ELECTRIC CARS FOR ALL

While there are already lots of great electric cars, most of them are big and expensive. But that could be about to change

- Darren Moss, George Hill & Rahil Hashmi

TESLA MODEL 2

All-new hatchback will make Tesla ownership far more accessible On sale 2025 Price from £25,000 (est)

The 1984 Motorola DynaTac, which is generally recognised as the world's first commercially available mobile phone, cost £9585 in today's money. Yet it's now possible to get a far more compact and powerful mobile for less than £20, and even the fanciest smartphones are available for about a tenth of the price of that pioneering device. In short, technology gets cheaper over time.

And that's great news if you'd like to own a Tesla but think they're currently a bit pricey. After making its name with bigger, more expensive models, the US brand is working on a Tesla Model 2 hatchback that should be one of the cheapest electric cars yet; expect it to cost from about £25,000 to compete in a market currently led by the MG 4.

Early design sketches shown during a recent Tesla investor event revealed the model to have a high bonnet line, a squat roof and wheels pushed out to the corners in a bid to maximise interior space. Indeed, in some respects the Model 2 should be even more practical than today's Model 3 saloon; in place of that model's narrow boot opening, the Model 2 has a hatch, making it easier to load and unload bulky items.