The perfect electric car revealed for World EV Day

The perfect electric car for 2021 will boast the charging speed of the Porsche Taycan, the practicality of a Citroen e-Berlingo, the interior of a BMW i3 and the range of a Mercedes EQS. These qualities, and more, have been combined to create the Autovia EV-21, revealed today, on World EV Day.

Autovia, publisher of Auto Express, Carbuyer and DrivingElectric, has crunched data from the Driver Power ownership satisfaction survey, pooled market information from the group's car sales site BuyaCar.co.uk, and used its own expert insight to identify the qualities that car buyers think make up the perfect EV.

The result is the Autovia EV-21, a hypothetical car constructed from the key elements of the very best new electric cars on sale today, a vehicle that proves the tipping point for new electric cars is already here.

Performance, practicality and affordability will be essential qualities to win over hard-nosed motorists to any new model - especially when it's an electric car. But the Autovia EV-21, shown in our exclusive images, proves that all essential qualities for a mass market breakthrough have been achieved across the rapidly expanding range of EVs already on Britain's roads.

The Autovia EV-21 comprises elements of models across the EV spectrum. The MG5 donates its affordable price tag; at £26,495 after the government’s plug-in car grant, it offers more driving range per pound than any other EV. And its £6 per month service plan is another rock-bottom cost; indeed its £72 annual cost is less than the AA breakdown cover, which is included as part of the package. But when it comes to running costs, the Vauxhall Corsa-e is the star, with the firm offering a free British Gas charging point, and credits which will effectively pay for 30,000 miles of electricity.

Warranty cover comes from the Lexus UX300e, because the firm’s Relax warranty extends the standard three-year package to 10 years or 100,000 miles, as long as it’s serviced at the dealer.

Charging speed comes from the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan, with their 800-volt electrical systems. The Audi can add 60 miles of driving range for every five minutes it’s on charge. But it’s the Mercedes EQS that donates its outright driving range to the Autovia EV-21. At 479 miles, it’s capable of travelling from London to Glasgow on a single charge.

And it’s the Mercedes EQS, plus the equally talented Hyundai Ioniq 5, which provide the EV-21’s ride comfort. There are no better EVs to travel long distances in. Then, when it comes to performance, it’s the Rimac Nevera that donates the sub-two-second 0-60mph time and a 254mph top speed, while it’s the Porsche Taycan that’s the Autovia’s EV handling benchmark.

Giving us the all-important fun factor is the MINI Electric, with its cheeky looks and eager chassis, while the Honda e gives up its gadgets - including a virtual aquarium that can be shown on the car’s screens. The BMW i3 might be the oldest car here, but its beautifully designed interior, with a mix of light-coloured woods and fabrics made from plant fibres, not only looks great, but emphasises its eco-credentials.

Lastly, it’s the Citroen e-Berlingo that gives up its practicality. Its boxy van origins mean it can carry seven people, while folding all the seats away reveals 4,000 litres of space.

Autovia Editor-in-chief, Steve Fowler, said: "Revealing our own perfect electric vehicle by combining the very best of existing EVs into one hypothetical car is the best way to illustrate that the final breakthrough for EVs is closer than many people realise.

"We considered every aspect that people love about the best EVs in today's market, from price or running costs, through charging speed and range, to practicality, comfort and the type of technological gizmos in the car.

"It reveals that most of the perceived problems that hold people back from taking the plunge with an EV have already been solved and that the next step is to unify all of those solutions in the next generation of EVs.

"We are confident that this will happen sooner than many people believe and our imagined perfect EV will not remain hypothetical for very long."

Click here for our list of the best electric cars on sale right now...