Small electric compact cars are on the rise

Do you love your city and only rarely leave it by car? This quiet, multi-purpose little machine is made for you! Are you conscient of the environment? These so-called 'green' cars have the right technologyfor your expectations.

City parking is a problem you face every day. Small compact cars all measure less than 4.10m. The Smart Fortwo, 2-door and 2-seater, was designed to park perpendicular to the pavements (not in Belgium as this is not permitted). It has only been available as an electric for a few months and, at 2.70m, is the smallest on the market. “Large” in this segment is 4.09m. The Renault Zoé, a real pioneer in electric cars, can accommodate five passengers.

According to a study by the FPS and Vias, the weekly average of our journeys is 250km. Depending on your choice of electric vehicle, a weekly top-up will therefore be sufficient. Indeed, the range for small compact cars ranges from 130km (Smart Forfour) to 390km (Renault ZOE). Currently in Belgium you can choose from more than 10 cars, of which half have a range of more than 300km, three will travel between 200 and 300km and the last three will drive less than 200km.

Do you think charging is a real problem? Rest assured, with a little practice and organisation, refuelling your car will become child’s play. A garage or carport with a standard plug, and 18 hours later (or even less), your batteries will be fully charged. You can even take advantage of your stops at the shopping centre to top up or take advantage of a charging point at your workplace. If one day you decide to travel, forget marathon drives without breaks and instead take the sensible advice of stopping every two hours but at a rapid charger.

The image of noisy 90s compact cars, with no comfort or convenience, no longer applies. Today, these little gems have luxury car equipment with digital dashboards, driver assistance, top connectivity, etc. The list of equipment is lengthy, sometimes you just have to limit things to meet your budget.  And when it comes to price, the range is wide too. The average price of cars in this category is €28,700 including VAT. The cheapest on the market is Dacia with the Spring at €16,990 incl. VAT basic price (4 seats in 3.73m and a range of 230km).

When visiting the dealer, remember to ask about:

• the battery type and range
• the effective charging power
• the warranty on the batteries and rental packages
• a test drive to check that it meets your needs