The Future Is Electric!
The pressure is growing on car owners across Northern Ireland to switch to electric cars and ditch their fuel powered vehicles. In recent years the sale of electric cars Northern Ireland is on the rise and it’s clear to see why. They are cost efficient to run, kinder to the environment and smooth to drive.
These cars also range in size, for large family SUVs to smaller city cars. There is an electric car in the market to suit everyone’s lifestyle, but which are the best electric cars to buy on the market? At Carlover we have created a list of our top favourite electric cars and their range of amazing features, the future of cars NI wide is electric.
The Top Electric Cars Northern Ireland
- Hyundai Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona Electric is an affordable electric car that can drive the same distance as a fuel powered vehicle when it is charged with a full battery. Drivers will be able to travel up to 300 miles after charging the battery due to its 64kWh battery. This SUV is stylish and is the perfect family friendly car.
Not only is the Hyundai Kona Electric smart in terms of its efficiency, but it also offers a range of smart features that will make your journey more enjoyable. These features include a smart 10.25 inch touchscreen, silent rapid acceleration, and an unconventional gear stick that you can switch between drive, neutral reverse and park using buttons.
- Fiat 500
The electric Fiat 500 looks similar to previous models with its retro designs, however there are some differences that should be taken note of. The electric model is larger in size and heavier and is a strong contender against other electric cars on the market. The car’s exterior has a more smoother look and has a simple design.
Compared to the previous Fiat 500 models the interior has also been a redesign that should be mentioned. There is a qo-inch touchscreen on the dashboard, smartphone connectivity, and the traditional retro styled dials have been upgraded to a 7-inch digital dial display.
The Electric Fiat 500 comes with either two types of batteries. These include either a 23.7kWh battery with 115 mile range or a 42kWh battery that provides a 199-mile range. You can recharge this car using a three pin socket that will take charging overnight to gain full battery life.
- Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is an energy efficient and reliable family hatchback. This car is easy to drive, especially around the city, and offers comfortable seating for all. There are five seats, where the passengers in the back seat can sit comfortably and the boot is a decent size that can fit all of your family’s essentials.
Practicality is a popular selling point when it comes to the Nissan Leaf. They have lower running costs compared to fuel powered cars and it comes with the convenience of charging the car’s battery at home. You can charge the car using a 7kWh charger and it will take up to 7 hours to reach full battery life.
- Peugeot e-208
If you are considering changing your fuel powered car to an electric model, the Peugeot e-208 may be a good car to start with. This car has a distinctive exterior design that will stand out when you are moving between traffic. One of the most exciting features of this electric vehicle is that it has rapid charge and can be controlled through an app.
Space isn’t an issue when it comes to this car. The two front seats offer plenty of legroom as the seats come with manual seat and wheel adjustments. There is also plenty of room in the back seats for passengers to fit comfortably and due to the clever placement of the car’s battery there is a generous amount of space in the boot.
The Peugeot e-208 has a range of exciting features installed that will help to make car journeys more enjoyable. These features include a 7-inch touchscreen dashboard, DAB radio, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that will allow you to connect to your favourite apps.
- BMW i3
The BMW i3 is a stylish electric car that is fun and comfortable to drive. This car is worth considering if you want an electric car that looks more upmarket compared to other electric models on the market. The BMW i3 has a sharp exterior and the interior doesn’t hold back on quality. This car is kitted out with BMW’s iDrive which comes with a 10 inch dashboard and satnav.
The battery life of the BMW i3 will last for over 15 years, saving drivers plenty of money on fuel and other maintenance that comes with a petrol or diesel powered vehicle. This car is perfect for everyday commutes with a battery life of 42.2kWh that will range up to 190 miles. BMW states that car owners can achieve up to 80% battery life under 15 hours using a domestic charger, or alternatively it can be achieved in 42 mins using a 50kW public charger.
6. Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is an affordable car that aims to compete against other well known electric models in the market, including Mercedes, BMW and Audi. This car is the cheapest model in the Tesla range, however, it doesn’t hold back on style and luxury.
The Tesla Model 3 has a unique interior design with a class roof, a black satin trim and has very little presence of buttons or dials. It’s important to mention that a majority of the car is controlled through a central touchscreen, from turning on the window wipers to turning on the headlights during a dark night. Legroom is not something that is a worry when it comes to the Tesla Model 3 as the front and back seats can comfortably fit tall passengers of up to six feet tall. The boot is more spacious than its electric rivals when it comes to fitting luggage and other bags you may have.
This car is similar to most electric cars on the market as they are almost silent when driving through busy traffic in the city. The breaks stand out compared to other electric models as you can break smoothly without your passengers feeling the grabbing movement in the back seats. Buying this model will give drivers access to Tesla’s network of Superchargers, meaning that the car’s battery can go from 10%-80% in less than 30 minutes. Although you have to pay to use this service, it is reasonably priced and is more cost effective than paying for petrol or diesel.
Now that you know a bit more about the models of electric cars that are available in Northern Ireland, it’s time to choose which one would suit you the best. At CarLover we have a range of electric cars in our dealerships Belfast and in other locations across Northern Ireland, including:
- Belfast
- Derry
- Newry
- Armagh
- Enniskillen
- Cookstown
Whether you are a family looking for a more energy efficient car or you are keen on saving costs on your daily commute, we have an electric car to suit everyone’s needs.
