The 5 Most Popular EVs in South Dakota

Key Points

• South Dakota has a low number of EVs registered, with only around 1,400 EVs at the end of 2021, less than 1% of all vehicles registered in the state.
• The Chevrolet Bolt is the most popular EV in South Dakota, offering a 259-mile range and features like heated seats and Apple CarPlay.
• The Nissan Leaf is a more affordable option with a starting price of $29,000 and impressive warranties, including a battery warranty for 100,000 miles or eight years.
• The BMW 330e is a hybrid model with a 23-mile all-electric range and impressive fuel economy, starting at $44,000 and offering luxurious features like heated seats and in-dash navigation.

Let’s be honest, South Dakota is far behind many states when it comes to EV infrastructure and making EVs the future. However, progress is slowly being made. There are a few things in the works when it comes to building out EV infrastructure, and South Dakota is trying to make it easy to purchase and drive an electric vehicle in the state. So, if you want to be ahead of the trend, here are the most popular EVs in South Dakota.

Total Electric Vehicles Sold in South Dakota

Unfortunately, we don’t have any specific numbers on the most purchased EVs and how many were bought in the state. However, at the end of 2021, there were only around 1,400 EVs registered in the state, including all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric. This is less than 1% of all vehicles registered in South Dakota. An independent study showed that the Chevrolet Bolt was the most popular overall. With that being said, let’s dive into the top five options right now!

The 5 Most Popular EVs in South Dakota

Chevrolet Bolt

The Chevrolet Bolt has been a popular EV for customers since it was first released to the public in 2017. It has a 259-mile range, according to the EPA. While that’s not great if you love to travel, that’s more than enough for daily driving to and from point A and point B in the same city. Not bad for a car under $30,000.

The front seats and steering wheel are heated if you go for the upgraded 2LT. If you prefer not to use the single-pedal mode to try out regenerative braking, the Bolt’s brakes are also simple to handle. But keep in mind that this will also lower your efficiency.

Each Bolt also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, regardless of trim. The touchscreen is fairly large and easy to use. When you upgrade to the 2LT trim, you also have USB ports for the back passengers.

The Bolt comes with standard forward collision prevention and lane-keeping assistance. However, the 2LT adds blind-spot warning and a surround-view camera system.

The new dual-level charge cord included with the Bolt can help you go from Level 1 and Level 2 charging easily. However, the cord only has a maximum output of 7.2 kW, so you’ll need to upgrade your wall charging equipment if you want to fully utilize the 11-kW onboard charger.

Nissan Leaf

Starting at a mere $29,000, the Nissan Leaf is a great EV if you plan to just hit the town every now and then. The Nissan CHAdeMO charger is not, however, supported by very many public charging stations. At best, the Leaf gets around 200 miles per charge. So we only recommend it if you don’t really plan on using it for travel or long drives.

The Leaf’s cabin has a lot of black plastic, but thanks to its well-assembled textures and pieces, it appears fairly luxurious. It also has cozy seats, and the roomy back seat has enough room for adults as well. The Leaf’s cargo capacity is amazing. That’s despite the fact that folding the back seat does not produce a flat floor. The Leaf has an SUV-like body shape but is just slightly smaller. So it’s perfect if you need to carry around quite a few items day to day.

One of the best parts about the Nissan Leaf is the warranties you’ll have. Nissan offers their basic warranty package, which covers the battery of the Leaf for 100,000 miles or eight years. Not only that, you’ll get a limited warranty for three years/36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty for five years/60,000 miles.

Mini Cooper SE

The 2023 Mini Cooper SE is a little EV that’s worth consideration if its low 110-mile estimated driving range isn’t a red flag for you. It’s one of the more affordable electric vehicles on the market, with a starting price of just over $30,000. It can’t haul, and it’s not great if you’re super tall or large, but it’s incredibly cute.

It has a small 28.9-kWh battery that can charge easily in less than an hour with fast charging. Or, you can fully recharge the battery in four hours using your home’s AC power. The two-mode regenerative braking technology can also aid in maximizing your drive time, so be sure to use it.

A 5.5-inch digital gauge shows the battery’s charge level, navigational data, and other important information that you need while driving an EV. It has dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, and heated front seats too. It also has driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian identification, and windshield wipers that start when they sense rain.

Hyundai Ioniq

For anyone in South Dakota who can’t have a full EV but may want a hybrid, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq is ideal. The plug-in hybrid’s all-electric range is 29 miles, and its combined EPA rating peaks at 59 mpg. The 2022 Ioniq is also eco-friendly, with an interior constructed of sustainable materials.

Every Ioniq has a plethora of driver-assistance systems, even for the base model, but higher trim levels come with even more active safety features like identifying pedestrians in the vehicle’s path. But even if you get the standard model, you can expect to have automatic emergency braking, forward collision warnings, blind-spot monitoring, and more.

The Ioniq is the cheapest car on our list, with the base model going for under $25,000. So it’s a great car for those who can’t drive an all-electric vehicle but still want some EV capabilities without spending a lot of money.

BMW 330e

The BMW 330e is another hybrid model, so it’s not a full EV, but this may work in your favor as a resident of South Dakota. It’s a bit more expensive — and actually the most expensive on this list — starting at $44,000. However, the 330e offers impressive fuel economy.

The rear-drive plug-in hybrid model has a 23-mile all-electric range and a combined estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg. It’s not bad for a vehicle that looks like a sports car. The car also has programmable ambient interior lighting, heated front and rear seats, and a remote start. And that’s just to name a few benefits. It also boasts a sizable trunk with a power-operated deck lid and the option to fold down the third row.

To top all of that off, numerous features like in-dash navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot are included in the base model. However, the 330e also has the option to upgrade to the Premium package. This includes a head-up display, Harman/Kardon music system, and a wireless charging station for your electronic devices.

The Most Popular EVs in South Dakota Wrap Up

With South Dakota’s incentives for EVs and the promise of better infrastructure, now may be the perfect time to switch to a new electric car. If you’re not entirely ready to go all-electric, that’s okay because we’ve included two hybrid options as well!

The image featured at the top of this post is ©buffaloboy/Shutterstock.com.