Credit: Aurich Lawson | Getty Images

Last time we looked at the used electric vehicle market, it was to see what the options are if you’re spending $10,000 or less. Two solid choices emerged quickly: a BMW i3 if you don’t need much range, and a Chevrolet Bolt if you do. Lots of earlier Nissan Leafs made the list, too, but these had limited range and air-cooled batteries to contend with; we also included an assortment of compliance cars and, perhaps for the very brave, a Tesla. But what happens when you grow the budget by 50 percent? What EVs make sense when there’s $15,000 burning a hole in your pocket?

As it turns out, at this price point the planet starts looking a lot more like your own personal bivalve. For starters, the cars that looked good at $10,000 look a lot better in the next bracket up, generally newer model years or with lower mileage than the cheaper alternatives. Which means you can afford the facelifted i3. For model-year 2018 onwards, BMW fitted its electric city car with a larger-capacity battery, which means up to 114 miles (183 km) of range on a full charge, or about 150 miles (241 km) if it’s the one with the two-cylinder range-extender engine. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto might also be built into these i3s, although there are aftermarket solutions now, too.

No aftermarket is required to get CarPlay or Android Auto on any of the Bolts you might buy for under $15,000, which include a mix of pre- and post-facelift (model-year 2022 onwards) cars, although few of the slightly more spacious Bolt EUVs. Like the i3s, expect lower mileage examples, plus all the usual caveats: slow DC charging and seats that can get a bit hard on long drives.

Consider a Korean EV

But there’s no reason to limit yourself to either of those EVs; now, we’re finding plenty of Korean EVs, with nary a dud among them. The first-generation Hyundai Kona EV has roughly the same amount of range as a Bolt, at 258 miles (415 km) when new, and is similarly sluggish at DC charging, taking 54 minutes to top up from 10–80 percent state of charge, peaking at just 75 kW. But they’re usually packed with lots of equipment and features, and the unambiguous crossover styling will appeal to some.

You’ll also find some Hyundai Ioniqs. Mostly, these are the original Ioniq, which for some time held the crown as the most efficient EV on sale, albeit one with only 170 miles (273 km) of range thanks to a small (and therefore affordable) battery pack. But there are also a smattering of Ioniq 5s and even the occasional Ioniq 6. Built on Hyundai’s cutting-edge E-GMP platform running at 800 V, the Ioniq 5 has been one of the best EVs on sale since its debut and will fast-charge from 10–80 percent in just 18 minutes, although there are some reliability concerns with its 12 V battery system.

You might also find the closely related Kia EV6 in this price range, although more realistically you’re looking at a first-generation Kia Niro. Ars has been a big fan of the Niro, whether that’s in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery EV flavors, only the last of which we’re concerned with today. (Perhaps we need a future version of this series about hybrid cars… .) The Niro uses the same powertrain as the Kona, but wrapped in a more hatchback/less crossover body.

What else?

A lot of Teslas also fall into our price range. Whether you buy one at this point may be more of a personal or moral decision given the behavior of the company’s CEO: If people want to hash that out in the comments, please be civil. There’s a mix of Models 3 and S mostly, although be prepared for high-mileage ones that may have had a former life as a rental car or doing ride hailing. Teslas of this vintage tend to have a lot of reliability issues—Consumer Reports rates 5- to 10-year-old Teslas as the least reliable cars you can currently buy, and the publication says that “purchasing a used Tesla can be a gamble.”

If none of the above sounds appealing, never fear, there’s more to pick from. A Volkswagen e-Golf only had 125 miles (201 km) of range at launch and carries quite a lot of weight over its nose, but otherwise comes with all the upsides of a Mk7 Golf, only with an electric powertrain. And for $10,000–$15,000, you should be able to find one with not that many miles on it. VW’s newer EV, the ID.4, also shows up in this price range. These will have much more range than the e-Golf (250 miles/402 km when new). An over reliance on capacitive panels compromises the HMI somewhat, and the interior feels a lot more spartan than most, but it’s a pleasant electric crossover to drive.

What a shame the used EV tax credit was taken away.