Electric vehicles are the way of the future, and we see more of them on the roads every year as additional cities and regions add charging stations. Did you know there are now over 46,000 public charging stations in the United States? What’s more, many of these even offer free charging for your vehicle. So if you live in a city, or if you live in a suburb and make your commute to the city, you’ll be in good company if you make the switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle. Finding a place to power up won’t be difficult. And with gas prices still at historical highs, electric vehicles can be real money savers.
Once you come to the conclusion that you want an electric vehicle, you’ll probably find yourself looking for a used Chevy dealership. Of course, not every driver has the same needs. Some drivers only need a commuter car to get to and from work, while others might need a weekend getaway car that can handle the occasional road trip. Many drivers are even looking for a family car that can fit everyone while still saving fuel. Each of these drivers requires a different vehicle. So if you want an affordable electric vehicle, you will need a manufacturer that builds EV and hybrid models to fit every possible need.
With Chevy operating in the EV space for some time now, you will not only find a range of different fuel-saving models, but you can also find a great deal on a variety of previous years’ used Chevys. This includes models that are fully battery-powered, as well as those with hybrid powertrains. So let’s take a look at which one is best for your lifestyle.
#1 – Best for Busy Cities: The Chevrolet Spark EV
If you’re looking for a car that’s as compact as they get so that you never have to worry about finding a parking spot on busy streets again, the Spark EV is the way to go. This electric mini-car might be small, but it still has seating for four and a convenient hatchback design that makes the trunk easy to load, so long as you don’t need to pack anything too bulky.
The Spark EV packs a lot of convenient features into its diminutive frame, like 23.4 cu.ft. of cargo volume and tons of storage options, from a center console bin to door pocket bottle holders and cup holders in the front and back. Plus, it has a seven-inch LCD display screen that shows you tons of pertinent information through crisp graphics. Even though it’s a few years old, the Spark EV has the features you would expect from today’s newer vehicles, like built-in Wi-Fi, remote start capabilities, and heated driver and front passenger seats.
As for range and charging abilities, the Spark EV boasts three levels of charging capability. On a DC fast charger, it can get up to 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes, so this car will never have you waiting long to hit the road. And, it can handle several DC fast charges per day, which is rare for this vehicle segment, so there are no limits to how far you can go in a day.
Chevy only made the Spark EV from 2013 to 2016, but if you can find a used model, you can enjoy a zippy little vehicle that’s ideal for packed city streets, getting in and out of tight parking spots, and navigating traffic. If you ask us, it’s a shame that Chevrolet stopped making this attractive compact vehicle. However, part of the reason it was discontinued was that Chevy started building some even more compelling electric cars.
#2 – For Those Who Need Versatility: The Chevy Bolt EV
The Chevy Bolt EV is a compact hatchback that packs all the passenger seating and cargo area you want from an SUV into a sleek, sophisticated and smaller body that’s easy to handle and get into small parking spots. It has an electric range of up to 259 miles, depending on the model year. So it can handle a week’s worth of commuting without recharging and even go on road trips. If you want to spend your weekends taking day trips outside the city, doing so in the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV is a breeze––even when you can’t find many charging ports around.
This car can go from zero to 60 in about six seconds and boasts 200 hp. So while electric vehicles might have a reputation for not being as powerful or fast as gas-guzzlers, the Bolt EV disproves that misconception. And with Chevy recently releasing the redesigned 2022 Chevy Bolt EV, you might just get a good deal on an older used model. It’s still a fresh and fun car, with modern features like one-pedal driving, which lets you brake and accelerate with the gas pedal, reducing fatigue on long drives. DC fast charging is available on the Bolt EV and can get you up to 100 miles of range in just 30 minutes.
The Bolt EV has Chevy’s newer infotainment system and boasts a 10.2-inch diagonal color touchscreen, displaying important vehicle and driver info, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s also loaded with the Chevy Safety Assist suite of advanced driver assist features to minimize the chances of accidents on the road.
#3 – For a Classic Sedan: The Chevrolet Volt
The Chevy Volt is another great vehicle that left the Chevy lineup before its time. Chevy stopped making this plug-in hybrid sedan in 2019 after a nine-year run. Its unique sequential powertrain means the Volt is powered by electric motors but has a gasoline engine to recharge its lithium-ion battery on the go. For the 2019 model, the result is a pure electric range of 53 miles and a total range of 420 miles. If you like the idea of an EV for your daily commute but need more range and quick refueling for the occasional road trip, this is the car for you.
The Volt is a comfortable ride, and it has a Wi-Fi hotspot available with a subscription, so those who are not accustomed to using their smartphone apps in a vehicle can do so with this used car. It has responsive steering, and when it is in EV mode, its electric motors are completely quiet––which can be a perk in an otherwise busy city.
One of the coolest features of the Chevy Volt is that you can schedule when you want it to start charging after you plug it in. This feature lets you recharge your car during off-peak (aka more affordable) electricity hours, saving you even more money. Another modern feature is OnStar MyLink, which comes in the Volt smartphone app. It lets you do things like pre-cool the car before getting in––which is a big bonus on those hot summer days––as well as check your battery level from your smartphone.
Many drivers also appreciate that the Chevy Volt has a subtle and stylish look with a traditional sedan body style. So if you don’t quite want a car that makes people instantly say, “Must be an electric vehicle,” the Volt is a nice compromise. Chevy ultimately stopped making the car because it was too costly to produce. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of used models that are now available at a great price!
