Tag Archives: Electric Vehicles

Why Ashley Sheppard chose a plug-in hybrid car over a conventional.

Car Leasing,

Over the last few months we have seen a massive increase in companies choosing electronic vehicles over conventional cars. We spoke to Ashley Sheppard, Sales and Marketing Director of Call Systems Limited who has two plug in hybrid cars in use: a BMW X5 xDrive40E and a BMW i3 Hatchback.

Are you happy with your BMW X5 xDrive40E?
We are very happy with the BMW X5 xDrive40E! The car offers everything you expect from an X5 but a plug in hybrid.

Are you happy with your car’s performance?  Have you tested its speed and acceleration?
It is a great car, you wouldn’t really notice a difference between driving a conventional car over a plug-in.  Acceleration is a little bit nippy but you will get used to that.

What was your main reason for choosing an electric vehicle over a conventional car?
Low Emissions, it is an environmentally friendly car.  It is also a very economical car which receives tax in-kind benefits. This car is also great for the short commute that I do from home, school and to the office.

How do you charge it?
I had power sockets put in at home, so we charge both cars overnight. The sockets each have a different voltage to be able to charge; to put this is quite expensive but is worth it.

How many miles can you drive from one charge?
In the BMWX5 you can do 20 miles on a full electric charge which is perfect for my commute.  If you would need to travel a longer journey you can switch over to its petrol tank.

Are you happy with your BMW i3?
Yes, I love it.

How many miles can you do on one charge?
With the BMWi3 you can do roughly about 60 miles on a full charge and with the petrol engine it extends to 120 miles.

Are there enough charging facilities around you?
Yes, there are plenty of charging facilities around me.  I also recommend downloading the  BMW remote app, this will help you find  the nearest facilities around you.

Would you recommend plug-in vehicles?
Yes I would, we love both of our cars and whole heartedly believe this is the future of motor vehicle travel.
If you are looking for a plug-in hybrid vehicle get in touch with CVSL today.

Plug in cars

Why London businesses are choosing low emission vehicles

Car Leasing, Tax and Legislation News, ,

The London Congestion charge was implemented by London Mayor, Ken Livingstone in 2003 to reduce pollution in the capital. When the initiative was first launched the charge was £5 and now in 2016 the charge is £11.50 per day for driving within the charging zone between 07:00 and 18.00. If you pay in advance you can reduce the cost by £1 a day with auto pay.

The congestion charge can be expensive, especially if you are a business with multiple cars and if residents discount doesn’t apply to you, this could cost you up to £2898 per year. As a resident this would cost you £289.80 per year.  You can check here whether your property’s address qualifies for  residents discount.

This is the reason why more and more businesses in London are switching to for low emission vehicles as they are exempt to pay congestion charge under the Ultra-Low Emission vehicles.

Which cars are exempt under the ‘Ultra Low Emission Discount (ULED)’?

Vehicles that are eligible for the Ultra Low Emission Discount include all models that produce less or equal to 75gCo2/km and meet Euro 5 emissions standards.  Under the current scheme this includes all electric and most plug-in hybrid vehicles but conventional hybrids are treated as petrol and diesel vehicles only qualifying if their emissions are 75gCO2/km or less and are Euro 5. Please note the TFL reviews it schemes regularly.

If you would like to know more about low emission vehicles and how you can save money speak to CVSL today.

london traffic - congestion charge

Plug-in car grant is changing

Car news

Over recent years there has been a growing demand for electric and hybrid cars, partly due to the government’s plug in-car grant. The plug-in car grant was previously set at £5,000 per eligible car, however this grant is now being cut on the 1st of March 2016.

How is the plug-in car grant changing?

There will be 2 grants available:

‘Category 1’ cars with a zero emission range of over 70 miles will receive a grant of £4,500.

‘Category 2 and 3’ cars with a shorter zero emission range, such as plug-in hybrid vehicles with a petrol or diesel engine, will receive £2,500.

So what does it mean?
Most full-electric cars will still continue to receive a grant but the amount received may be reduced. Most full-electric cars will fall in category 2 and 3 meaning you will receive £2,500.
However, we do have some category 1 cars available here at CVSL, which could still mean a £4,500 grant under the new regulations.

If you would like to take advantage of the current grant get in touch today. Orders need to be submitted before the 29th February and be delivered within 9 months.
Take a look at our Electric Vehicle range.

BMWI3