Category Archives: Buying/Leasing

Licensed BEVs reach half-a-million despite slowdown of adoption amid energy crisis

October 21, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Figures released by the RAC Foundation has disclosed that the number of pure battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) has exceeded half-a-million to reach 519,266 at the end of June 2022.

The rise in BEVs on the UK’s roads continue to grow significantly as the nation races towards the internal combustion engine (ICE) ban that will come into play from 2030. Because of this, many UK drivers have been exploring the possibility of adopting electric vehicles (EVs).

This can also be recognised with licensed BEVs one year earlier standing at 282,977 and 130,246 at the end of June 2020, stated the RAC who analysed data released by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Although there are many factors as to why BEV adoption has surged in recent years, one striking correlation is the rise in EV charging infrastructure across the UK, providing drivers with plentiful areas to recharge on the road.

“This is a very significant milestone in terms of getting more battery-powered cars onto our roads, but we still have a long way to travel before we achieve a truly green fleet given that there are around 33 million cars in Britain,” said Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation.

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The American EV boom is about to begin. Does the US have the power to charge it?

October 19, 2022Buying/Leasing, Charging, Electric Cars, Energy and Climate Change, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

States have plans to ban gas-powered cars and the White House wants chargers along highways, but implementation is a challenge

Speaking in front of a line of the latest electric vehicles (EVs) at this month’s North American International Auto Show, President Joe Biden declared: “The great American road trip is going to be fully electrified.”

Most vehicles on the road are still gas guzzlers, but Washington is betting big on change, hoping that major federal investment will help reach a target set by the White House for 50% of new cars to be electric by 2030. But there are roadblocks – specifically when it comes to charging them all. “Range anxiety,” or how far one can travel before needing to charge, is still cited as a major deterrent for potential EV buyers.

The welcoming entrance of Disney’s magic kingdom (Image: L. Larkum)

The auto industry recently passed the 5% mark of EV market share – a watershed moment, analysts say, before rapid growth. New policies at the state and local level could very well spur that growth: the Inflation Reduction Act, which passed this summer, offers tax credits of $4,000 to purchase a used EV and up to $7,500 for certain new ones. In August, California, the nation’s largest state and economy, announced rules that would ban all new gas-powered cars by 2035. New York plans to follow.

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Cost-of-living crisis: ‘Electric cars are still cheaper to run’

September 29, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionRepost

Despite the soaring electricity prices, research shows you’ll still save money running an EV ‒ plus top tips from the experts on how to save even more

There’s been a flurry of energy-price fluctuations over the past couple of months, but despite the dropping of fuel prices and energy price rises (and more to come), the latest research shows that it’s still cheaper to run an electric car.

The planned rise of electricity to around 34p per kWh (a jump from the current average unit of 28p) on October 1 will bump up the price of running an EV, but, according to the RAC, it’s still cheaper than driving a petrol car. Comparing similar cars under comparable conditions, the organisation found that an EV driver would pay 9p per mile while a petrol driver would pay 19p.

Still, with electricity at an all-time high, EV drivers will be looking to save all the charge, and pounds, they can. With the help of Stuart Masson, editor of car ownership advice site The Car Expert, and Simon Williams, EV lead at the RAC, here’s our list of money-saving tips to help keep costs as low as possible…

Charge at home overnight on the off-peak rate. Most chargers have smart-charge software that powers up when electricity is cheapest at around 2am ‒ so if you’re charging a home only do so overnight.

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One in seven cars bought in August were EVs

September 19, 2022Buying a new car, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Electric car sales in August accounted for one in seven of new cars registered, according to new data from New Automotive.

While internal combustion engines (ICE) registrations have maintained steady in August, the electric vehicle (EVs) market continues to grow. It accounted for 14.48% of the market with 8,926 EVs registered in August, an increase of more than 2,000 on August 2021.

More motorists are looking to reap benefits of owning an EV amid the rising cost of living, and while hybrid sales continue to fall, EVs have grown at the expense of that market as more customers opt for a fully electric car instead of an hybrid.

“As the cost of living crisis worsens, UK motorists continue to turn towards cheaper-to-run electric vehicles,” said Ben Nelmes, co-founder and head of policy at New Automotive.

“Even with the increase in the Ofgem price cap for electricity in October, EVs will continue to offer running cost savings compared to ICE models.”

In July, total sales of electric cars in 2022 had already passed totals for the entirety of 2020, despite July being the first full month since government scrapped its plug-in car grant on 14 June.

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How much does an electric car cost? Why switching to an EV can save you money, from cheap charging to road tax

September 16, 2022Buying a new car, Electric Cars, Leaf, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanRepost

With fossil fuel cars on the way out, battery-powered alternatives are not only cleaner but can also be cheaper to run

With the cost of petrol soaring and the potential benefit to the environment becoming ever more apparent, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming an increasingly attractive option for many drivers.

Registrations of new battery EVs grew at a record rate of 49.9 per cent in the past year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), even as the car market lagged due to supply issues. One in 10 new cars sold is now powered by electricity rather than fossil fuel, up from just one in 100 in 2015.

That uptake is only likely to increase as the Government’s 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles looms. A poll of drivers by Moneysupermarket found that of those considering a new vehicle this year, 28 per cent were thinking of buying an electric car and 27 per cent were considering a hybrid.

But EVs are generally more expensive than their equivalents: as of August 2022, the UK’s most popular car model (according to SMMT data), the Vauxhall Corsa, would set you back £17,330 for a petrol model, against £27,055 for the Corsa-e.

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Shortage of electric cars set to derail sales boom: Supply issues delaying orders for up to TWO YEARS – we reveal waiting times for the most popular EVs

August 31, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and CommentRepost

Sales of electric cars have been booming in recent years but restricted production of new models looks set to derail the nation’s switch to plug-in vehicles, according to a new report.

Drivers wanting to make the switch to an electric vehicle are facing long delays for cars to arrive, in some cases up to two years from the point of ordering, research by Electrifying.com has revealed.

The combination of surging demand together with a global shortage of semiconductor chips and other key components that has wreaked havoc on the wider automotive industry for the last two years is now starting to have a crippling impact on the availability of the latest electric models.

And we can tell you how long, on average, you might have to wait to get your hands on a brand new electric car if you placed an order for one at a dealership today.

Just four months ago, popular models including the Vauxhall Corsa-e, Mokka-e and the Renault Zoe were freely available, however, buyers now face waiting times of up to four months to get their hands on one, the website said.

At the more luxurious end of the market, consumers could be waiting for up to 18 months for an Audi E-tron, which costs from £63,000.

Comparatively modest models including the Kia EV6 (from £44,195) and Skoda Enyaq (£42,435) come with waiting times of more than a year.

The current climate has even led to Elon Musk’s Tesla brand pausing production altogether for the Model X and Model S in order to meet the higher demand for its smaller – and more affordable – Model 3 and Model Y.

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Inflation Reduction Act passes the US House of Representatives

August 26, 2022Buying/Leasing, Economy, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Press ReleaseRepost

The Inflation Reduction Act, which also includes the reform of the EV tax credit, has now passed the House of Representatives after the Senate and is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden in the coming days. The new eligibility requirements will make most electric models ineligible for the tax credit.

After the package was repeatedly reduced in the Senate in numerous rounds of negotiations, the vote in the House of Representatives was considered a formality due to the majority ratios there. The same applies to the final signature of US President Biden. Even in its greatly reduced scope, the climate-related expenditure of 369 billion US dollars is the largest climate package ever passed in the USA.

For the tax credit on the purchase of an electric car, the changes are massive – it remains at the maximum $7,500 subsidy amount, but the requirements to qualify for the full subsidy have been tightened enormously. And the requirements will continue to increase in the coming years. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, whose members include the US corporations GM and Ford, as well as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Hyundai-Kia, estimates that 70 per cent of BEVs and PHEVs will no longer be eligible for subsidies as early as 2023.

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The MG 4 EV will start at just under £26k in the UK

August 23, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, MG, News, Reviews and Comment, UncategorizedRepost

Maker of affordable EVs unveils tempting prices for its new 281-mile electric hatch

It’s been a busy week for the new-age MG. After releasing an extremely low-resolution teaser video of its upcoming flagship electric sports car, it has now confirmed pricing for the 4 EV hatchback…

And it’s good news for all those interested in genuinely affordable electric cars, because prices will apparently start at £25,995 for the base-spec SE Standard Range, rising to £28,495 for the SE Long Range and £31,495 for the all-you-can-eat Trophy Long Range.

The former of those three gets a 51kWh battery and a decent 218 miles of range, while the SE Long Range and Trophy Long Range make use of a bigger 64kWh unit that can rapid-charge at speeds of up to 135kW. MG says range for those two specs is 281 miles and 270 miles respectively.

Like what you’re hearing? It’s worth remembering now the Government’s Plug-in Car Grant has been ditched, a boggo Nissan Leaf starts at £28,995 and comes with a 39kWh battery for just 168 miles of range.

As with the 5 EV electric estate, MG will throw in a load of kit on the 4 including a 10.25-inch central infotainment screen and a 7.0-inch driver display. You’ll get a seven-year warranty too, plus a choice of six different exterior colours from launch. Our advice? Spec the Volcano Orange you see above.

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Renault ZOE hatchback review

August 22, 2022Buying/Leasing, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Renault, Uncategorized, ZOERepost

“The Renault ZOE is a stylish electric supermini that’s affordable and has a decent range, making it very convincing”

Renault prides itself on being at the forefront of electric car development and the ZOE is the first electric car to offer a real zero-emissions alternative to regular family superminis. This is thanks to its relatively low purchase price and packaging that broadly matches the Renault Clio for practicality.

The introduction of the latest ZOE in 2019 brought a welcome increase in power, along with styling changes, a simplified range structure and updated infotainment system, improving what was already a quite appealing electric-car proposition. Its low-mounted battery pack has the dual advantages of increasing interior space and lowering the ZOE’s centre of gravity; the car is rewarding to drive around town as a result.

2020 Renault Zoe (Image: Renault) — The improved Renault Zoe has a longer range and posher interior (Image: Renault)

ZOE line-up was revised with the battery leasing option being discontinued. Now every ZOE comes with the battery pack included, putting it on a level playing field with new rivals like the Peugeot e-208, Vauxhall Corsa-e, Honda e and MINI Electric.

Its 52kWh battery offers a claimed range of up to 239 miles of range on a charge and can be charged from 0-80% in around an hour and ten minutes using a 50kW charger – although this is only feasible on version with the R135 Rapid Charge powertrain that have the CCS fast-charging capability. The quoted range is more likely in good conditions, and this new model shouldn’t drop as much range in winter as the old version.

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EV demand on the up | Fleets look to models with shortest lead times

August 11, 2022Charging, Electric Cars, Leasing a new car, News, Reviews and Comment, UncategorizedRepost

The demand for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) increased by 72% in the second quarter of this year, reports Leasing.com.

New data released by the car leasing comparison website, shows that consumer and business demand for all BEVs, hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) increased by 48% compared to Q2 last year, while BEV demand alone increased by 72% between April and June 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.

Meanwhile, demand for internal combustion vehicles (petrol and diesel) fell by 25% in Q2, with petrol demand falling 14% in the same period.

Leasing.com’s latest figures show that electric vehicles are closing the gap on petrol’s dominance in the new car leasing market.

Electric vehicles saw a 36.5% share of total sales enquiries via the website in Q2 compared to petrol’s 54.5% market share.

The gap between the fuel types continues to narrow each month. However, supply issues continue to dictate the sales winners in the new car market.

Consumers and businesses are gravitating towards the models that they can get hold of quickest and demand has softened for those brands with longer lead times. This has created opportunities for some manufacturers to rapidly grow their market share, says Leasing.com.

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