The Best Alternatives to Tesla’s Model S
Who can compete with the most sought-after electric car?
When the Model S was launched back in 2012, it was surrounded by a lot of skepticism, with very few people outside the company itself believing that it would have any significant success, primarily because it was deemed to expensive and because there were already plenty of good luxury hybrid sedans in the market that were similarly priced and have proven to be pretty reliable and had already established a relatively big customer base. However, it turned out that Tesla’s all-electric sedan had what it takes to battle it out against brands that were present in the alternative vehicle market long before the Model S was released.
Now, it’s one of the most popular “overall” vehicles in the U.S., and one of the most sought-after electric cars in the world, largely thanks to the great range of up to 300 miles, and the fact that it can be recharged in about an hour, through one of Tesla’s Superchargers, which is much faster than what it takes for other electric cars to recharge. The Model S have been selling quite well recently, and the growing demand around the globe has prompted the company to ramp up production, with plans to start building up to 1,000 units a week soon.
This means that Tesla’s competitors will have to step up their game and try and offer vehicles that can be recharged faster and can go further than the Model S before their batteries go empty. The biggest threat to the Model S is expected to come from the German luxury car makers, which have boosted their efforts to create plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles that could be worthy competitors to Tesla’s sedan, trying to address the range anxiety and the charge anxiety issues.
Via: hybridcars.com
There are a few models that have the potential to be good alternatives to Model S, including the BMW i3, the Porsche Panamera S e-hybrid, along with the Cadillac ELR and Toyota Lexus hybrid models.
Starting with the i3, there is one significant advantage it has over the Model S. It’s the $41,350 price tag, which is almost half the price of the Model S. Although they are not in the same class, the i3 can lure potential Model S buyers, especially those loyal BMW-enthusiasts, who could be attracted by the all-electric range of up to 100 miles and the fact that it boasts great handling performances. The fact that it features many innovative technologies, such as the use of carbon fiber for the car’s body, which makes it the first mass-produced car made almost entirely from carbon fiber.
Another possible alternative to the Model S is the Panamera S e-hybrid, which might not have an amazing EV-mode range, but the 167-mph top speed does make it quite attractive to car buyers. However, the $99,000 base price is a bit of a disadvantage.
As far as the Cadillac ELR is concerned, it might have the best chance to jeopardize Tesla’s plans for dominance in the alternative fuel car market. It’s a luxury plug-in hybrid, that has plenty of convenience and comfort features, similar to those offered in the Model S, along with a total range of over 300 miles. Even though it’s a bit pricey, costing $75,000, it’s a well established brand that has been around for a very long time, which is something that Tesla obviously lacks.
In any case, the Model S is slowly becoming a mainstay in the electric car market, and other, more prominent car makers have their work cut out for them if they want to protect their brands from the serious damage Tesla’s car can cause to them.
