Guide to choosing the right EVs for your company fleet

Just a few years ago the choice of electric cars in the UK wasn't huge but that's all changed. There's now healthy choice and competition in almost all car types, whether that's a compact hatchback, spacious SUV, or luxury saloon. There's an EV for your employees.

The best electric car for you and your company will mainly come down to factors like cost and vehicle range.

Don’t forget about style though, with prestige vehicles sometimes important for the image they project. If looks and performance are key to your business then something like the Polestar 2 could be the EV for you.

Luckily, the choice of high quality electric cars has never been better - whether that's a Volkswagen, Ford, Audi or BMW. There's a huge amount of choice out there.

Fleets that need to zip around city centres and fit into tight parking spaces could find Mini Electric or Volkswagen E-Up ticks the box.

Or you may discover the Tesla Model Y Long Range is the perfect companion for long motorway trips between meetings and sales pitches. Especially with driving aids which provide an additional safety net after a long day on the road.

Happily, modern EVs are getting better all the time as charging and battery technologies develop. Typically, they now offer a range of 140-350 miles per charge. Whether your fleet cars usually travel less than 100 miles per week or a few hundred miles every day, there’s something to suit your needs, you can easily search our latest EV offers to find your next (electric) car.

This gives you the capacity to make every meeting secure in the knowledge you’ve got enough juice in your battery to get you from A to B and back again.

Which electric car has the longest range?

Tesla has been at the forefront of the market for several years now. Part of their huge appeal is the driving range their cars offer. The suitability named Tesla Model S Long Range is capable of covering around 325 miles of ‘real world’ driving on a single charge. They are no longer alone though, with both BMW and Mercedes-Benz both offering electric cars with significant 'real world' ranges, including the stunning BMW iX SUV and Mercedes-Benz EQS saloon.

There are plenty of cars now offering an attainable range of around 250 miles, which used to be reserved for the Tesla Model S and Model X. This includes SUVs like the Kia Niro EV and Hyundai Kona. A range of 250 miles is more than enough for most fleet cars to fulfil their daily duties without the need to charge up away from home or work.

In our experience, how far a vehicle needs to travel is usually overestimated - often significantly. Most vehicles and trips travel far less than 100 miles per day.

It’s clear that a fully electric fleet will save you huge amounts of money on fuel. A Tesla Model 3, for example, could save you almost £2,000 a year when covering 20,000 miles. The more cars you have and the more miles you cover, the more you save. You don’t have to worry about high mileages costing more in maintenance costs, as EVs have fewer moving parts they are typically 30% cheaper than their internal combustion engine (ICE) alternatives to maintain.

Then there’s the savings drivers can make on company car tax. During the 2022/23 financial year, benefit-in-kind on EVs stands at 2%, significantly lower than petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles. BIK rates will stay low for at least the next 6 years - 5% until the end of 27/28 financial year.

The benefits get even better if you’re in London. Fully electric vehicles are exempt from the capital’s Congestion and Ultra Low Emission Zone charges. This saves you more than £5,000, compared to a Euro 5 diesel entering Central London daily over 45 weeks.

According to energy efficiency experts Sust-it, it only costs around 3.5p per mile to run a Volkswagen eGolf. This is compared to 9p per mile for its diesel equivalent, and 11p per mile for the petrol. You’ll save £275 per year if you only cover 5,000 miles per annum, while it’s £1,100 if you cover 20,000 miles.

The cost savings of a fully electric fleet are clear. There’s currently even a government incentive called the Workplace Charging Scheme, where you can claim £500 on up to 20 charge points. That’s a saving of £10,000 if you take up the whole quota.

As well as enhancing your company’s image, you can also improve your employees’ daily lives behind the wheel, as they strive to maximise profits for your bottom line. EVs are more pleasant to drive (they’re quiet and all automatic!) and with great benefits for the environment, you can help your local community work towards cleaner air while potentially improving your employee retention.