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9 electric cars you can actually buy in 2012


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A new batch of electric cars is joining the big names on the market such as the Nissan Leaf. So we thought it was time to catch up on the EV scene and see how the new entrants stack up. More electric cars are coming, too, including the two-seaters Mini E, Smart ForTwo, and Audi E-tron, and four- and five-seaters Scion iQ EV, Volkswagen E-Up and E-Golf, and a Cadillac ELR version of the Volt.

Tesla Model S
Range:
265 miles
Price: $92,400

The EPA rates the Model S passenger car, the newest offering from Elon Musk's EV company, at 89 mpge. And thanks to an enormous battery pack, the Model S is expected to make 265 miles on a charge. So far, the company says it has 7000 reservations.

Related: Our test drive of the Tesla Model S

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Coda Sedan
Range:
88 miles
Price: $37,250

Built by a small California company using a Chinese-made version of a Japanese Mitsubishi Lancer as a platform, the Coda runs on a unique lithium-phosphate battery instead of the more common lithium-ion. EPA rates the Coda as a subcompact, though the four-door sedan will carry five people. Those who've gotten the chance to drive one have generally come away with a good impression of the EV, which gets brisk acceleration from its 134-hp electric motor.



Ford Focus EV
Range: 76 miles
Price: $39,995

The Ford Focus EV will be offered only in California, New York, and New Jersey as it is slowly released to the public. But during our drive, we found the Focus EV to be quick and quieter than a gasoline-powered model on the road. One big plus for the electric Focus is its high-capacity 240-volt onboard charger, which lets you top off the battery in less than 4 hours.




Honda Fit EV
Range:
123 miles
Price: $36,665

We just got our first drive in the electric version of a car we really like, the Honda Fit. We expect the five-seat Fit EV to be rated as the longest-range passenger EV—the automaker says you'll get 123 miles on a charge. Honda is rolling out the vehicle conservatively; it will be sold only in California and Oregon later this year, and, like the Toyota RAV4 EV, it will have a small production run: just 1100 cars for the next three years.