Everything you need to know about leasing an electric car

According to the RAC, there are already nearly half a million zero-emission electric vehicles on the UK’s roads.

If you’re thinking about making the next car you lease an electric car, read on to find out everything you need to know about leasing an electric car.  

What is an electric car?

An electric car is a type of car that is powered at least in part by a battery and electric motor.

The three main types of electric car are:

• All-electric
• Plug-in hybrid
• Full hybrid

Each type of electric vehicle is powered slightly differently.

All-electric vehicles use a battery and an electric motor to power them instead of a fuel-powered engine, whilst hybrid electric vehicles use a combination of the two.

All-electric and plug-in hybrid cars can charge up their battery at electric car charging points, whilst full hybrids cannot be plugged in, instead, they self-charge their battery by recapturing energy produced by the car’s engine using a regenerative braking system.  

Why would you choose an electric car instead of a petrol car?

The government has confirmedthat the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030 and all new cars and vans must be fully zero emission at the tailpipe by 2035.

With change on the horizon, many people are choosing to make the switch to an electric vehicle sooner rather than later.

Some of the reasons people are now choosing electric cars over petrol cars include:

• Save money on fuel – Petrol and diesel prices are rising significantly all across the world, making now a great time to switch to an electric vehicle and start saving money on vehicle running costs. Some electric car charging points are free to use and those that are not can still fully charge a car’s battery for less than it would cost to fill a car with petrol.
• Zero-emissions – All-electric vehicles do not produce any emissions, which means they are not polluting the air and environment with harmful exhaust gases.
• Modern technology – Electric cars are usually modern, safe, powerful, and comfortable to drive, featuring instant torque and responsive acceleration.
• Low maintenance costs – Electric cars tend to be more reliable and require less maintenance than those with fuel engines because they have simpler inner workings and fewer moving parts, meaning there is less that can go wrong.
• Zero road tax – Zero emission electric vehicles are exempt from paying road tax.
• Save on congestion charges – Zero emission electric vehicles are exempt from paying the London congestion charge.

What are the disadvantages of driving an electric car?

The two main disadvantages of electric cars are their initial cost and their range.

Buying an electric car is generally more expensive than buying a petrol or diesel car, however when you look at the long-term savings that can be made by driving an electric car, they usually more than make up for their initial cost. You can also make the cost of driving an electric car more affordable by choosing to lease an electric vehicle rather than buy one.

Advances in electric car technology are being made all the time, but currently, they tend to lag behind their petrol and diesel counterparts when it comes to how far they can drive between charges. 

Some petrol vehicles can go over 700 miles before needing to refuel, whilst even top-of-the-range electric vehicles can’t quite make 500 miles before needing to be recharged.

What electric car lease deals are on offer at LetsTalk Leasing?

Whether you’re searching for a small plug-in hybrid for short city commutes or a powerful top-of-the-range fully electric car, we offer competitive electric car lease deals on a wide variety of different vehicles from top manufacturers including Audi, Tesla, Mini, and Vauxhall.

For more information about any of the electric cars we lease here at Let’s Talk Leasing, or to discuss our electric car lease deals in more detail, give our team a call on 0330 056 3331