According to recent figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), there are now more than two million plug in cars in the UK, including fully electric and hybrid models. New electric vehicles (EVs) made up more than a quarter of all new vehicle registrations in February this year.
As the UK and the rest of the world move to embrace the EV revolution with open arms, what do you need to know before taking the leap yourself? Well, happily, that’s what we’re here to tell you. Stick with us to find out some expert tips for leasing an EV, as well as some good models to get started with.
What is an Electric Car?
Traditional cars use an internal combustion engine to provide power to the wheels. Whether diesel or petrol, these engines universally need to burn fossil fuels to run, which, as we’re now finding out first hand, the planet isn’t loving.
EVs, on the other hand, work much like any other electrical device, only with wheels. They carry an internal battery, usually located within the chassis somewhere. This battery is charged and then provides power to a motor, or motors, which turn the wheels – think a remote-control car but much bigger and with a person inside.
EVs usually have no gears and are essentially automatic by default. They are also often much faster than traditional cars and require less maintenance, both thanks to fewer moving parts.
Types of Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Because nothing in life is ever simple, there are several types of electric vehicles. They all rely on some form of electric propulsion to some extent or another but vary in terms of how they use and gather their power.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Battery Electric Vehicles, or BEVs, are the purest form of EV. These use all-electric power and need to be plugged in to be charged. They have completely forsaken the internal combustion engine in favour of emission-free, clean power.
Some lessees are nervous about opting for a BEV as traditionally range has been more limited, but this is rarely an issue with new BEVs, with many options boasting a range of around 300 to 400 miles from a single charge.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Hybrid Electric Vehicles, made famous by the Toyota Prius, are a fusion between internal combustion and electric power. HEVs are primarily powered by an internal combustion engine but also carry a battery that can be used to propel them for short distances and at low speeds, such as city driving.
The point is to augment the internal combustion engine and drastically improve the range and economy, allowing you to get much more out of a single tank of fuel. The battery is charged through surplus power from the engine as well as supplementary sources such as regenerative braking.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) go one step further. They offer the same benefits as a traditional HEV, but carry a larger battery, allowing them to travel further under clean, all-electric steam.
Much like standard HEVs, they can charge their own batteries, but they also feature a plug to allow you to charge them like a BEV. This means you can charge the battery much faster and achieve total combined ranges of as much as 600 miles.
4 Benefits of Leasing an Electric Car
Leasing an EV of any kind comes with a whole world of perks, but you’re busy, so here’s our top four.
1. Lower Running Costs
According to figures gathered using Zapmap’s Journey Cost Calculator, a mid-sized EV will cost just 6.7p per mile to run, compared to 15.8p per mile for a comparable petrol car. Over a 30-mile journey, this adds up to £2.02 in the EV and just under £5 in the petrol. If you scale that up over a year, the EV will cost you almost £1,000 less in running costs than the petrol car. That’s before we even get to maintenance costs, where EVs typically come up trumps too, thanks to minimal moving parts and fewer internal fluids.
2. Environmental Benefits
Statistics published by the DfT in 2023 indicated that transport emissions made up almost a quarter of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions. You only need to poke your head out the window or switch on the news to see that climate change is becoming an increasingly visible issue. By leasing an electric vehicle, you can drastically reduce or even completely remove your personal transport emissions, especially if you charge your EV with renewable energy.
3. Government Incentives and Tax Reductions
To incentivise people to adopt EVs, the UK government offers a range of financial incentives, making EVs even more fiscally enticing. Firstly, some people can get a grant to help cover the cost of home charger installation. Flat owners and people in rented properties can get up to £350 towards their installation. The same sum is also available to landlords who want to install a charger at a property they own but don’t live in.
Secondly, owners of BEVs have their annual road tax capped at just £10 until 2029, with HEVs and PHEVs also qualifying for healthy reductions.
4. Smoother and Quieter Driving Experience
When you’re commuting every day, nothing grinds more than constant road noise and incessant gear changes. With an EV, you can wave goodbye to gear changes for good and enjoy a far quieter driving experience – no more revving, rumbling or stalling, just smooth, peaceful cruising.
What is EV Range?
EV range is the number of miles that an electric vehicle can travel on a single charge. This is typically calculated using the car’s battery capacity vs its energy consumption rate. Much like with an internal combustion-powered car, range can vary depending on factors such as driving style and elevation.
In the same way that petrol cars are slightly more efficient when it’s cold (cold air is denser and burns better) EVs are also affected by temperature. Conversely, however, EVs are less efficient in colder weather as it reduces their battery lives, but more efficient in warmer weather when internal combustion vehicles can struggle to get enough air.
BEVs typically have the shortest range of the EV family, but even these are now frequently punching at the 300-to-400-mile mark, which is plenty to match many petrol cars. HEVs and PHEVs have larger range capacities, with some PHEVs capable of as much as 600 miles on one tank and battery.
What to Consider Before Leasing Your First EV
OK, so leasing an EV is probably starting to sound like a pretty good idea by this point, but before you dive in headfirst, here are a few things to weigh up.
Your Driving Habits and Daily Commute
Consider how you use your car. If you do lots of miles every day, you need to make sure that you choose an EV that has the range to keep up. BEVs can take time to charge back up and could mean spending a lot of time at service stations if you’re doing hundreds of miles a day. However, for smaller daily commutes, a BEV would be ideal.
For the high milers, it might be worth considering a HEV or PHEV alternative.
Access to Charging Stations
Although the number of EV charging stations in the UK is rising, and fast, some areas still have better access to charging facilities than others. This isn’t necessarily an issue, it just means that if you live in an area where charging stations are scarce, you might need to factor in the cost to install a home charger.
EV Maintenance and Servicing
While EVs typically require less maintenance than internal combustion cars, they still need some TLC to keep them at their best. Although many mechanics are happy to take on hybrids, not all are equipped to handle BEVs, so it’s worth making sure there are EV-friendly mechanics in your area.
Battery Longevity
Ever noticed how as your mobile phone ages, the battery life gradually gets shorter? Well, the same thing happens to EVs. This is perfectly normal, in the same way that petrol cars get less efficient with time.
Many manufacturers will list their expected battery degradation rates, but you could also look at owner reviews to get a feel for battery lifespans from different brands. It’s worth noting that EV batteries degrade very slowly and can also be replaced when they eventually start to become an issue.
The Best Electric Cars for First-Time Lessees
To help get you started, here are some of our top EV lease options for first-time lessees:
Dacia Spring – the plucky Spring from Dacia is a compact BEV perfect for short commutes and city driving. A range of around 140 miles gives you plenty of juice for your daily driving, and a lease price of as low as £121.75 per month makes it the king of affordable electric runabouts.
Polestar 4 – the Polestar 4 is at the cutting edge of luxury EV technology. It comes packed with the latest in safety and driver convenience features and boasts a maximum range of 360 miles with a punchy 543 horsepower.
MG4 – the strikingly styled MG4 sits firmly in the middle of today’s EV market. It balances affordability with a suite of modern features and a comfortable range of just under 330 miles.
Renault Austral – with a generous SUV frame, the Renault Austral makes for an affordable, practical hybrid option. A 1.2 L internal combustion engine combined with a 1.7 KWh battery gives the Austral an impressive total range and makes it extremely frugal on fuel.BYD Seal U – the Seal from relative newcomer, BYD, features a 1.5 L internal combustion engine and a powerful electric motor. The electric motor gives a range of just under 50 miles alone, and the combination of petrol and electric allows the Seal an impressive maximum MPG of 313.