The Electric Garage: Every flavor of EV
by Alan Yonan Jr.| Oct. 25, 2021
A decade ago, the limited selection of electric vehicle models was a major drawback for anyone shopping for an EV in Hawaii. Drivers looking to swap their gas-powered cars for an EV essentially had three models to choose from, one of which was affectionally dubbed the “jellybean on wheels” because of its awkward styling.
Today, the variety of EV offerings from automakers will leave your head swimming. There are all-electric and plug-in hybrid EVs in virtually every category ranging from sleek sports cars to sedans to SUVs. It seems like rarely a month goes by without an automaker announcing it’s introducing a new electric vehicle model.
The Inside EVs website recently posted a list of available all-electric vehicles that includes 17 makes and more than two dozen models, many of which are available in Hawaii. And there are even more all-electric models scheduled for release next year that weren’t included on the list, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla’s Cybertruck and a pair of high-performance BMWs.
Along with the sheer number of models and vastly improved driving range, the price gap between EVs and their gas-powered counterparts continues to narrow, helped by a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for many all-electric and plug-in hybrid models. The tax credit is generally lower for plug-in hybrids because the credit it based on battery size, and plug-in hybrids for the most part have smaller batteries than all-electric vehicles.
Also, the federal tax credit begins to phase out for a manufacturer’s vehicles when at least 200,000 qualifying vehicles have been sold for use in the United States. (The IRS provides more guidance on this in Notice 2009–89) As a result, the federal tax credit is no longer available for some EVs including all Tesla models and the Chevrolet Bolt.
Two of the most affordable all-electric vehicles currently on the market are the Nissan Leaf and the Mini Cooper SE. Nissan recently announced that it’s cutting the starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) on its base Leaf model to $27,400 for 2022. With the potential $7,500 federal tax credit the starting price on the Leaf drops to $19,900. Although I wasn’t particularly keen on the appearance of the Leaf when it was first introduced in 2010, the second-generation model introduced in 2017 is a lot easier on the eyes. The Mini Cooper SE, also very stylish, has a listed MSRP of $29,900. With the potential $7,500 federal tax credit the price drops to $22,400.
Many makers of high-performance cars are also adding electric vehicles to their lineups. Porsche joined the EV competition in 2020 with the introduction of its all-electric Taycan. For pure aesthetics the Taycan is a real head-turner. The German automaker bills the model as the “first electric car with a sports car soul,” and after seeing one close up I can see why. I did a double take when I spotted a gorgeous white Taycan in a parking garage the other day and I had snap a photo with my mobile phone.
SUVs are also well represented among the new all-electric models coming to market. The Volkswagen ID.4 and the Kia Niro are both priced under $35,000 after the potential $7,500 federal tax credit is applied.
Alan Yonan Jr. a senior communications specialist at Hawaiian Electric Company.
