Mark Forster
American President Barak Obama took the wheel of the brand new Chevy Volt this week sending out the message that electric cars are on their way.
Over here in the UK we have just been told that we will be getting the £5000 subsidy on the cost of the car but only on the first few thousand purchased. So the first manufacturers to release their offerings will benefit.
Ford and Toyota have just announced that they are going into the electric market but it is unlikely that their offerings will be available whilst the subsidy is still available. So what are the people who want to go electric but would rather wait to check out a more established range? How about leasing?
Leasing any vehicle electric or otherwise help in a lot of ways, first of all it takes the sting out of the sticker price.
Another bonus of leasing is it acts almost like a trial, you normally commit to a minimum term contract but if after this term you feel that the new technology is no good then you can just cut your ties.
One of the big reluctances people are going to have about laying down the £20,000 + for an electric vehicle, subsidised or otherwise is the fear that the technology will burn out or that oil prices fall leaving you no better off financially than a regular car.
The Americans have already had leasing deals announced and they don’t seem too bad. A deposit of $1,999 deposit and monthly payments of $349 on a three year contract is available on the Nissan Leaf. Which in UK terms is a deposit of around £1,200 and monthly payments of £220.
Making the overall payment over three years just under £10,00 compared to the vehicle cost of £25,000 (US Price converted) so leasing can be cheaper, obviously you will not receive the Government credit but with the platform in such an early stage would you want to lay down that amount of money? Especially on the Nissan Leaf which basically amounts to a city/commuter car.
Interested in Leasing a vehicle, currently no electric leasing is available in the UK but if you take into account these payments will be similar if not a cheaper on a regular £25,000 it will still work out cheaper. Business owners can also claim back certain features of the car through VAT and Tax claims.
Take a look at Leasebhttp://www.leasebam.co.uk/am who will search all dealers nationwide or close to you to find the best price.
