2020 is set to be an interesting year in the UK, even when it comes to buying a new company car! HMRC have announced that from 6th April 2020, drivers choosing a pure electric vehicle will pay no benefit-in-kind tax for the year ahead, and only 1% and 2% respectively for the years following. The hope is to boost the numbers of electric cars on the roads to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution in our cities. Add to this the fact the government are also offering the Plug-In Grant of up to £3,500 for eligible vehicles and a discount for businesses to install charging points at their offices, now is the ideal time to invest in a new, clean company car!
There are plenty of EV options on the market so we’ve run through some of our favourites at a range of price points:
Audi e-tron
From £71,560
The Audi e-tron is their flagship electric SUV and comes with a whole host of features including a rear view camera, lane departure warning and virtual door mirrors. This is likely the first of many electric vehicles to come from Audi as they announce a renewed focus on sustainability in their future product range. The e-tron can accelerate from 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds, has a top speed of 124mph and a range of 248 miles. However, all this car comes at a price!
Renault Zoe
From £22,070
Renault’s offering is undeniably great value for money. It has a range of 186 miles, compact styling suited to city driving and is currently the cheapest electric vehicle on the market. There are plenty of optional extras such as faster charging and a bigger motor, allowing you to upgrade the otherwise basic offering as far as your budget will allow.
Tesla Model X
From £82,200
Tesla’s Model X is one of the most recognisable electric cars on the market having been in production since 2015, it is widely considered the benchmark for EVs. Thanks to the cutting edge technology packed into it, such as automatic braking, lane changing and the famous Autopilot feature, the Tesla comes with the second-highest price tag of all the electric vehicles on the list. For that, you get over 300 miles of range and acceleration of 0-62 in just 2.7 seconds!
MINI Electric
From £24,400
The MINI Electric is new to the market for 2020 and looks like a strong, mid-range contender. With a quick charging option, fully digital dashboard and an affordable price, its positioned to be the ideal company car. The sticking point for many is its rather measly range of 145 miles per charge, however, this is a city car designed for commuting and as Peter Schwarzenbauer outlined, “an average drive for a MINI customer per day is 37km, so in theory, our customers can drive all week on a single charge”.
Hyundai Kona EV
From £30,000
The Kona EV from Hyundai is a great mid-range, practical SUV ideal for both work and family life. It has a very respectable range of 258 miles and can achieve 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds. The interior boasts room for five and a raised seating position, similar to Audi’s e-tron but at half the price. It was even voted as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year thanks to its all-round capabilities and SmartSense safety features.
Porsche Taycan
From £116,000
The Taycan is Porsche’s first all-electric vehicle, and it does not disappoint. With a decent range of 287 miles in the larger engine model, 571 bhp and a max speed of 155 mph, they have certainly not let an electric engine get in the way of the signature Porsche performance. Design-wise it takes a lot of inspiration from the 911 with low, bucket seating and a fierce-looking front end but with this comes reduced practicality as the rear seats are much smaller than other EVs out there.
This list barely scratches the surface of the range of electric vehicles on the market, with plenty more expected to come to market in the next few years. As the government continues to launch initiatives to increase their uptake, and reduce the cost of charging points for companies, it is the ideal time to be looking at upgrading your company’s fleet to electric vehicles. Not only will it reduce your carbon footprint but it could also to save yourself a pretty penny too!
Further Reading:
Six Times Electric Cars Went Wrong – Top Gear
