Photo of author
Steve Schaefer is Micromobility Editor and plug-in vehicle specialist at Clean Fleet Report. He has written a weekly automotive column for almost three decades, testing more than 1,300 cars. Now, he’s focusing on EVs and plug-in hybrids. Steve remembers the joy of riding in his father’s Austin-Healey. After discovering the August, 1963 issue of Motor Trend, he became entranced with the annual model change, and began stalking dealers’ back lots to catch the new models as they rolled off the transporter. Coming from a family that owned three Corvairs, Steve was one of the first Saturn buyers, earning him a prominent spot in their 1994 product catalog. Steve had a Chevrolet Bolt EV and now drives a Fiat 500e. A founding member of the Western Automotive Journalists, Steve is a Climate Reality Leader, trained by Al Gore. Read his EV/green living blog at Stevegoesgreen.

Steve Schaefer

2019 BMW 745e

Road Test: 2019 BMW 745e

by

The 2019 BMW 745e combines the inline, 280-horsepower, 3.0-liter six-cylinder with an 111-horsepower eDrive electric motor and a 10.3 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack to deliver a potent 389 total horsepower. That’s good for a 4.9-second zero-to-60 sprint.

Buyer’s Guide: Six Used Electric Cars for Less Than $15,000

by

However, if cost is the barrier to driving an EV, there’s an easy solution—get a used one! You’ll need to live with less range, as cars that can go 200 mile or more between charges have only been available for the last few years, but if you can live with around 84 to 125 miles, there are several options. I’ve listed six below, in my order of preference. I’ve tested them all, and they are worth owning, especially at $15,000 or less.

+ More