Category Archives: Electric Cars

News and reviews of the latest electric cars (full electrics and plug-in hybrids).

Best company cars to take advantages of the Benefit-in-Kind changes with in 2020

December 6, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SalesRepost

While Benefit-in-Kind has always worked in the favour of electric and plug-in hybrid models, it’s about to get much better for these vehicles from March 2021.

That’s because from 2020, the government is completely scrapping Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) for all-electric models – meaning that there has never been a better time to get behind the wheel of an EV as your company car.

Let’s have a look at the five best options available today.

Nissan Leaf

As one of the UK’s most popular electric cars on sale, the Sunderland-built is clearly doing something right to appeal to buyers. But aside from private buyers, the Leaf has long had lots of appeal to companies – featuring in fleets across the country.

And from April 2020, that appeal will elevate dramatically when BiK drops from its current 16 per cent rate. So, while someone in the 20 per cent tax bracket will currently pay £1,048 per year in company car tax, that will soon drop to zero.

BMW i3

If you want to convey a more upmarket image from your company car, the funky and unique BMW i3 is a superb choice. From its zippy powertrain through to its interior made from recycled materials, this is a fantastic EV.

And from next year it will be an excellent electric car to choose, whereby the average annual company car tax bill for an i3 will drop from £1,129 per year to absolutely nothing. It’s worth noting that, as with all the other models here, the zero per cent BiK applies to those paying tax at 20 and 40 per cent as well.

Audi e-tron

If your company is a bit more generous, or you need something a bit larger than the models here, the premium Audi e-tron SUV is a superb choice. Offering seating for five, a generous boot and a wonderfully techy interior, this is a true statement model.

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New 2019 Renault ZOE: battery leasing axed amid pricing revisions

December 5, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

A revised price list for the Renault ZOE has been released, with the battery lease option removed and the base-price rising to £25,670

Renault has removed the option to rent the all-electric ZOE’s battery pack, which has increased the car’s base-price to £25,670 (including the government’s £3,500 plug-in car grant) as a result. It’s available to order now, with first deliveries expected to arrive in January 2020.

The French firm is also offering the new ZOE on a zero-percent PCP finance deal. Customers can secure an entry-level model with a deposit of £2,995 and 25 monthly repayments of £269. At the end of the term, buyers can pay a fee of £15,657 to keep the car – with the total cost of the rental, repayments and final fee working out to the same price as buying the car outright.

The new Renault ZOE is offered in three trim levels. The entry-level Play model comes as standard with 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, air-conditioning, automatic windscreen wipers, a seven-inch infotainment system and a 10-inch digital instrument binnacle. Buyers can also have a free 7kWh wallbox, installed at their home.

Renault’s mid-range Iconic model is priced from £27,170 and adds 16-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, climate control, electric rear windows, a wireless smartphone charger and an improved infotainment system with sat-nav. Additional safety technology, such as lane- keeping assist and traffic sign recognition, also feature.

The range-topping ZOE GT Line is priced from £28,620. It adds a set of 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, front parking sensors, a 9.3-inch infotainment system, a rear parking camera, a blind spot monitoring system and a GT Line-specific interior, trimmed in synthetic leather and recycled cloth upholstery.

Mid-range and top-spec ZOEs can be had with a range of optional extras, including support for 50kW DC fast-charging (£750) and a Winter Pack (£310), which adds a heated steering wheel and heated seats. The ZOE Iconic can also be specced with a Technology Pack (£800), adding the GT Line’s 9.3-inch infotainment, parking sensors and reversing camera.

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Holy Electric Moly, the 2020 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 Hybrid is More Powerful Than the GTI

December 4, 2019Electric Cars, Golf GTE, News, Reviews and Comment, VolkswagenRepost

The highly-anticipated 2020 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 is finally out and the really big news is that it comes with five hybrid drivetrains.

The regular TSI engines are now paired to 48-volt systems, but Volkswagen also offers two proper hybrids with electric motors. One of them is basically similar to the old Mk7-generation GTE, but the new Mk8 GTE is a wild one and packs more punch than the outgoing GTI. I bet you didn’t expect that.

While the regular gasoline Golfs are now fitted with 48-volt systems that don’t add much performance-wise but improve on efficiency, the GTE features an electric motor, just like its predecessor. But Volkswagen now offers two versions. There’s a base model with 204 PS (201 horsepower) that’s identical to the Mk7 GTE, but the Germans also crafted a beefed-up variant that generates a solid 245 PS (242 horsepower). That’s 18 horsepower more than the outgoing GTI! Granted, the GTI equipped with the Performance Pack is just as powerful, but it’s still incredible to have a hybrid Golf with similar power ratings.

Before you bring out the tar and the feathers, I have to say that the new GTE probably doesn’t sound as mean as the GTI under full throttle. But apart from that and the red body accents that make the GTI look cool, the GTE is the better car in every department. Not only is the new GTE a bit more powerful, but it’s probably just as fast as well. Volkswagen has yet to reveal performance figures, but the new, 242-horsepower GTE should be notably quicker than the old model and just as quick as the GTI.

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Skoda Citigo-e iV priced from £16,955

December 3, 2019Citigo-e iV, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, SkodaRepost

The Skoda Citigo-e iV electric city car will start at £16,955 when orders open next month – undercutting rivals like the SEAT Mii Electric and Renault Zoe.

Based on the petrol Citigo, Skoda says the Citigo-e iV has been re-engineered to incorporate a compact battery pack and 61kW electric motor, giving it a WLTP electric range of up to 170 miles on a single charge.

Buyers will be able to choose from two trim levels: SE and SE L. Both models will have the same battery and electric motor, while the Citigo-e iV has the same luggage capacity as the standard car. That means 250 litres can be stored in the boot, increasing to 923 litres with them dropped flat.

Mounted in the chassis floor, the Citigo-e iV’s compact battery has a capacity of 36.8kWh. It consists of a total of 168 cells and delivers a range of between 140 and 170 miles on the WLTP cycle. Both models can be charged using a domestic or workplace wall box.

With a 7.2kW AC wall box, the battery can be charged to 80 per cent in 4 hours 15 minutes, or 12 hours 37 minutes using a lower-powered 3.6kW home‑charging station. The SE L model can be charged faster using a CCS (Combined Charging System) charging cable connected to a 40kW DC fast charger.

When recharging via CCS, the Citigo-e iV’s battery can be recharged to 80 per cent in 60 minutes. The Citigo-e iV can also be recharged using a standard household plug socket if a wallbox is not available.

Citigo-e iV’s electric motor produces an instantaneous 210Nm of torque, taking it to 62mph in 12.5 seconds, while top speed is 81mph.

The Citigo-e iV line-up starts with the SE model, which is priced at £20,455 before the Government’s £3500 plug-in car grant. SE models are equipped with climate control air conditioning, three spoke leather steering wheel and handbrake lever, plus Swing DAB radio and remote central locking.

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Audi E-tron Sportback revealed as electric coupe SUV

December 2, 2019Audi, e-tron, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Improved aerodynamics and rear-wheel drive bring extended 278-mile range for Audi’s second EV

Audi has revealed its second bespoke electric vehicle, the E-tron Sportback, which already has a raft of technical improvements over its E-tron sibling launched last year.

Revealed at the Los Angeles motor show, the coupe is the same weight, length and height as the E-tron and from the B-Pillar forward is identical. The lower part of the rear door, bumper and rear lights are also the same, while the obvious difference – the rear roof line – was cut from the A7.

That roofline makes the car slightly more aerodynamic than the E-tron, with a 0.25 Cd compared with the E-tron’s 0.27, giving the Sportback an extra 6.2 miles of range.

Changes from the E-tron include decoupling the front and rear axles so the model can be rear-wheel drive, which adds another 6.2 miles of range. Brake pads have been optimised with stronger springs so there’s no friction when not required, creating an extra 1.9 miles of range. Audi has also swapped two water pumps for battery cooling to one larger one, saving weight and cost and using less energy, which adds up to 1.2 miles of range. The useability of power from the battery has increased by 88% to 91% stage of charge, creating more than 6.2 miles of range.

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Tesla Cybertruck revealed with sci-fi personality and lots of power

December 1, 2019Cybertruck, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaRepost

Elon Musk’s crazy vision for an electric pickup truck is finally here.

Surrounded by iconic vehicles from Hollywood’s Sci-Fi history such as Blade Runner and Back to the Future, Tesla unveiled its interpretation of a sci-fi-themed electric pickup this evening in Southern California, and it’s called the Cybertruck. There’s something very different about this machine versus all those others, however. This isn’t science fiction – it’s fact. And it’s slated to hit dealerships sooner than you might expect.

There’s absolutely no mistaking this truck for anything else on the road. Its body is comprised of a steel alloy that Musk says is dent-resistant, scratch-resistant, and per a demo onsite at the reveal, sledgehammer proof as well. In fact, he also says the Cybertruck is bulletproof to 9mm shells, and the glass is also said to be strong, though not quite as strong as Musk apparently hoped, as the Cybertruck’s glass did shatter rather spectacularly on stage.

So yeah, the body is pretty strong, but what about stats? Musk tossed some serious numbers out for the unconventional pickup, not the least of which being 0-60 mph in just 2.9 seconds for the highest-performance all-wheel-drive model. That machine will also turn a quarter-mile in 10.8 seconds, and it’s said to “corner like it’s on rails.”

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2020 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV revealed: price, specs and release date

November 30, 2019Electric Cars, Ford, Mustang Mach-E, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

The Ford Mustang Mach-E has the longest range of any electric SUV and a high-tech interior. Here’s everything you need to know about it…

When it comes to living up to a name, the new Ford Mustang Mach-E has one of the greatest. You see, the original Ford Mustang was such a hit that almost 22,000 of them were sold on the day it was unveiled at the 1964 World’s Fair. Buyers loved the idea of a family car with a big engine that didn’t cost the Earth to buy or run – and those attributes have contributed to the Mustang becoming one of the best-selling nameplates in the world. The Mach-E, however, is a very different type of Mustang.

2020 Ford Mustang Mach-E power and range

For one thing, it’s electric. It will be offered with a choice of two battery capacities and three power outputs, plus the option of four-wheel drive. Entry-level models come with a 75kWh battery and 255bhp, while the 99kWh model offers 282bhp as standard but can be boosted to 333bhp. How far you’ll get on a charge depends on which version you go for, but the Mustang Mach-E’s anticipated WLTP range varies from 260 to 370 miles. If you go for the bigger battery and stick with rear-wheel drive, then, the Mustang Mach-E should have the longest official range of any electric SUV.

As well as a long range, Ford is also promising performance that befits the Mustang badge, with the Mach-E able to reach 62mph from a standing start in less than seven seconds. Buyers wanting even more performance won’t have long to wait, either, because Ford has confirmed that a high-performance GT model will be coming later. For now, every Mustang Mach-E model is limited to 111mph.

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Renault Zoe R135

November 29, 2019Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, ZOERepost

The Zoe is back, and with improved range and residual value forecast, can it prove itself as a fleet favourite in the EV sector?

It may feel like yesterday that the Renault Zoe burst onto the scene, but in electric car years, being born in 2012 makes you pretty ancient.

Renault has already given the Zoe a few nips and tucks, but noticing the fast-paced electric vehicle (EV) market evolving, it was time for a refresh.

The revised Zoe has been given a fresh new look, consisting of a tweaked nose, more chrome, and full LED lights front and rear, plus new wheels and colours. It has also been given a bigger, bolder Renault logo (which hides charging ports), and from the front, you could quite easily confuse the Zoe’s more grown up look with the Clio.

Battery boost

It may not come as a big surprise that the main focus of this upgrade is increased battery capacity; the Zoe now offers up to 245 miles of range on a single charge, depending on spec and wheel size. That is around a third more than the previous model could manage, and is a necessary update if the Zoe wants to keep up with rivals.

This new update brings with it the option of a rapid DC charging upgrade, although it is worth mentioning this is a £750 option. We can’t help but feel this is an odd decision by Renault, and perhaps something that should instead be standard. Opting for this means you can conveniently charge from 0-80% in just over an hour using a 50kW DC rapid charger. A regular roadside charger with 22kW will give you 100% in three hours, while an at-home wallbox can do it in about nine and a half hours.

There is also a choice of two electric motors: the Zoe’s existing 109hp unit – badged the R110 and carried over from the previous model, – or this brand new R135 with 135hp and 245nm of torque.

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THE LIFE ELECTRIC: HOW FIVE YEARS OF DRIVING EVS CONVERTED A HARDCORE ENTHUSIAST

November 28, 2019e-Golf, Electric Cars, VolkswagenRepost

A little disclaimer before we start this article. I don’t consider myself an environmentalist and I don’t constantly talk about things like sustainability or my carbon footprint.

As a lifelong gearheard, I’m also not one of those who feels like every drop of fuel burned in the name of fun is a crime. Nor am I a tech-obsessed Tesla fanboy who kneels at the altar of Elon Musk and praises all things the company does. But after driving about 50,000 miles behind the wheel of EVs, I’m fully sold on electric cars for daily life and I want to tell you why.

I’ve been obsessed with cars of all shapes and sizes since I was a toddler. I love the sounds of engines, the feeling of shifting through the gears and the distinct ways different types of cars deliver their power. I dig big V8s, loud turbos, built engines screaming to redline and fuel-sucking carbs—and I always will.

I’m also a person who is constantly annoyed by the oppressive emission laws in my home state of California, especially the ones that have no real impact on emissions but make it difficult or impossible to enjoy the automotive hobby the same way people in other states do.

But despite all of this, I’ve become a convert of the EV movement, and after half a decade of driving electric vehicles day-in and day-out I’m at the point where I can’t really imagine myself not having at least one of them in the garage.

For me it all started back in the summer of 2014 when I heard from some friends about how cheap you could lease the Fiat 500e EV for. With all of the upfront discounts and post-purchase rebates people were telling stories of driving a brand new electric car for less than they were paying for their cable bill each month.

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BMW’s Tesla Model 3 Fears Are Already Happening

November 27, 2019Electric Cars, Model 3, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaRepost

Model 3 owners are ditching BMWs.

Tesla’s production delays surrounding the Model 3 may have caused headaches for investors, anxious customers, and even CEO Elon Musk, but those days appear to be over. The era of the Model 3 is underway and the all-electric sedan continues to be a phenomenal success. A fascinating new study from Bloomberg has gone into depth about not only the EV sedan’s sales success but, equally important, who is buying them and what brand is suffering the most from the Model 3’s success.

One important fact: no other sedan in America is generating more revenue right now than the Model 3.

Costing around $50,000 on average, the Model 3 continues to significantly dent BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class sales by outselling them both. Bloomberg asked 5,000 Model 3 owners questions about their previous cars and, interestingly, whether or not they’d buy them again. Which makes and models did these Model 3 owners trade-in?

Examples include the Honda Accord and Civic, Toyota Camry, and the Mazda 3. But the greatest percentage of the Model’s total sales came from former BMW drivers, as the responses indicate. Tesla, amazingly, has succeeded in breaking so-called brand loyalties in a record period of time. Often times, brand loyalties are passed down from generation to generation. But thanks to continued hype, Musk constantly being in the news (for better or worse), and environmental concerns, drivers from various backgrounds and incomes want to try something new.

“I’ve owned three BMW 3 Series and was a diehard BMW fan,” one Model 3 owner responded. “The Tesla blows those cars away.” Not everyone can afford a BMW, but the Model 3 is still affordable enough for many mainstream buyers. “I’m not rich, I’m an ordinary man with an ordinary job. I am exactly the buyer Elon Musk hoped to attract,” another owner responded. Tesla does not even spend money on advertisements, relying instead on product events, social media, and referrals.

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