Electric cars were once only affordable to those willing to spend large amounts of cash. More recently, mainstream car brands have jumped on the EV bandwagon and are manufacturing electric cars, with some at very affordable prices.

Here are some of the cheapest electric cars in 2022.

1. 2022 Nissan Leaf: $27,400

nissan leaf side view
Image Credit: Nissan

With its first model released in 2010, the Nissan Leaf is one of the most affordable electric cars available today.

The car offers a practical 149-mile driving range. Buyers who want to travel further from home and are willing to spend a little extra can upgrade to the Leaf Plus, which has a range of 226 miles (great for a cheap electric car!).

The car has a speedy charging time, taking just 40 minutes for an 80% charge on a DC fast charging station.

The car's high-tech features include a semi-autonomous driving mode, as well as an innovative e-Pedal system that allows the car to stop, accelerate, and decelerate using a single pedal. In addition, the digital smart rear-view mirror displays what is behind the car on the rear-view mirror with the touch of a button.

2. 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV: $31,000

chevvy bolt 2022 model outside big house
Image Credit: Chevrolet

The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV marks a lower starting price and premium facelift from the original Bolt design.

It offers a 259-mile driving range, which is a good range for an affordable electric car. In addition, charging the car is a breeze, with up to 100 miles in 30 minutes on a DC Fast charging station.

One pedal driving increases efficiency by allowing drivers to accelerate, decelerate, and stop from a single pedal. The car also comes with the Chevy Safety Assist package, including forward collision alert, following distance indicator, and automatic emergency braking.

3. 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric: $34,000

hyundai kona electric 2022 front view
Image Credit: Hyundai

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric offers a 258-mile driving range, enough to quell any driver's range anxiety. The car can recharge to 80% in 47 minutes at a DC Fast charging station.

Safety is paramount with premium safety and assistance features such as forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning.

While the vehicle received a sleek interior and exterior facelift for the 2022 model, the interior is slightly smaller than the typical SUV, with back seat passengers having a snug fit.

What Is the Most Affordable Electric Car?

With the advent of the EV space, electric cars are now accessible and affordable for more people. Our roads will increasingly see electric cars replacing internal combustion engines as more car brands begin manufacturing them. Furthermore, these are just three cheap EVs. There are other affordable EVs out there, like the all-electric Mini Cooper SE, Kia EV6, and Hyundai Ioniq.

Furthermore, you might be surprised to find that Ford's F-150 Lightning EV truck is also surprisingly affordable, launching at around $35,000. Now, while that isn't "cheap" like a second-hand ICE run-around, it's great for a powerful EV of its size!