Electric Cars of 2012

The transformation of the auto industry is upon us. And it will become even more apparent in 2012 when large auto makers start mass producing electric cars. Forecasting the success of electric cars, we would have to predict that electric cars will gradually dominate the market. Let's face it, oil is a limited resource and Americans will have to find an alternative source to power up their SUV's. In fact, 5 years from now this question will seem silly, as projections indicate as many as 5.2 million electric vehicles will be sold globally by 2017. How will this affect businesses? Car insurance? Job Creation? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, let us indulge with the best electric cars to hit the market in 2012. Read on to find out.

For those eco-minded car consumers out there, options for electric vehicles have been quite limited. In 2012 next year, this will change. With so many new electric vehicles bursting into the market, there will be many to choose from, based on features, price range, charging power, and aesthetic design.

One of our favorites is the Ford Focus EV. Ford is in the works of releasing five new EV's (Electric Vehicles) over the next three years, starting with the electric version of its introducing protégé model, the Focus. This car will be able to run on 70 miles per charge, and only takes around 3 to 4 hours to be fully charged. In comparison to the Nissan Leaf, this new Ford Focus has already made some great improvements. It charges about half the time it takes to fully recharge the Leaf while also have similar capacities to be driven on about 70 miles per charge. With price, we can only assume that Ford will remain competitive to Nissan.

Next on our list, is the Toyota Rav 4 EV. While many auto manufacturers are choosing to scale down and produce smaller electric vehicle models, Toyota stays true to standard size. It maintains the overall measurement and design of the original Toyota Rav 4, which in itself is already a "Mini-Suv." A bit on the pricey side, consumers will have to compare its features and functionalities to Mitsubishi's i-MiEV, which offers a more attractive base MSRP tag, just under 28 grand. Mitsubishi has already released this model in other countries such as Japan, England and Australia, and is doing so successfully that it predicts high numbers in the American market. The compact 2,600 pound bubble shaped car is the lightest EV car to be introduced and also projected to be the least expensive in the realm of electric motor vehicles.