Green cars are more accessible and affordable than ever before, with every manufacturer releasing new electric and hybrid models all the time. With the wide choice available many people are considering a hybrid or electric car for their next new lease vehicle.
Whichever electric or hybrid car lease deals you are looking for, at Car leasing made simple™ we have the biggest and best choice of green car special offers to suit all needs.
We offer all leading makes and models including Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Polestar, Tesla, Jaguar, Nissan, Kia, Porsche, Toyota, Hyundai, Renault, Mini, and Volkswagen and offer the widest choice across all body types, including the latest 4×4, city cars and saloons.
What is the difference between the electric and hybrid car types?
100% Electric (BEV)
Pure electric cars are also known as Battery Electric Vehicles or BEV for short. They are powered solely by a large battery which drives an electric motor. They emit zero CO2 emissions or NOx gases and are the least polluting cars. Due to the battery-based technology they are the cheapest cars per mile to drive. Typical fully electric car ranges are 200-350 miles.
Who would suit an Electric car lease? The ability to charge the car is key to answering this. With improved electric range on cars and quicker charge times, most journeys are viable in an electric car now. However, it is important to be able to guarantee charging when and where you need it. So electric cars are generally suited best to people who can fully charge their car at home or work giving them maximum range.
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
Similar to a 100% electric BEV a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) has a battery that requires charging. However, PHEVs also have a traditional petrol or diesel engine as well, meaning the car can operate on electric only until the battery expires, at which point it switches to conventional fuel. Or it can operate in hybrid mode where the battery improves the fuel efficiency of the conventional fuel. The fully electric range is typically only 30 miles, which is ideal for local journeys, with the engine to allow longer trips.
Who would suit a Plug-in Hybrid car lease? Most people would benefit from switching to a PHEV lease as journeys of any length are viable due to having both battery and conventional engine. However, for your day to day driving you would benefit from 100% electric journeys, saving you money and protecting the environment.
Conventional Hybrid (HEV)
Like a PHEV all Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) have both a battery and a conventional petrol/diesel engine and most new cars produced today are now a HEV. However, the battery in a HEV is much smaller and you cannot plug it in, it recharges itself by capturing excess energy from the car. It only powers the car for short distances at low speeds e.g. in traffic and is mainly there to assist the fuel efficiency of the car. In a HEV you will be using the petrol/diesel engine the majority of the time.
Who would suit a Hybrid car lease? Hybrids are suitable for anyone, as you don’t need to worry about when and where to charge the car and you will get a slightly greener and more efficient car.
Why choose an electric or hybrid car lease?
Electric or hybrid vehicles are soon to become the norm on our roads with a ban on all sales of new cars with conventional petrol or diesel engines from 2035.
Plug-in Hybrids are often more expensive to buy than their petrol or diesel equivalents since they have a battery as well as an engine. Whilst fully Electric cars also seem quote expensive when compared on face value against a petrol car. However, Electric Leasing offers a significantly more affordable way to drive an Electric or Hybrid car whilst also providing the other benefits of leasing a green car, including:
Choice of contract lengths
Low initial and monthly costs
Drive the latest model
No risk on re-sale value (depreciation)
Service, Maintenance and Tyres can be included
Lower fuel bills, specifically with 100% electric cars
Tax incentives for Company Car drivers
e.g. 1% Benefit in Kind (BiK) tax in 2021/22 on 100% electric cars
Salary Sacrifice
Save up to 40% off your lease payments
Key considerations on an electric or hybrid car lease?
Range
PHEV & Hybrid cars – Range is not a concern on a Hybrid or PHEV as you have a conventional engine as well. However, on Electric vehicles it is really important to be sure that an electric car would meet your driving needs, both in terms of how far you drive and your driving style.
BEV cars – With a fully electric car the advertised range will be impacted by several factors in the same way it would on a normal petrol or diesel car. For example the faster you drive it and the more functions you use e.g. lights, aircon etc. the quicker the battery will deplete.
The key difference being that you cannot pull into the garage, fill up and be on your way 5 minutes later. Therefore, if regular journeys over 100 miles are required an electric car lease on a vehicle with a range over 250 miles would be suitable as long as you set off with at least 80% charge.
Charging
PHEV & Hybrid cars – With PHEV cars it is important to be able to charge the cars regularly to ensure you are taking advantage of the fuel efficiency the battery provides. So ideally, you need easy access to charging at home or your workplace.
BEV cars – For fully electric cars you need to be able to ensure that you have easy access to fully charge the car to complete your journeys. A Home Charger is the ideal solution and with government grants available to help reduce the cost, it’s also affordable.
Charging at home is often most practical and affordable overnight on an off-peak tariff, as many energy providers now provide EV friendly tariffs.
The EV Charging infrastructure in the UK is improving significantly, with wider access to rapid charging facilities opening all the time. As well as Motorway Service Stations and shopping centres, there is an increased number of EV forecourts and dedicated EV fast chargers at petrol stations.
A rapid charger will generally boost your battery to 80% within 20-45 minutes. The navigation within the car will also assist you in finding your nearest charge point. If you’d like to check coverage in your area, then Zap Map is a handy tool.
Servicing & Maintenance
PHEV & Hybrid cars – the servicing and maintenance on a PHEV or Hybrid is broadly the same as a conventional car as it still has all the same mechanical elements as a traditional car. There can be some savings due to less usage on certain parts of the car, like the brakes, due to regenerative braking technology, meaning your brake pads should wear slightly slower.
BEV cars – because there are fewer mechanical parts on a BEV vehicle, the servicing and maintenance costs can be significantly lower. Depending on the model, this is estimated to be between 30-50% lower than it would be on a traditional fuel car.
Tyres can be more expensive to replace as the tyres used are less common. However, if you include the Servicing, Maintenance and Breakdown cover within the lease, all these costs including the Tyres (and often punctures) are taken care of by the finance company.