Electric cars are all the rage these days thanks to Elon Musk’s Tesla.

For most of us, our knowledge begins and ends with Tesla. But have you heard about other brands? The list is rather lengthy, so in this article I will present an overview, highlighting the most interesting competitors that vie with Tesla TSLA, -5.59% for your trust and money.

We’ll start with BMW, which announced its “i” sub-brand in 2011, and unveiled the first i-series model, the i3, in July 2013.

Although Musk wasn’t very impressed by it, BMW’s Ludwig Willisch said the i3’s advantages, when compared with Tesla, are low factory emissions (BMW uses hydropower to produce the vehicle), a lightweight chassis (fewer than 3,000 pounds vs Tesla’s 4,600 pounds) and a significantly lower price tag ($35,325 vs $63,570).

Although Tesla trumps the i3 in top speed (133 mph vs 93 mph), acceleration (0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds vs 8 seconds) and range (265 miles vs 99 miles), one must bear in mind that BMW’s model is marketed as a city car, so none of those stats mean much to the German car company’s target audience.

BMW i3 BMW

A lesser-known brand is Sunswift’s eVe, produced by Australian university students as a “demonstrator-of-feasibility.” (And here’s another interesting concept.) The vehicle set a world record for fastest average speed (more than 60 mph) over 310 miles on a single battery charge. Compared with eVe, Tesla’s Model S can reach “only” 265 miles. The eVe can be charged by using a regular wall outlet or an array of solar panels located on its roof and hood. The vehicle weighs only 700 pounds, which is less than the Model S’s battery. Still, it’s worth noting that compared with Tesla, the eVe is a totally stripped down, with enough room for only two people.

Sunswift eVe Washington Post

But what if batteries aren’t the decisive technology? What if there’s a cleaner fuel than gasoline? Dr. Robert E. Buxbaum believes hydrogen is the answer. Hydrogen-propelled cars are also safer because their tanks don’t hold oxidants. On his blog, Buxbaum says cost is an important factor — hydrogen costs about as much as gasoline on a per-mile basis. Buxbaum is rooting for the Honda Clarity, which debuted in 2008 with superior stats compared with the Tesla: a 270-mile range vs Tesla’s 190 miles (with the 60kWh configuration), and three to five minutes of refueling vs Tesla’s three hours.

Honda Clarity Honda, Honda Clarity

Competition is clearly heating up for electric cars. Porsche is already working on a model that could easily match the Tesla S, and Ford F, -1.31% is considering building one. General Motors GM, -1.86% is testing its Cadillac ELR against the Tesla, and we mustn’t forget that the Chinese have their own horse (or two) in the race.

Cadillac ELR General Motors, Cadillac ELR

My thoughts on these developments converge with those of Elon Musk: “… they need to … make better and better electric cars, and that’s what is going to result in humanity achieving a sustainable transport future. I wish it was growing faster than it is.”

What are your thoughts on electric cars? Do you own a Tesla or another brand? If so, why? Let me know in the comments section below.