive each month. As usual with French cars, they have solved their problems in their own way. So with an in-house developed fast charging system called Caméléon, it should be possible to fully charge in just 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the system suffocates a different type of current than that which the Swedish fast charging stations deliver. Zoe is quiet and powerful when navigating city traffic. The interior is simple without being boring, but it is noticeable that they saved money to keep the price down. Externally, the Zoe blends in with ordinary cars with the exception of the cute front. According to the manufacturer, the range for Zoe in everyday use should be 21 miles.

Kia Soul EV – Generous Korea