Electric Cars
A fully electric car runs purely off an electric motor and therefore produces zero emissions. Electric cars are the most environmentally friendly modern vehicle type and are cost-effective thanks to no external fuel costs.
With the UK Government’s target to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, we can expect an influx of fully electric vehicles to the market from the major manufacturers. This is great news for customer choice.
Battery technology is constantly improving and previous concerns over range and charging times are reducing. For example the Tesla Model 3 has a range of between 250 and 320 miles, the Corsa-E up to 209 miles and the Mini Electric is 80% charged in just 35 minutes.
Are there any tax benefits?
Absolutely! Electric cars emit no CO2! This means if you are driving the car as a company vehicle, you will pay no company car tax under the current legislation from April 2020.
And company car tax on traditional fossil fuelled cars is based on 16% to 37% of the value of the vehicle, so that’s potentially a big benefit.
Popular models for hybrid car leasing are:
Please contact us for expert advice about the tax benefits of electric car leasing.
Hybrid Cars
Alongside pure electric cars, hybrids and plug-in hybrids are an important part of this shift towards greener vehicles. The UK Government has said that some hybrid vehicles will be allowed from 2030 and they are a popular choice from many drivers.
What is a hybrid car?
A hybrid is a vehicle that combines a conventional petrol engine with an electric motor.
The petrol engine charges the car’s batteries, with the electric motor usually kicking in when extra power is needed, such as during acceleration.
Cars use the most fuel when you’ve got your foot on the floor increasing speed, so using an electric motor to help the combustion engine makes cars more efficient.
On many models, the batteries are recharged by collecting wasted energy from elsewhere. For example, many hybrids use something called regenerative braking, which is where the kinetic energy released during braking is captured and used to charge the batteries.
The engine also shuts down automatically when this occurs, saving fuel and cutting emissions.
What are self-charging hybrid cars?
“Self-charging hybrid” is often used as another term for non-plug-in hybrid cars, which use one (or more) electric motors to improve the performance of the car’s combustion engine.
Unlike a PHEV, a self-charging hybrid is not plugged in, instead, energy is generated through the vehicle’s engine or brakes - they charge while you drive.
Are there any tax benefits?
Yes! Hybrid vehicles emit less CO2 and are subject to lower tax bands.
Please contact us for expert advice about the tax benefits of ultra low emission vehicles.
What is a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV)?
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is a hybrid car that you 'plug in' to charge.
The majority of PHEVs have an electric-only range of around 20-30 miles.
Plug-in hybrids are a great option for those of us who can charge the car at home or work and do not drive significant mileage each day.
Being able to run your car primarily on electric mode will save you petrol costs and is of course good for the environment.
Are plug-in hybrid vehicles popular?
Here at OVL Group we are seeing more and more customers opting to lease hybrid cars. No doubt encouraged by the increasing range available (view our offers on hybrid cars here) and the desire to go green.
The Government’s announcement that the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030 has spurred further interest in leasing a hybrid.
Are hybrids cheaper to run?
Hybrid cars use up to 30% less fuel per mile than conventional fuel-powered vehicles.
If you have access to charging facilities and most of your journeys are less than 30 miles, a plug-in hybrid could cut your fuel costs significantly.
Are there any tax benefits?
Yes! Hybrid vehicles tend to emit less CO2 and are subject to lower tax bands.
Popular models for hybrid car leasing are:
Please contact us for expert advice about the tax benefits of ultra low emission vehicles including hybrid cars.