In the past few years, the landscape and availability of electric vehicles has changed dramatically - they are no longer a futuristic concept, but instead have become much more commonplace in driveways across the country. Here, Vince Pemberton of Rivervale Leasing looks at some of the new and upcoming developments in the electric vehicle field that could make them more widespread across our country over the coming years.
In the past few years, the landscape and availability of electric vehicles has changed dramatically - they are no longer a futuristic concept, but instead have become much more commonplace in driveways across the country. Here, Vince Pemberton of Rivervale Leasing looks at some of the new and upcoming developments in the electric vehicle field that could make them more widespread across our country over the coming years.
Sales of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) continue to grow in the UK - BEV sales were up by 70.6 per cent in July 2019 compared to the same period in 2018 and HEV sales were also up in the same period by 19.2 per cent. Interestingly Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle sales were down year on year by 32.4 per cent. The feeling is that this can be attributed to the removal of the government grant last October. At present, the grant of £3,500 is only available for full electric vehicles. Established manufacturers are now committing to offering a wider range of pure electric cars, whilst diesel models are beginning to see a drop in sales.
The availability of charging has long been a consideration for those interested in electric vehicles. When it comes to charging, there are now a number of public electric car charging networks across the UK - however, each brand takes a different approach to charger access. Some operate 'pay as you go' systems, some have subscription options and others offer free power and cheap sign-up fees. The most common national charging networks in the UK include Polar (BP Chargemaster), Ecotricity, Pod Point and Charge Your Car.
Charging at home is convenient for electric car owners since there is no need to worry about making countless trips to a charging station. Most importantly, it is also much cheaper than charging at a station. Thankfully, the government also provides £500 grants for the installation of home electric car charging points, and additional £300 grants are available from the Energy Saving Trust (EST).
One of the main barriers to widescale uptake of electric vehicles is the cost. Currently there are only a few models below £50,000, but prices are beginning to fall. With more and more electric vehicles being made, the cost of production is likely to drop, and with more choice there should be more competitive prices. Whilst electric vehicles are unlikely to be "cheap" anytime soon, you should still expect to see slightly more affordable models in the coming years.
So, what are some of the more consumer-friendly models that you could soon be cruising around in?
Peugeot e-208
The e-208 will be Peugeot's first foray into electric vehicles and will be fundamental to the French manufacturer's target of an all-electric line-up by 2023. The sprightly hatchback will launch with a 50kWh electric battery version that delivers a range of 211 miles.
MINI Electric
Keeping the classic MINI looks, the MINI Electric is likely to fit in easily with the rest of the family. With a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds and a 32.6kWh battery offering 124-144 miles of range, the MINI Electric looks to offer good performance for urban commuters.
Tesla Model 3
This car isn't out yet and it's already proving its popularity - in fact, Rivervale has had more enquiries on the Model 3 than any other make or model ever before! The Long Range version of the Model 3 can reach 60mph in just 4.5 seconds, while Tesla estimates a range of around 258 miles.
SEAT El-Born
The El-Born uses VW's MEB platform and has a range of 260 miles, with a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds. With a similar footprint and layout to the current Leon hatchback, the El-Born is sure to be a suitably versatile family vehicle.
BMW iX3
The iX3 will use BMW's fifth-generation eDrive technology, meaning the electric motor, transmission and power electronics are all in one singular unit. The iX3 produces 270hp and up to 249 miles on a single charge and will support 150kW fast charging - that means a full charge in just 30 minutes.
Vince Pemberton is Chief Operating Officer at Rivervale Leasing
Rivervale specialises in business and personal car leasing, van leasing and minibus leasing and supply every make and model. Based in Brighton, Sussex, Rivervale works closely with manufacturers, large motor groups and major leasing partners to secure the most competitive leasing prices.
For more information please visit rivervaleleasing.co.uk
Promoted by Vince Pemberton - 14 Aug 2019