Electric bikes with mid-drive motors are more efficient than their counterparts with hub-motors. They used to be extremely expensive, but not anymore…

Cars.com’s automotive experts chose the Best Electric Vehicle of 2025 based on charging speed, range and overall excellence. The editors considered model-year 2025 EVs for the Best Electric Vehicle award.

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has reached a significant milestone with its cumulative sales of electrified vehicles surpassing six million at the end of 2024. This achievement reflects the success of Toyota’s multi-pathway strategy which enables customers to reduce emissions wherever they live, especially where the enabling conditions for zero emission vehicles are limited.

Volkswagen plans to present the show car for the new entry-level model to the public at the beginning of March. The world premiere of the production model is scheduled for 2027. With a base price of about €20,000, the new entry-level electric model will be attractive for a wide variety of user groups. Schäfer: “An affordable, high-quality, and profitable electric Volkswagen from Europe for Europe – that’s the Champions League of automotive engineering!”

With its dual DNA of true electric vehicle driving and the convenience of hybrid, the latest Prius achieves a driving range of up to 86 km (WLTP combined) of near-silent electric driving with no tailpipe emissions, enough for full electric driving on most daily journeys. When driven exclusively on city or urban roads, Prius’ equivalent all-electric range increases to 110 km.

The firstborn in FIAT’s new family will be available in electric and hybrid versions. With a 44 kWh battery and an 83 kW e-motor (113 HP), the electric Grande Panda offers 320 km of range in the WLTP combined cycle, making it the perfect vehicle for urban daily use and weekend getaways. The electric Fiat Grande Panda boasts a maximum speed of 132 km/h and a 0-50 km/h acceleration in 4.2 seconds (0-100 km/h in 11 seconds).

Aptera’s vehicle is equipped with 700 watts of integrated solar cells, which is expected to allow most drivers to enjoy daily use without ever needing to plug in to charge. The vehicle features up to 40 miles of solar-powered driving per day and the ability to travel up to 400 miles on a single charge.

With a competitive starting price of around €33,000 (before any state subsidies) in select European markets, it is the most affordable vehicle in its segment when factoring in its battery capacity and extensive standard equipment.

In the 2024 edition of the Ecotest, ADAC ranked the PEUGEOT E-208 and PEUGEOT E-308 equipped with the 100% electric 115 kW (156 hp) engine in the first two places among the 84 models tested. A third PEUGEOT featured in this test, the PEUGEOT E-2008, equipped with the same engine, ranks first among SUVs, all segments combined, and in an excellent 6th place overall.

Volkswagen has reached a new efficiency milestone on a circuit in Nardò, southern Italy: an ID.7 Pro S with a standard technology package and 210 kW (286 PS) covered a distance of 941 kilometres on just one battery charge (86 kWh net). This significantly exceeded the model’s maximum WLTP range (combined) of up to 709 kilometres by 232 kilometres or 32.7 percent. During the 941-kilometre tour, the ID.7 Pro S had an average consumption of just 9.2 kWh/100 km – an exceptionally low figure. Converted to a diesel equivalent, the average consumption achieved in Nardò corresponds to about just 1 litre per 100 km. The aim of the test in Nardò was to determine the maximum efficiency of the ID.7 Pro S introduced in 2024.

The Urban Cruiser will be available with two battery pack options, both of which use durable but cost-efficient lithium-iron phosphate technology. A 49-kWh battery with an output of 106 kW / 144 DIN hp will be offered exclusively with front-wheel drive while a 61-kWh battery will be available in both front and all-wheel drive Urban Cruiser versions. In FWD format the 61-kWh battery will produce 128 kW / 174 DIN hp; in the AWD model, the power is slightly greater at 135 kW / 184 DIN hp.

The addition of LG Energy Solution’s cylindrical batteries offers superior performance and safety. To ensure safety, the batteries utilize high-quality NCMA cathodes enhanced with aluminum and LG Energy Solution’s proprietary SRS® (Safety Reinforced Separator) with a ceramic coating.