In addition to the comparison chart below, a list of regional dealers and their contact information can be found on our Dealers page. It also lists sources of used electric vehicles.
Further information on factors affecting range as well as government rebates, dealer discounts, operating cost, home charging, the electric driving experience and environmental benefits can be found on our Detailed Information page.
Dealers Detailed InformationBy "Plug-in Electric Vehicle" we mean vehicles with an electric motor as its primary means of propulsion with a battery capacity above 15kWh (the battery size used by the BC government subsidy program) that can be recharged by plugging it into an external source of electricity. While we applaud those who drive hybrid vehicles with a battery capacity below 15kWh because they have taken the first step toward a fully electric vehicle, we believe that only fully electric vehicles can make a meaningful change in the transportation landscape.
For Richmond owners, we recommend an electric range of at least 75 km which allows for two return trips to downtown Vancouver in one day plus an extra margin for safety. There is a detailed discussion of range requirements for longer trips here.
There is a separate listing, after the 75 km range listing, for the Chrysler Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid which has a 16 kWh battery, but only 53 km of electric range. It is a 7 seat minivan with a full size gas engine as well as two electric motors.
For each of the vehicles below, there is a list of Richmond dealers and their contact information here.
Listed alphabetically. Click on the photo for vehicle website. See Explanatory Notes below. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate data, there is no liability for errors that may occur. Information important to you should be verified with other sources.
| Vehicle Website | Battery Size | Level 3 Charging | Electric Range | Total Range | Trunk Volume | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 BMW i3 |
33 kWh | Standard | 183 km | 183 km | 11.2 cu.ft. | $50,840 |
BMW i3 with range extender gas engine |
33 kWh | Standard | 156 km | 290 km | 11.2 cu.ft. | $55,540 |
 Chevrolet Bolt |
60 kWh | Option | 383 km | 383 km | 16.9 cu.ft. | $44,795 |
 Chevrolet Volt with range extender gas engine |
18.4 kWh | No | 85 km | 675 km | 10.6 cu.ft. | $40,695 |
 Electra Meccanica Solo |
17.3 kWh | Standard | 160 km | 160 km | 5.7 cu.ft. | $19,888 |
 Ford Focus Electric |
33.5 kWh | Standard | 185 km | 185 km | 14.5 cu.ft. | $33,853 |
 Honda Clarity with range extender gas engine |
17 kWh | No | 76 km | 547 km | 15.5 cu.ft. | $41,555 |
 Hyundai Ioniq Electric |
28 kWh | Standard | 200 km | 200 km | 23.8 cu.ft. | $37,354 |
 Kia Soul EV |
30 kWh | Standard | 179 km | 179 km | 18.8 cu.ft. | $37,780 |
 Nissan Leaf |
40 kWh | Standard | 242 km | 242 km | 24 cu.ft. | $37,988 |
 Smart fortwo electric |
17.6 kWh | No | 115 km | 115 km | 9.2 cu.ft. | $29,635 |
 Tesla Model 3 standard |
estimated 55 kWh |
Standard | 354 km | 354 km | 15 cu.ft. | $46,900 |
Tesla Model 3 long range |
estimated 75 kWh |
Standard | 500 km | 500 km | 15 cu.ft. | $58,800 |
 Tesla Model S 75D |
75 kWh | Standard | 416 km | 416 km | 31.6 cu.ft. | $97,950 |
Tesla Model S 100D |
100 kWh | Standard | 539 km | 539 km | 31.6 cu.ft. | $123,300 |
Tesla Model S Performance P100D |
100 kWh | Standard | 507 km | 507 km | 31.6 cu.ft. | $177,300 |
 Tesla Model X 75D |
75 kWh | Standard | 381 km | 381 km | 26 cu.ft. | $111,500 |
Tesla Model X 100D |
100 kWh | Standard | 475 km | 475 km | 26 cu.ft. | $140,900 |
Tesla Model X Performance P100D |
100 kWh | Standard | 465 km | 465 km | 26 cu.ft. | $190,900 |
 Volkswagen e-Golf |
35.8 kWh | Standard | 201 km | 201 km | 17 cu.ft. | $38,000 |
This minivan has a 16 kWh battery, but only 53 km of electric range. It has a full size gas engine as well as two electric motors. It accommodates 7 passengers and may suit large families. Note that the Tesla Model X, listed above, also accommodates 7 passengers. Click on the photo for vehicle website. See Explanatory Notes below.
| Vehicle Website | Battery Size | Level 3 Charging | Electric Range | Total Range | Trunk Volume | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid |
16 kWh | No | 53 km | 911 km | 32.3 cu.ft. | $54,500 |
Level 3 refers to DC fast charging capability which is either standard on the base model, available as an extra cost upgrade option or not available. In addition to slow 120V charging capability from a normal wall outlet, all of the above vehicles have a Level 2 charging connector that requires access to a 240V charging unit. Access to Level 3 charging is not yet widely available. Information on different types of charging is available here.
Range is for a combination of city and highway driving as reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA rating) or the estimated EPA rating announced by the manufacturer for vehicles not yet available. EPA ratings are averaged for a wide range of environmental conditions. Richmond drivers should achieve increased range due to our ideal environmental conditions for electric vehicles. For highway only driving at higher speeds, there is a detailed discussion of range requirements here.
Trunk volume is with all seats in normal position.
Manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is for the base model including freight and destination charges for delivery in Richmond without upgrade options and accessories and before government rebates, dealer discounts and taxes.
With the exception of vehicles with a MSRP over $77,000 (Tesla), all of the vehicles on the list qualify for the $5,000 BC Government rebate that applies to all vehicles with a battery capacity above 15kWh. That rebate has not been deducted from the MSRP shown above. The vehicle dealer will deduct it at time of purchase and claim it from the Government.
If you are scrapping a gas engine vehicle and purchasing a designated electric vehicle (which does not include a Tesla) from an authorized dealer at the same time, take advantage of the incentives offered by BC SCRAP-IT. The incentive is $6,000 if a new electric vehicle is purchased and $3,000 if it is used. For 2018, the available incentives have been allocated to each participating dealer and the regulations require that you first get the dealer to assign an incentive to your electric vehicle order and then apply to BC SCRAP-IT.
The new 2018 Honda Clarity has a 17 kWh battery and a 76 km electric range which the gas engine extends to 547 km. It is expected to compete with the Chevrolet Volt.
The 2018 Volkswagen e-Golf has a 12 to 18 month waiting list.
The 2018 Nissan Leaf has a larger 40 kWh battery. It is expected that the 2019 Leaf will have a 60 kWh battery option to compete with the Chevrolet Bolt and Tesla Model 3.
The 2018 Tesla Model 3 has an optional premium upgrade package that includes a panoramic glass roof for an estimated $6,500. There will also be an all-wheel-drive dual motor D model option.
Mercedes-Benz has announced that in 2018 they will only produce the electric version of their Smart fortwo listed in the chart above. There is also a soft top cabriolet electric version that is not yet available in Canada.
Mitsubishi has announced that it will no longer produce the iMiEV.
Most vehicle manufacturers expect to introduce new electric models in 2019.
