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Steve Schaefer is a long-time contributor to Clean Fleet Report. He wrote a weekly automotive column for almost three decades, testing more than 1,300 cars. He now is a technical writer at Rivian, although opinions expressed her are his own and do not represent Rivian. 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. Steve has owned a Chevrolet Bolt EV, a Fiat 500e and now drives a Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV. 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

Smart charging

Interview: Clay Collier Talks Smart Charging at VERGE 19

The next electrification wave will be when passenger EVs take off. This will happen as people understand that with larger batteries and a built-out charging infrastructure, range anxiety isn’t really an issue.

2019 BMW 745e

Road Test: 2019 BMW 745e

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

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.