Most new electric cars feature ranges in excess of 150 miles... but not the 2018 Honda Clarity Electric, which hits dealers in California and Oregon today.

Honda is offering a heck of a deal on the 2018 Clarity Electric. It'll be available for leasing at a price of $199 plus tax per month, with a $1,499 down payment. That lease runs for 36 months, and lessees get 20,000 miles per year. If you're looking to buy instead of lease, you're plum out of luck -- for now, leasing is the only way to get one. 24/7 roadside assistance is included, as well.

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Even though it's lease-only, owners may possibly quality for state-level tax rebates of $2,500, although it's important to check the fine print for each state's rebate program to ensure that's possible. In California, Clarity Electric lessees will also get single-occupant HOV lane access, which is always a nice perk.

It all sounds like a pretty swell deal, until you look at the car's range. A new electric car with a range of just 89 miles is well behind most other entry-level competitors like the 151-mile 2018 Nissan Leaf, to say nothing of the 238-mile Chevy Bolt EV and the forthcoming 220-mile Tesla Model 3. The Kia Soul EV, which exists solely to satisfy zero-emissions regulations in certain states, puts out 90 miles and that's been available for years now.

There is a benefit to the baby battery, though -- charge times. With a DC fast charger, it'll hit 80 percent battery capacity in just 30 minutes. At a Level 2 home charger, a fill-up takes about 3.5 hours.

If you don't need the long range of other EVs, perhaps the Clarity Electric might actually suit your needs -- but on paper, it faces tough competition, even with its aggressive pricing.