Tesla Model 3 2022 EV Tops List of 20 Most Affordable EVs to Run According to Miles Report
A recent report by Zutobi for 2022 has ranked the top 20 most affordable EVs to operate worldwide based on several factors. This includes considerations such as battery size, cost of charging, and miles driven per dollar amount. Tesla takes the top spot this year, but there are many other viable options currently available to consumers.
Tracking down the cheapest EV to drive
As the EV market continues to raise its voice in the overall global market, more and more consumers are being made aware of the impending paradigm shift and are starting to ask real questions about the prospect of actually owning an EV. Huh. Welcome to the Green Side my friends, we are glad you are here.
In the past, we’ve outlined some of the most expensive electric vehicles on the market, as well as some of the most affordable (the 2022 revamp is long overdue, with us). That being said, those numbers are based on MSRPs. It’s still a big purchase because it’s still very important to you consumers, but what about later? Not all EVs are created equal.
Terms like kWh (kilowatt-hours) and TCO (total cost of ownership) take over after the initial EV purchase, as you learn when and where to charge your EV for the best value, giving you an average How much range is needed on a base basis, and how much range your battery will actually give you based on your EVs battery capacity (remember kWh?) and driving habits.
As part of its 2022 EV Miles report, Zutobi has compiled the top 20 most affordable EVs based on a set of these factors rather than MSRP. Lucky for our EU readers, some of the EVs on this list are specific to your region, so everyone can play!
Below are the results based on the criteria gathered by Zutobi. Just for fun, we’ve also included the starting MSRP out of 20 EVs listed, so you have an extra lens to analyze and compare. Let’s dig!
methodology
To gather its data, Zutobi took its 2021 EV Miles report and updated it with the latest data. Pricing data was taken from the US Energy Information Administration and data for actual range and usable battery capacity was taken from the Electric Vehicle Database.
While the top 20 will certainly give you a detailed look at how some of the most affordable EVs compare together in 2022, we think the data could have been a little more specific on which exact model was chosen in the study.
Still, you’ll be able to assemble which EVs offer the greatest battery capacity (usually equating to better range) and the lowest cost to charge. Finally, there’s a clear column that tells you how far each EV will take you on $100 miles of that precious EV juice (that’s the power for you).
Top 20 most economical electric vehicles to operate in 2022
Okay, we’ve shared a little background on the study and cited sources, so let’s break down the results. It’s no surprise that the Tesla Model 3 takes the crown this study – it’s the best-selling EV of all time for a reason. That being said, despite the low operating cost (scroll down a bit), there are other reasons that might turn you away from the brand new Model 3.
As if that weren’t impressive enough, the Long Range and RWD versions of the Model 3 take gold and silver, respectively, and the Performance trim makes a cameo in slot #16. Among the top three is the Hyundai IONIQ Electric which sadly saw its last model year in 2021. However, the new IONIQ 5 walks the marque in its honor, and it’s one hell of an EV, if you ask us.
The Nissan LEAF was ranked #7 in the top ten, but zutobi Didn’t specify which model it was. LEAFs have been consistently using 36 kWh battery packs for years, so it’s not a huge deal, but still. For the MSRP pricing below, we went with the most affordable 2022 model of the veteran EV.
| EV Make/Model | usable Battery Capacity | Real Category | EST. charge cost | EST. cost peru miles | miles away To $100 |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range (Dual Motor) | 70 kW | 300 miles | $9.88 | $0.03 | 3,035 |
| Tesla Model 3 (RWD) | 57.5 kW | 235 miles | $8.12 | $0.03 | 2,894 |
| HYUNDAI IONIQ Electric | 38.3 kWh | 155 miles | $5.41 | $0.03 | 2,866 |
| Fiat 500e Hatchback (24 kWh) | 21.3 kW | 85 miles | $3.01 | $0.04 | 2,826 |
| mini electric | 28.9 kWh | 115 miles | $4.08 | $0.04 | 2,818 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric (39 kWh) | 39.2 kWh | 155 miles | $5.54 | $0.04 | 2,800 |
| nissan leaf | 36 kW | 140 miles | $5.08 | $0.04 | 2,754 |
| Peugeot E-208 | 45 kW | 175 miles | $6.35 | $0.04 | 2,754 |
| Vauxhall Corsa-A | 45 kW | 175 miles | $6.35 | $0.04 | 2,754 |
| Fiat 500e Hatchback (42 kWh) | 37.3 kWh | 145 miles | $5.27 | $0.04 | 2,753 |
| Volkswagen E-UP! | 32.3 kWh | 125 miles | $4.56 | $0.04 | 2,741 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric (64 kWh) | 64 kW | 245 miles | $9.04 | $0.04 | 2,711 |
| BMW i3 (120 Ah) | 37.9 kW | 145 miles | $5.35 | $0.04 | 2,710 |
| Fiat 500e Cabrio | 37.3 kWh | 140 miles | $5.27 | $0.04 | 2,658 |
| Renault Zoe ZE50 R110 | 52 kW | 195 miles | $7.34 | $0.04 | 2,656 |
| Tesla Model 3 Performance | 76 kW | 285 miles | $10.73 | $0.04 | 2,656 |
| Volkswagen ID.3 Pro | 58 kW | 215 miles | $8.19 | $0.04 | 2,625 |
| Volkswagen ID.3 Pro Performance | 58 kW | 215 miles | $8.19 | $0.04 | 2,625 |
| Kia e-Niro (39 kWh) | 39.2 kWh | 145 miles | $5.54 | $0.04 | 2,620 |
| BMW i3s (120 Ah) | 37.9 kW | 140 miles | $5.35 | $0.04 | 2,616 |
Same EV, sorted by starting MSRP
For comparison, we thought you’d want to see how each of these EVs stack up in terms of starting price. Above, we learned which EVs are the most economical to operate, but let’s also see which ones are the most affordable based on their 2022 MSRPs.
From here, we hope that you can compare both the lists and see which one might be best for you based on the upfront cost as well as the additional operating costs.
Note: MSRPs do not include any taxes or destination fees, nor do they include any federal or state tax credits. Some EVs are only available in the EU market, and prices are rounded to the nearest hundred in USD.
The original study was also vague on some specific models, so we used 2022 pricing wherever possible. MSRPs for older models were collected from EV-database,
| EV Make/Model | Starting MSRP (USD) |
| nissan leaf | $27,400 |
| Volkswagen E-UP! | $29,000* |
| Fiat 500e Hatchback (24 kWh) | $29,335* |
| mini electric | $29,900 |
| HYUNDAI IONIQ Electric | $33,245 |
| Vauxhall Corsa-A | $33,900 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric (64 kWh) | $34,000 |
| Peugeot E-208 | $35,750* |
| Fiat 500e Hatchback (42 kWh) | $35,900* |
| Renault Zoe ZE50 R110 | $36,250* |
| Volkswagen ID.3 Performance | $39,000* |
| Fiat 500e Cabrio | $39,380* |
| Hyundai Kona Electric (39 kWh) | $40,250* |
| Volkswagen ID.3 Pro | $40,300* |
| Kia e-Niro (39 kWh) | $43,200* |
| BMW i3s (120 Ah) | $45,700 |
| BMW i3 (120 Ah) | $47,650 |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | $48,490 |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor | $55,990 |
| Tesla Model 3 Performance | $61,990 |
As you can see, the Tesla Model 3 can save you a lot of money in the long run because you charge it up and run, but you’ll pay a lot more upfront costs than the other EVs on this list. However, this can vary by country, so be sure to check how your homeland is.
That doesn’t mean it’s not worth it, it’s entirely up to you. Hopefully both the tables above can help you with your EV purchase, or at the very least make you think about the specific factors that go into an EV purchase, be it the initial purchase or the charging cost later.
If you’re interested in other affordable (or not) EVs coming in 2022, check out this list.
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