Nissan, Chevrolet, Fiat, and Hyundai/Kia all make small, lightweight, low range, low power EVs.
With a 0-60 of 9 seconds, the Fiat 500e may be too low power. A 1993 Honda Civic is quicker than that and if you optioned a Civic coupe up to what comes standard (AC, power doors and windows, cruise) on the 500e, it was $14,700 in 1993[1], which is ~$32k today, which almost the same exact price of a 500e.
I honestly thought both the Leaf and 500e were no longer on sale in the US, since I don't see new ones in the Bay Area, and they used to be everywhere. That's my bad.
The Bolt is also a great example, although it's pretty quick. In fact, a quick chatgpt search says both the Bolt and Leaf SV are over 200hp, so not a lot less than my 258hp Model 3 that's undoubtedly heavier.
The Kona EV completely slipped my mind; my sister has the hybrid version though. Although, the EV is a >$30k crossover but they _do_ sell a 138hp version so it's hardly a muscle car. There are no small cheap Hyundai EVs in the US.
Something like the Honda E is something I'd love to see in the US, although it's definitely a premium-priced product for a small car.
I’ve been driving a Nissan LEAF for the last decade. It’s exactly what you describe (and has been great as a city car for a two-car, two-driver household).
> Nobody's making small, lightweight, low range, low power EVs.
Small low power EVs are everywhere.
Unless you’re setting the bar so low that you expect a tiny 50-100 mile range car. That’s not going to happen because everyone would pass right over it and get an affordable EV with multiple times the range for only marginally more cost.
With a 0-60 of 9 seconds, the Fiat 500e may be too low power. A 1993 Honda Civic is quicker than that and if you optioned a Civic coupe up to what comes standard (AC, power doors and windows, cruise) on the 500e, it was $14,700 in 1993[1], which is ~$32k today, which almost the same exact price of a 500e.
And you even get more than one airbag now!
[1]https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-honda-civic-2/