Price range: €64,990 to €89,810 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 336-436km (WLTP)
Battery details: 71-95kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 230-265kW twin-motor four-wheel-drive system (300kW on overboost)
Maximum power output: 312-360hp (402hp in overboost)
Maximum torque output: 540-561Nm (664Nm in overboost)
Fastest recharging rate: 150kW
0-100km/h: 6.6-6.8 seconds (5.7 seconds in overboost)
Energy consumption: 22.4-26.4kWh per 100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Audi Q5
Audi's e-tron quattro is a hugely satisfying electric car, with exceptional refinement and a high level of luxury about it. It's not exciting to drive, perhaps, but it is very pleasant. Looks good too. The newer e-tron '50' model is much more affordable, so long as you can live with less equipment, performance and range.
Price range: €36,649 to €39,435 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 270-310km (WLTP)
Battery details: 42.2kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 125-135kW single rear-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 170hp (184hp for i3s)
Maximum torque output: 250Nm (270Nm for i3s)
Fastest recharging rate: 50kW
0-100km/h: 7.3 seconds (6.9 seconds for i3s)
Energy consumption: 13.1kWh per 100km (WLTP - 14.6 kW/h for i3s)
Similarly-sized conventional car: BMW 1 Series
BMW's quirky little i3 isn't everyone's cup of tea - that odd styling, the fact that it's strictly a four-seater, those weird rear-hinged doors - but six years on from its launch it's still a cracking EV, with swift performance, sharp(ish) handling and a gorgeous cabin. The i3s model is marginally faster, but not really worth the extra price or reduction in range.
Price range: €29,745 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 311km (WLTP)
Battery details: 38.3kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 100kW single front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 136hp
Maximum torque output: 295Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 100kW
0-100km/h: 9.9 seconds
Energy consumption: n/a kWh per 100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Hyundai i30
Hyundai's Leaf rival gets an upgrade for 2020 with a larger battery and a slightly more powerful electric motor. Just like the outgoing model, though, it's a simple, sensible car with a roomy, comfy, interior and decent range - sufficient for the occasional long motorway journey. It may lack the wow factor of some other electric cars, but it's decently priced.
Price range: €38,130 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 449km (WLTP)
Battery details: 64kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 150kW single front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 204hp
Maximum torque output: 395Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 100kW
0-100km/h: 7.6 seconds
Energy consumption: 14.3 kWh per 100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Hyundai Kona
The electric Kona has been a smash hit in Ireland already, and is one of the prime drivers in the current spike in electric car sales. Not hard to see why, really - a trusted brand, a good-looking car, a massive battery with a long one-charge range (and a realistic one, too). The only fly in the ointment is the hefty price tag, but that doesn't seem to be putting many off.
Price range: €92,895 to €109,285 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 415-470km (WLTP)
Battery details: 90kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 294kW twin motor four-wheel drive
Maximum power output: 400hp
Maximum torque output: 696Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 104kW
0-100km/h: 4.8 seconds
Energy consumption: 35.4-39.9 kWh per 100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Jaguar F-Pace
Jag's gorgeous I-Pace was really the first EV to truly blow our minds. Aside from the looks, it has genuine sports car performance from its 400hp powertrain, and decent (if not quite as mind-blowing as we'd like) one-charge range. The interior is pretty lovely too, and the handling is excellent, once you allow for the chunky kerb weight.
Price range: €33,495 to €37,495 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 312-450km (WLTP)
Battery details: 64kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 100-150kW front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 136-204hp
Maximum torque output: 295-395Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 77kW
0-100km/h: 7.8-9.9 seconds
Energy consumption: 15.8kWh per 100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Kia Niro
Kia's e-Niro comes in two flavours, with a lower-power, smaller-battery, cheaper-price model available. Most of the interest is in the more expensive 64kWh battery model though, and with real-world one-charge range of 420km it's not hard to see why. More conventional looking than the e-Soul, which should help its sales chances.
Price range: €31,995 to €37,495 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 312-450km (WLTP)
Battery details: 64kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 100-150kW front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 136-204hp
Maximum torque output: 295-395Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 77kW
0-100km/h: 7.8-9.9 seconds
Energy consumption: 15.8kWh per 100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Kia XCeed
Kia's e-Soul is one of our favourite EVs right now, not least because it's so darned funky looking. Not everyone's cup of tea, but we think it's pretty cool. Cabin looks and feels classier than that of the e-Niro, and it's slightly cheaper than Hyundai's similarly-sized Kona. Quite good fun to drive, too.
Price range: €89,450 to €105,882 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 417km (WLTP)
Battery details: 80kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 300kW twin-motor four-wheel drive
Maximum power output: 408hp
Maximum torque output: 760Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 112kW
0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds
Energy consumption: 19.7-20.8kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Mercedes-Benz GLC
Merc's EQC is both new and old - new battery, new electric motors, but mounted to an old(ish) GLC platform. That brings compromises in terms of packaging and weight, but in spite of a smaller battery than most of the competition, it's quick to drive. Lovely interior, but a touch cramped.
Price range: €27,765 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 235-270km (WLTP)
Battery details: 32.6kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 135kW single front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 184hp
Maximum torque output: 270Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 50kW DC
0-100km/h: 7.3 seconds
Energy consumption: 15.5-18kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: MINI Cooper S
The electric MINI has been a long time coming (prototypes were first built a decade ago), but it seems worth the wait, with the usual cheeky styling (love those alloy wheels) and the usual MINI handling. It's quite short on range, though, so may struggle against some rivals.
Price range: €28,690 to €40,500 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 270-385km (WLTP)
Battery details: 40-62kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 100-159kW single front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 150-217hp
Maximum torque output: 320-340Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 100kW
0-100km/h: 6.9-7.9 seconds
Energy consumption: 16.3-20kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Volkswagen Golf
Nissan's big-selling Leaf does an excellent job of making electric motoring look and feel totally normal. Slightly disappointing range of the basic 40kWh model made up for by the newer (and much more expensive) 62kWh version. Interior a bit dull, and so is the chassis, but it's roomy and quite good looking.
Price range: €27,334 to €32,660 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 340km (WLTP)
Battery details: 50kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 100kW single front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 136hp
Maximum torque output: 260Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 100kW DC
0-100km/h: 8.1 seconds
Energy consumption: 15kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Peugeot 208
Peugeot's electric e-208 doesn't shout about its battery status with its styling, but then the regular 208 is so striking to look at that it doesn't really need to. Peppy performance combines with a high-quality cabin and a capable chassis. Price is decent, too.
Price range: €26,990 to €31,990 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 386-395km (WLTP)
Battery details: 52kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 80-100kW single front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 108-135hp
Maximum torque output: 225-245Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 50kW
0-100km/h: 9.5-11.4 seconds
Energy consumption: TBA kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Renault Clio
Renault's Zoe gets a massive update for 2020, with a bigger battery, longer range and the option of a rapid 135hp motor. It looks a little sharper too, and the cabin feels like a more high-quality item. Pricing is pretty sharp, so expect this to do big business, especially with that near-400km range.
Price range: €9,995 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 60km (WLTP)
Battery details: 6.1kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 13kW single rear-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 17hp
Maximum torque output: 57Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 7.4kW
0-100km/h: n/a seconds
Energy consumption: n/a kWh/100km (WLTP)
Renault's Twizy is among the maddest cars we've driven (if it actually is a car). No Ferrari draws as many looks nor smiles from the pavement, but for god's sake don't try and take it on the motorway. Limited in every performance metric, but crazy fun in the right circumstances. Doors optional.
Price range: €48,900 to €61,990 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 409-560km (WLTP)
Battery details: 54-75kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 211kW single rear-mounted motor or 307-353kW dual-motor four-wheel drive
Maximum power output: 283-473hp
Maximum torque output: 510-639Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 250kW Supercharger
0-100km/h: 3.4-5.6 seconds
Energy consumption: 16-18 kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: BMW 3 Series
Tesla's new, hugely anticipated Model 3 has begun Irish deliveries. Can it live up to the massive hype? Pretty much, yeah. As ever with Tesla, it's a work in progress, but performance, range and overall quality are good. It's great to drive, too.
Price range: €89,800 to €106,600 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 590-610km (WLTP)
Battery details: 100kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 311-451kW dual-motor four-wheel drive
Maximum power output: 417-605hp
Maximum torque output: 660-931Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 250kW Supercharger
0-100km/h: 3.8-2.6 seconds
Energy consumption: 21-22 kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: BMW 5 Series
Tesla's Model S has been around a while now, but its performance goes from strength to strength. Has a long enough range to consign range anxiety to the bin in all but the most extreme circumstances. Insane (ludicrous, even) performance, but build quality still a bit variable.
Price range: €95,500 to €112,000 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 485-505km (WLTP)
Battery details: 100kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 311-451kW dual-motor four-wheel drive
Maximum power output: 417-611hp
Maximum torque output: 660-931Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 250kW Supercharger
0-100km/h: 4.6-2.9 seconds
Energy consumption: 24 kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: Audi Q7
Tesla's Model X, with its wild ‘Falcon' doors, can still draw a crowd at the kerbside, and rightly so. It pulls a big advantage out over similarly-priced electric SUV rivals by being available with five, six, or seven seats, and it's faster than most of them too. If only the quality was better, and the handling too.
Price range: €38,025 to €41,570 (including SEAI grant and VRT rebate)
Maximum range between charges: 217-230km (WLTP)
Battery details: 35.8kWh lithium-ion
Motor details: 100kW single front-mounted motor
Maximum power output: 136hp
Maximum torque output: 290Nm
Fastest recharging rate: 50kW
0-100km/h: 9.6 seconds
Energy consumption: 15.8-16.7 kWh/100km (WLTP)
Similarly-sized conventional car: VW Golf
It's about to be swamped by the arrival of the new Volkswagen ID.3 all-electric car, but the e-Golf still has a lot going for it. Mostly that it's a Golf, so it looks, feels and drives in a very reassuring manner. Short range, though, and it's not cheap.
