The most economical electric cars in 2024

In times of rising living costs, the consumption of a vehicle is becoming increasingly important – especially in the case of electromobility. The search for an economical model is no longer just a question of price, but also of the ecological footprint. But which e-cars are real energy-saving miracles in their respective classes? Whether as a small city runabout, spacious compact car, elegant mid-size SUV or luxurious sedan - we have taken a close look at the most economical electric cars on the German market for you.

The most important facts in brief

According to WLTP, the Fiat 500e should get by with 13 kWh, and in practice the range is around 150 kilometres.
Realistically, Tesla's Model 3 RWD consumes 17.2 kWh – a low value for a mid-range vehicle.
The VW ID.7 sedan is frugal despite its stately appearance (WLTP of 13.6 kWh).

Electric car expert Ove Kröger explains why you don't have to be afraid of range:

Here you can find out which models set standards in their classes in terms of power consumption.

Segment	Model	WLTP consumption	Paxis Consumption	Achievement	Price
Small car	Fiat 500e (23.8 kWh)	13.0 kWh	15.9 kWh	70 kW	29,490 euros
Compact car	Opel Astra Electric GS	14.8 kWh	16.5 kWh	115 kW	45,060 euros
Middle class	Tesla Model 3	13.2 kWh	17.2 kWh	208 kW	42,490 euros
Mid-size SUV	Toyota bZ4X	14.4 kWh	17.0 kWh	150 kW	42,900 euros
Upper mid-range	VW ID.7 Pro	14.0 kWh	18.1 kWh	210 kW	53,995 euros
SUV upper middle class	Škoda Enyaq Coupé 85	13.5 kWh	18.5 kWh	210 kW	48,900 euros
Luxury	Lucid Air Pure RWD	13.0 kWh	16.5 kWh	325 kW	85,000 euros

Fiat 500e – charming small car with impressive efficiency

Fiat 500e 3+1 with doors open in opposite directions on the passenger side.

Source: FCA Germany GmbH

The additional door in the rear of the passenger side makes it easier to climb the rear seat of the Fiat 500e 3+1.

Combining Italian charm with modern electric mobility, the Fiat 500e is an option for anyone looking for an efficient yet iconic small car.

One of the features of the Fiat 500e is its low consumption of only 13 kWh per 100 kilometres (according to WLTP). No wonder, after all, the Fiat 500e weighs a comparatively slim 1,330 kilograms for an electric car and rolls on relatively narrow 185/55 R15 wheels. With a range of up to 190 kilometres (according to WLTP), the Fiat 500e is ideal for daily commuting, short trips and all trips in the city. In the real ADAC test, however, the little Italian hardly achieved a range of more than 150 kilometres, which corresponds to a consumption of 15.9 kWh per 100 kilometres. Charging is quick: After five minutes at the fast-charging station with 85 kW, the 500e has "refueled" with electricity for another 50 kilometers, and in 35 minutes the 23.8 kWh battery is 80 percent charged.

Thanks to its compact dimensions, the Fiat 500e is manoeuvrable and can fit in almost any parking space. Particularly practical: the 3+1 model variant, which offers a second door on the passenger side and makes it easier for rear passengers to get in and out of the car or to stow shopping bags and the like. You can find good used vehicles at mobile.de from 8,000 euros (as of 08/2024).

Profile Fiat 500e

New car price: 29,490 euros
Power: 70 kW/95 hp
Top speed: 150 km/h
Length: 3.63 meters
Width: 1.68 meters
Height: 1.53 meters
Boot capacity: 185 to 550 litres

Opel Astra Electric GS – Efficiency in the compact class

Blue Opel Astra Electric in front of a glazed building wall.

Source: Opel Automobile GmbH

The Opel Astra Electric is the most economical compact car.

In terms of buyer favor, the Opel Astra has not yet been able to outstrip its long-time rival Golf. But when it comes to e-mobility, the Rüsselsheim-based company is at least ahead in terms of efficiency and, with a power consumption of 14.8 kWh, is even the best in class among compact cars, according to factory data. Sure, that's quite easy, as the Golf is no longer available as a purely electric variant. But even the Wolfsburg electric counterpart, the ID.3, does not work as efficiently as the Opel Astra Electric GS. In the ADAC practical test, consumption was 16.5 kWh.

Its 54 kWh battery enables a range of up to 418 kilometres (according to WLTP). The Astra Electric charges for 19 hours at a household socket, 5.75 hours at an 11 kW wallbox and from 20 to 80 percent at a DC fast charging station in about 30 minutes.

The spacious interior offers plenty of space for a family of four. It's just a shame that the battery protrudes a bit into the trunk and of the stated 352 liters of volume, only about 260 liters are really usable. The rest is under the trunk floor and is already occupied with charging cables, warning triangle, first aid kit and tire repair kit

Nevertheless, the E-Astra offers a good mix of driving comfort, efficiency and space. If you need even more space, simply go for the Opel Astra Electric Sports Tourer station wagon version.

Profile Opel Astra Electric GS

New car price: 45,060 euros
Power: 115 kW/156 hp
Top speed: 170 km/h
Length: 4.37 meters
Width: 1.86 meters
Height: 1.49 meters
Boot capacity: 352 to 1,268 litres

Tesla Model 3 RWD – the benchmark for electric vehicles in the mid-range

A red Tesla Model 3 is driving on a country road in the mountains.

Source: Tesla Germany GmbH

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the most economical electric cars in Germany. In the mid-range, none is more efficient.

Tesla is even the benchmark for e-cars for European carmakers, for example in the areas of batteries and software. In the case of the Tesla Model 3 RWD, this is especially true when it comes to power consumption – at least with regard to the WLTP factory specification. This is just 13.2 kWh per 100 kilometres – currently the lowest value in the mid-range and hardly higher than the small Fiat 500e. However, the real consumption in the ADAC test puts the car world right again: 17.2 kWh is still a "low value", according to the ADAC, but still 30 percent above the factory specification. The 513-kilometre range of the factory specification becomes a realistic 395 kilometres in the ADAC test. If you don't drive long distances all the time, you shouldn't be itching.

Especially since the battery is also charged quite quickly. At a Tesla Supercharger, the 62 kWh battery charges electricity for a 282-kilometer journey in 15 minutes. In contrast, full charging at a domestic 11 kW wallbox takes around six hours.

The suitability for everyday use of the Model 3 is not only evident in its range, but also in the generous amount of space. The interior is minimalist in design, yet extremely functional, with enough space for passengers and luggage. The heart of the operation is the large touchscreen display in the center console. After a short period of getting used to it, the operation is intuitive and leaves no questions unanswered. Only the turn signal buttons in the steering wheel reduce this impression.

Profile Tesla Model 3 RWD

New car price: 42,490 euros
Power: 208 kW/283 hp
Top speed: 201 km/h
Length: 4.72 meters
Width: 1.93 meters
Height: 1.44 meters
Boot capacity: 584 litres

Toyota bZ4X – futuristic design in the SUV mid-size class

A gray Toyota bZ4X is driving on a road with a high concrete guardrail.

Source: Toyota Deutschland GmbH

Among the mid-size SUVs, none is more economical than the Toyota bZ4X.

The Toyota bZ4X brings a breath of fresh air to the world of electric SUVs, combining comfort with an eye-catching, futuristic design. It's a good thing that the mid-size SUV can also take the lead in its segment in terms of power consumption. 14.4 kWh per 100 kilometers according to WLTP is okay in view of the powerful electric motor and the driving performance offered. The ADAC's practical consumption of 17 kWh is a justifiable 16 percent higher.

Toyota bZ4X

With its striking front end, sharply defined lines and modern silhouette, the bZ4X sets visual accents. The design is not only eye-catching, but also aerodynamically optimized, which contributes to the efficiency of the vehicle. Toyota specifies a range of 513 kilometres, in practice it is around 100 kilometres less.

WLTP versus real consumption

In the European Union and Japan, car manufacturers must state the fuel consumption values of their passenger cars according to the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure, or WLTP for short. The WLTP test procedure has been in force since 1 September 2017 and has replaced the NEDC procedure that had been in force until then. The reason was that NEDC was too unrealistic. In some cases, they were up to 33 percent higher than real values.

But even if the WLTP test is more realistic, there are still deviations from reality. According to a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), passenger cars consumed eight percent more fuel in 2018 than stated by the manufacturer, and in 2022 it was already 14 percent. The differences vary depending on the type of drive. Diesel cars are the "cheapest". Here, the deviation is 18.1 percent, for a gasoline engine 23.7 percent and for a plug-in hybrid, the fuel consumption is sometimes more than three times as high as the WLTP value. The ADAC found that for e-cars, the range figures of the manufacturers differ by up to 40 percent from the real values. In order to be able to reflect realistic values, the EU Commission is planning new legislation by 2030.

At fast-charging stations, you can charge the 71.4 kWh battery from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes with the on-board 150 kW DC charging system. The bZ4X is connected to an 11 kW wallbox for 6.5 hours until its battery is full, and to a standard household 230-volt socket for more than 30 hours.

A minimalist but at the same time high-quality interior creates a modern ambience that is equipped with intuitive controls. The spacious interior and the generous luggage compartment also make the bZ4X extremely suitable for everyday use, both for families and for the adventurous.

Profile Toyota bZ4X

New car price: 42,900 euros
Power: 150 kW/204 hp
Top speed: 160 km/h
Length: 4.69 meters
Width: 1.86 meters
Height: 1.60 meters
Boot capacity: 452 litres

VW ID.7 Pro – Efficiency and comfort in the upper mid-size class

A white VW ID.7 Pro stands in front of a body of water and a mountain.

Source: Volkswagen AG

VW has made its electric drives fit. The ID.7 Pro is the most economical vehicle in the upper mid-size class.

With the ID.7 Pro, VW is showing how electric mobility works properly. While the compact ID.3 initially gave the impression of an unfinished prototype, the ID.7 Pro was convincing right from the start. The Wolfsburg-based company has invested a lot of detailed work, including in aerodynamics. This pays off in terms of electricity consumption. The WLTP value is 14 kWh per 100 kilometres. On paper, the ID.7 Pro consumes just one kilowatt hour more than the Fiat 500e. VW specifies a range of up to 618 kilometres.

The ADAC puts the paper values into perspective in its test: The real test consumption is 18.1 kWh and the range shrinks to 485 kilometres. For the ADAC, however, these are still very efficient values, especially in this vehicle class. With the ID.7 Pro S, VW added a variant in June 2024 that is said to be even more efficient with a consumption according to WLTP of 13.6 kWh and a range of 709 kilometres. However, as of 08/2024, no real test values are yet available for this.

If the ID.7 Pro is connected to a typical 11 kW wallbox, as is often used for charging at home, the 77 kWh battery charges fully in eight hours. At a standard household 230-volt socket, this process takes about 38 hours. At a fast-charging station with 175 kW, the ID.7 "refuels" electricity for 200 kilometres in just ten minutes, and the battery is charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 28 minutes.

Measured in terms of power (210 kW/286 hp) and vehicle size, the VW ID.7 Pro sets new standards in efficiency in the upper mid-size class. The interior offers a generous amount of space. People with even more space requirements can go for the ID.7 Pro Tourer, the station wagon version, which comes up with similarly good power consumption values.

Profile VW ID.7 Pro

New car price: 53,995 euros
Power: 210 kW/286 hp
Top speed: 160 km/h
Length: 4.96 meters
Width: 1.86 meters
Height: 1.54 meters
Boot capacity: 532 to 1,586 litres

Lucid Air Dual Motor Pure RWD – Efficiency meets luxury and performance

A gray Lucid Air Pure stands in front of a tree and a building.

Source: Lucid Germany GmbH

Flat, long, strong and very economical: Lucid Air Pure.

Incredibly, the newcomer from the USA (with Saudi financial injection) puts a luxury car with 325 kW/442 hp on wheels more or less out of nowhere. On paper, this consumes just as little electricity as the Fiat 500e small car. And that's only 13 kWh per 100 kilometers. In conjunction with the 92 kWh battery, the range is said to be 747 kilometres. The genes that help with this: a record cd value (air resistance) of 0.197 and a very low weight of 1.9 tons for an electric car of this vehicle class.

And in practice? The ADAC has not yet tested this model (as of 08/2024), but it has tested a more powerful version with 611 kW/831 hp. This model is supposed to get by with 15.9 kWh, in the test it was 20.4 kWh, i.e. 28 percent more. If we also use this ratio as a basis for the Lucid Air Pure, we end up with around 16.5 kWh, which would again be in the range of the Fiat 500e.

However, it does not offer the ambience and feeling of space of a Mercedes S-Class like the Lucid Air. The Ami is also far ahead in terms of charging technology. At a fast charging station, the Lucid charges electricity for another 400 kilometers in just 20 minutes.

By the way: In addition to the 611 kW/831 hp version mentioned above, the Lucid Air is also available with 462 kW/628 hp and 920 kW/1,251 hp.

Profile Lucid Air Dual Motor Pure RWD

New car price: 85,000 euros
Power: 325 kW/442 hp
Top speed: 200 km/h
Length: 4.98 meters
Width: 1.94 meters
Height: 1.42 meters
Boot capacity: 627 litres

Škoda Enyaq 85 – it doesn't get any more economical in the upper SUV mid-size class

A gray Škoda Enyaq is driving on a country road, snow and mountains in the background.

Source: Škoda Auto Deutschland GmbH

Sets the tone for the SUVs in the upper mid-size class: Škoda Enyaq

The Škoda Enyaq is the first Škoda to be based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). The newer VW ID.7 Pro, the other economy champion of the upper mid-range, also uses it. In autumn 2023, Škoda revised the Enyaq, mainly technically, with the engine output of the entry-level model increasing from 150 kW/204 hp to 210 kW/286 hp.

The Škoda Enyaq entices with a fantastic WLTP consumption of just 13.5 kWh per 100 kilometres – not bad for a 2.2-tonne SUV. But does the Enyaq deliver what Škoda promises in practice? This is revealed to us by the website spritmonitor.de, where Enyaq drivers have the opportunity to enter their respective electricity consumption. Here, most users average around 18.5 kWh, i.e. 37 percent above the WLTP figure. The range specified by Škoda is then reduced from 607 to around 420 kilometres – still a value suitable for everyday use.

On a longer journey, you then have to recharge. Like almost all electric cars, the Škoda Enyaq can recharge at a household socket (39 hours), an 11 kW wallbox (7.5 hours) or at a fast-charging station (up to 135 kW). At the latter, the 77 kWh battery needs just under 30 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent. The battery is completely charged in 65 minutes with this charging option.

The Škoda Enyaq, which the Czech VW subsidiary also offers as a coupé, is convincing in the interior. High-quality materials, meticulous workmanship and the modern, driver-oriented cockpit create an appealing ambience. In addition, there is plenty of space and pleasant driving comfort.

Profile Škoda Enyaq 85