Shane Pither, Head of Automotive Innovation at Select Car Leasing, comments on the latest news surrounding electric vehicles.

He says: 

“Conversations around the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming louder and more complex than ever.
And we need clarity and honesty when talking to customers about EVs if we’re truly going to connect with them, and help them in their choices.
Recent news articles about battery-electric vehicles only illustrate the importance of clear communication on the subject.
A report by Sky News, informed by the campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E), accused leasing firms of ‘overcharging’ customers by ‘failing to reflect the strong resale value of cleaner cars when they set their prices’.

It was a piece that raised eyebrows across the board, with the BVRLA’s (British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association) Toby Poston firing back by commenting: 

“Vehicle leasing companies have led the charge in bringing battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to market. The accusations levelled by T&E show little understanding of how this market operates.”

I also take issue with some of the prices being quoted in the Sky News piece, with the electric VW ID.3 apparently costing ‘around £605 a month’ - a price that, in my experience, is most-often reserved for the very top-of-the-range models, and with entry-level variants actually costing almost half as much to lease.

Other recent articles in the national press have hinted that EV drivers are becoming ‘disillusioned’ with the electric experience - despite a recent survey by the AA showing that three-quarters of drivers (73%) are still committed to buying an EV, and with battery-powered cars like the MG4 EV and the VW ID. Buzz winning industry awards like they’re going out of fashion.

The latest SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) data, meanwhile, also shows a 26.2 per rise, year on year, in new car registrations, with EVs and plug-in hybrids accounting for almost a quarter (22.8%) of new models.

So, rumours of the EV market’s death have been greatly exaggerated!

But what can we do as leasing consultants, moving forwards, to cut through the nervous chatter and to help those looking for assurance?

For me, it’s all about leasing brokers being accurate, clear and transparent in our communications with customers about driving an EV.

And there are so many positive things to say about them - you’re behind the wheel of a state-of-the-art machine that often has performance to make a 90s hot-hatch weep with envy, and EVs are consistently setting the standard at the Euro NCAP safety tests, too.

But there are still anxieties about range and the charging infrastructure among motorists, and we need to be open and transparent about any perceived challenges. We miss a trick by not telling customers everything they need to know to ensure that there are zero regrets down the line.

Leasing an electric car is an emotional purchase, and we need to connect with customers on that same emotional level - thinking about how a challenging situation involving an EV might make someone feel.

Think also about the complexities when a business is considering leasing a fleet of EVs, too, and you see how we all have an obligation to provide as much information as we possibly can to make the process as seamless as possible.

Conveying real-world range, real-world charging stats, and real-world EV experiences are crucial when it comes to meeting a customer’s expectations and making sure they’re in the right car based on what they’re going to be using it for.

That means a real investment of time from consultants.

And it’s all about engaging with the subject in a positive way to ensure there’s no ‘stalling’ of interest - because it’s clear to me that failing to give customers all of the relevant facts could lead to slower adoption.”

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