Before Tesla cultivated a year-long waiting list for its fully electric Model 3 sedan, “pure electric” vehicles — cars that run entirely on electricity, as opposed to hybrid cars — seemed like something of a niche market. Electric-only cars make up just 0.5 percent of total U.S. vehicle sales, according to Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst at auto researcher Edmund’s.
The Model 3 is being billed as the tip of the spear for the electric car market to go mainstream. Yet Elon Musk‘s latest car might not be for everyone. Its $35,000 starting price could still be a stretch for many car buyers, and consumers are often wary of buying any first-generation vehicle.
Those looking for an alternative to Tesla are in luck: There are 11 totally electric cars already on the road today, and many of them are more affordably priced than the Model 3. Here are five of Tesla’s competitors that have a head start in the race for electric dominance, from least to most expensive: