Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are cleaner, quieter and cheaper to run than equivalent petrol or diesel cars.
Almost all major car manufacturers now make at least one electric car, and the latest technology can now offer a vehicle range of over 200 miles.
With many cities looking into the implementation of Clean Air Zones, and a government target for all new cars and vans sold in the UK to be electric by 2030 should your next vehicle be electric?
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Benefits of electric
They are cheaper to run
Electric cars and vans are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel vehicles. On a cost per mile basis an electric car could cost a third or less of what a traditional petrol or diesel car might cost. You can fuel an electric car from just 2p per mile – much cheaper than the 10-12p per mile it costs to fuel a petrol or diesel car.
They are cheaper to own
Fully electric vehicles are currently exempt from Vehicle Tax. For company car drivers, fully electric cars incur a Benefit In Kind tax of 0% in 2020/21. These represent huge savings for the driver.
The Government’s plug-in car grant provides a discount of up to £2,500 for eligible cars; and up to £6,000 for eligible vans. There are also generous grants available to help towards the cost of home, workplace and on-street charge-points.
They are cheaper to maintain
Electric cars have just three main components – the on-board charger, inverter and motor – and fewer moving parts. Service, maintenance and repair (SMR) costs for plug-in vehicles can be significantly lower than those for internal combustion engine models.
They are better for the environment
Electric vehicles produce significantly lower carbon emissions and less air pollution than conventional petrol or diesel cars and produce no exhaust emissions at all. A vehicle in electric mode also produces no engine noise, resulting in a cleaner, quieter environment for both driver and those that you drive past.
Benefits for business
Over the whole life cost, electric vehicles can save your organisation money
Not only are electric cars and vans cheaper to run, they benefit from tax breaks, low operating costs and are offered with sizeable Government grants. Local grants are also available.
Here are just a few of the benefits of switching your business to electric.
Cut fuel costs
Fuel is typically the second biggest vehicle-related cost and potentially accounts for 25%-30% of fleet expenditure. The good news is that fuelling an electric car can cost up to 90% less. For example, you can fuel an electric car from just 2p per mile – much cheaper than the 10-12p per mile it costs to fuel a petrol or diesel car.
Save Tax
The motoring tax system is designed to encourage take-up of low emission and electric vehicles. Switching to an electric can help your business save on Benefit in Kind (BIK) rates, Class 1A National Insurance, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), capital allowances and salary sacrifice regimes.
Myth-Busters
Still not sure? Have a look at our electric vehicle myth-busters.
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Most new electric cars can travel for over 100 miles on a single charge, with many more models now able to achieve a range of well over 200+ miles. This is more than enough for most journeys and with a constantly expanding network of public charging points including motorway service areas, longer trips can be easily managed.
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Charging cables lock in place when you start to charge, and can only be unlocked by you once you finish using the chargepoint.
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Your electric car will come with a charging cable which allows you to charge at home and at public chargers. Rapid chargers have the cables built in, so you simply use the appropriate one for your car.
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Electric Vehicle owners say they have great performance and handling. The electric motors provide instant torque and are quick, responsive and have smooth acceleration.
More information
- What support is available for me or my business to switch to electric?
- Where is my nearest charging point? How can I suggest a new one?
- What grants are available to help me switch?
- What are you doing to encourage people to switch?