Making the switch to electric ⚡️

This image is sourced from J.D. Power

Getting a new car can give you a lot to think about. 

Do you buy it or lease it? 

Do you stick with the same brand? 

How much will it cost to run? Including all the extras e.g. petrol, insurance, maintenance etc

With electric cars becoming more popular and more accessible, there are more questions drivers are asking themselves before selecting a new car:

Is now the right time to switch to electric?

What’s the cheapest way to get an electric car?

Which EV is the best one for me?

Is it better than driving a Petrol or Diesel car?

At The Electric Car Scheme, our goal is to help you navigate the world of electric cars. So, here is a guide we have put together to support you doing just that. 

Is now the right time to switch to electric?

There are two main reasons people are nervous about electric vehicles; range anxiety and charging - especially charge times and the lack of charge points. Let's take a closer look at these myths. 

Range anxiety

This is one of the biggest concerns that people have when considering whether to make the switch to electric. The latest electric cars come with an average range of 212 miles, but people still worry they will be navigating from charger to charger, and constantly worrying about their projected range.

Did you know…

Electric cars offer more power for your pounds than your average petrol or diesel vehicles? 

According to Nimblefins, in the UK, the average mile per gallon (MPG) for a petrol car is 36 mpg and 43 mpg for diesel cars.

The miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) for a pure electric car was an impressive 132 MPGe.

Looking at it from this perspective, electric cars are more efficient than petrol or diesel cars. When your car fuel levels drop, you instinctively look for the nearest petrol station and if you are planning to take a longer journey, you would likely check the route for places to stop for petrol.

Most electric vehicles also have fast charging capabilities so depending on the battery and charge point you won't be waiting long to get back onto the road. With a Rapid charger, a typical EV is able to charge to 80% in 20-40 minutes (depending on the battery capacity and starting state of charge).

Lack of charge points

Another reason people worry about the switch to an electric vehicle is that there are not enough public charge points.

As of February, 31% of public UK charge points are in Greater London, and the next biggest area of charge points is only 13% in the South East. However, there are new charge points being installed all the time and the Department of Transport recently announced that £56 million will be put towards the latest phase of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure scheme.

This means areas currently lacking charge points now have the funding to install more!

Charging at home is also a popular option among EV drivers, as you can install a home charge point if you have off-street parking. This is not only convenient for doing round trip journeys without stopping to charge, but can also be more cost effective as selected energy providers offer a lower cost to charge an electric car overnight.

If you are not able to have a home charger, don’t worry you are not the only one, some even prefer it or treat the home charger as a secondary one. So whether you have a home charger or not, you tend to work charging your EV into a routine and become aware of the chargers around your work and home.

One of our team, Steph, has an electric car in London and is not able to have a home charger, read how she got on in her blog: Adjusting to an EV.

What is the cheapest way to get an electric car?

You have several options when it comes to getting a car; buy, lease or salary sacrifice it.

Buying an electric car

Buying a car outright is the preferred method for some, as people will own the car and have full control over any modifications they wish to make. However, it is the more expensive method of getting an electric car and you are responsible for any maintenance costs.

Wondering if buying an EV outright is the right choice? Check out our comparison: The differences between salary sacrifice and buying a car outright

A business lease

You can lease a car for either work or individual use without reducing your income. Your company will benefit from balancing out the cost of the lease (or the capital in the case of a Hire Purchase) against profits, which will save corporation tax. This option is more for employers, or specifically for shareholders or directors that can choose to lease themselves a car. 

Not sure if a business lease is for you? Check out or comparison: Salary sacrifice vs business leasing

Electric car salary sacrifice

Electric car salary sacrifice is very similar to leasing. The difference is that this is an employee benefit where the employer leases the car - technically making it a company car. The employee then agrees to pay for the car out of their gross salary (before tax) rather than their net salary (after tax). As it is an employee benefit and the car is for personal use, the car is subject to a benefit in kind tax. This is set at 2% until 2025 and rises by 1% every year after that until 2028. 

What is the right electric car for me?

There are new electric cars being introduced all the time, however there are plenty of cars already available. Whether you are looking for speed, range or affordability, there is an electric vehicle out there for you - here are some of the top electric cars.

The fastest electric car- Porsche Taycan Turbo S

Note: Assumes 3 year lease starts on 25/04/2023 *Prices are indicative as the best deals on the market change daily. Assumes higher rate taxpayer.

The Porsche Taycan Turbo S has a two-speed gearbox with a top speed of 162 mph. But the reason it gets the top spot on our list? It gets from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds. 

Find out more of the fastest electric cars in our blog - The fastest electric cars to salary sacrifice

The cheapest electric car

Note: Assumes 3 year lease starts on 25/04/2023 *Prices are indicative as the best deals on the market change daily. Assumes higher rate taxpayer.

Now with an improved range of up to 239 miles - a great display of how fast the electric car industry is evolving as the Nissan LEAF had less than 100 miles in 2015! 

Find out more of the most affordable EVs in our blog - the most affordable cars to salary sacrifice.

The electric car with the longest range - Tesla Model Y

Note: Assumes 3 year lease starts on 25/04/2023 *Prices are indicative as the best deals on the market change daily. Assumes higher rate taxpayer.

The Tesla Model Y Long Range Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive has a range of up to 331 miles, can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and its charging feature will give you 216 miles in 27 minutes.

Read more about EVs with long range in our blog - Top long range electric cars to salary sacrifice

Check out our EV salary sacrifice calculator to see how much you can save with salary sacrifice.

Adjusting to an electric car - are they that different?

Not really, no. The driving experience is different with every car, and with electric cars you adjust more to the enhanced comfort and silence of the engine than the actual driving itself. 

With The Electric Car Scheme, once your car is delivered to you, the delivery driver will talk you through the basics of the car and answer any questions you may have.

There are also plenty of YouTube videos to help you get to know your new car as well as the online forums and Manufacturer's Handbook if you would rather do some reading.

Once you get a car with The Electric Car Scheme, your experience with us won’t stop when we drop off the car. We are always around for any questions you may have later in your electric car journey.

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