There's a variety of options available if you're looking to change your vehicle. Here are our choices
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Tesla
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Tesla Model S
Love them or loathe them, the electric car is a hot topic in the motor industry. Manufacturers are investing heavily in the technology and most major car-makers now have a model on sale or one in the pipeline.
Governments are equally keen for electric cars to become a legitimate choice for motorists. In the UK, drivers who buy a new electric car are entitled to a £5,000 grant towards its cost and a road tax exemption. The aim is for every new car sold in Britain by 2050 to be zero emissions.
It's easy to dismiss buying an electric car, especially if you have range anxiety or feel the UK's infrastructure isn't quite as advanced as it needs to be. Luckily, the market is quite diverse, with cheap, expensive, long and short-range choices a-plenty.
Sales of electric vehicles are growing rapidly in the UK. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reported a 65 per cent increase in 2015 over the previous year, prices are continuing to fall and there is an ever-growing network of charging stations, with new fast-charge points appearing up and down the country.
So, what options are out there for new buyers?
Tesla Model S
The Tesla Model S is usually top of the shop when it comes to electric cars. With a theoretical range of up to 312 miles, good looks and an emphasis on luxury and performance, it's a strong rival for any good executive saloon out there.
But it's not cheap. Prices start from £57,335 but for that, you get an electric car "you could contemplate for cross-country rather than merely urban motoring", says Top Gear.
New models come with Tesla Autopilot, which can automatically accelerate, brake and steer on motorways - the company is dedicating a lot of time and research to the field of autonomous cars.
The Tesla is a crowd-pleaser but for those not exactly drawn by the idea of spending £57,000 on an electric saloon, a solution may be round the corner. A smaller, cheaper version called the Model 3 is planned for 2017, with prices starting around the £30,000 mark.
BMW i3
Like the Model S, the i3 is a purpose-built electric model with an emphasis on luxury. However, in contrast with Tesla's big saloon for long-distance cruising, BMW have created a much smaller platform with a shorter overall range.
For a small car, the i3 has quite a bold design and a very modern, minimalist interior. Auto Express says it's "like the Apple iPhone of the car world – there are alternatives, but nothing is as stylish, desirable or as good to use".
It is available as a range extender and will do 125 miles on a single charge when fitted with this option. Prices start at £30,980 for the standard, battery-only vehicle - but don't forget that £5,000 government grant if you buy new.
Nissan Leaf
The Leaf was one of the first electric vehicles to cross into the mainstream and since its introduction in late 2010, has gone on to become the highest-selling roadworthy electric car of all time, with more than 200,000 units shifted.
According to CarBuyer, its 124 theoretical range is "decent, but hard to achieve", but its "quirky" looks have only started to look dated when compared to the BMW i3. It is cheaper than the BMW, though, undercutting its German rival by £5,000 to kick off at £25,790.
Volkswagen e-Golf
The e-Golf is a conventional vehicle adapted to suit an electric motor, unlike some of the purpose built models out there. Some consider purpose-built electric cars to be much better than their more conventional rivals, but others might prefer to buy something bred from a known quantity.
The fact it's a Golf remains the sole selling point, however. Range is only 115 miles and prices start from £31,650.
Volkswagen e-Up
Another member of Volkswagen's electric range is a battery powered version of the firm's Up city car. The e-Up gets an 81bhp electric motor, giving a range of about 90 miles, in the same neat, tidy package ideal for city driving. Volkswagen offers the car with a three-year/60,000 mile warranty for the vehicle and an eight year/100,000 mile cover for the battery.
It'll take a certain type of customer to pluck for it, though. The e-Up is expensive at £25,075 before government grant, but CarBuyer says it "feels quick and comes loaded with equipment".
Renault Twizy
"The Twizy is part scooter, part car and makes sense for congested cities," saysAutocar. Renault's tiny car is limited to strictly that, though, as its range is just 56 miles.
It's certainly a niche product. The Twizy has no windows or heater, so keeping it within the bounds of the city for short trips is about as much use as you're likely to get from it. It's cheap, from £6,895, but for a bit more, some conventional city cars can be picked up with far more use. Definitely an oddball choice for those looking for a cheap electric runabout for very short journeys.
Renault Zoe
For a more conventional Renault, the Zoe hatchback offers an everyday go at an electric car. Overall, it's fairly well-equipped with a decent interior and design. The Zoe is also slightly larger than the Renault Clio on which it's based, offering a 338-litre boot.
But it's the price which is one of the largest pull factors, though; the Zoe starts from £18,445, although you do have to pay a monthly rental charge for the batteries.
The electric motor is an 87bhp setup, with an Eco mode that reduces it to 60bhp when in search of more range.
"It's so like a normal car to drive that only the reduced range make it less practical than an ordinary supermini," says Auto Express.
Kia Soul EV
For those looking to mate two of the more recent motoring fads into one, the electric crossover Kia Soul EV offers one of the best experiences out there.
Starting from £29,995, it is "very roomy inside, offering passengers plenty of headroom and a more upmarket feel than some of its main rivals", says CarBuyer. The Soul features a respectable 132-mile range from its 109bhp electric motor, with a top speed of 90mph.
It's the Kia brand's first attempt at making an electric vehicle and the £29,995 price tag comes with a perk - a seven-year/100,000 mile warranty for added peace of mind.
Tesla Model X
Tesla is having trouble getting its Model X out of the factory doors, but deliveries of the firm's all electric SUV should go up in 2016. The car has been plagued by manufacturing issues, making it an awkward launch complete with recalls, delays, and glitches.
When the car does find its way to UK shores later this year, potential buyers will have the choice of three variants – the entry level 75D should get a range of 237 miles and do 0-62mph in six seconds, while more powerful P90 variants will have longer ranges and will be much quicker – Tesla claims that its range topping P90D variant will do 0-62 mph in just 3.2 seconds with the Ludicrous mode battery pack.
The Model X can come as a seven seater, and compared to other SUVs has some neat party tricks in terms of how it is designed, chief of which are the "falcon wing" rear doors which open upwards, as well as the huge glass panoramic windscreen.
According to Auto Express, it should be priced pretty similarly to the Model S in the UK – so expect it to kick off at around £50,000.
What's coming up?
One car potential buyers should have a keen eye on is the upcoming Tesla Model 3. The so-called "affordable" option from the California-based electric carmaker is not due for deliveries until 2017, but the firm has already received more than 325,000 orders since revealing the first pre-production version of the car last week, way beyond initial expectations.
The Model 3 should be priced around £30,000 and a £1,000 deposit can be made with Tesla right now if you want to get a good place on the waiting list.
For the money, you'll be getting the first mass production offering from one of the most desirable names in electric vehicles. The Model 3 is a five-door, five-seat car with a minimum range of 215 miles and the option of an all-wheel drive drivetrain over the rear-wheel drive standard option.
Not everything about it has been announced yet and the drivable prototype seen at the launch will be tweaked ahead of "part two" of the car's staggered reveal. For instance, the "spaceship" cabin and dashboard are still to come, along with the extent to which Tesla's autopilot autonomous driving technology will feature. However, even at the £30k mark, many feel you'll still have the option of getting all the Tesla trimmings.
Eventually, the Model 3 will spawn a crossover Tesla, rumoured to be called the Model Y, sitting on the same platform, although no details have yet emerged and a launch date is some way off.
Elsewhere, BMW has plans for its "i" range over the next couple of years – the i3 will get a battery upgrade soon, followed by a convertible version of the flagship i8 sports car.
The next new BMW i model is still some way off though – a third member of the family won't be with us until the early 2020s.
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