Fancy Hiring an Electric Car? Here’s All You Need to Know

Research is proving that the UK is on the verge of an EV revolution. Battery life has substantially improved over the last few years, and with a much wider charging network, now really is the time to enjoy an electric vehicle. In this article we take a look at some of the advantages of hiring an EV.

History

Interestingly, the history of the EV starts with the launch of the car in the early 20th century. With the development of the combustion engine, electric vehicles became somewhat left behind.

All Change

And things continue to change: here in the UK we are shifting away from buying cars – EV or otherwise – with the hire market on the up. Electric car hire London or Leominster is definitely becoming a viable choice for motorists.

The Future

The government has far-reaching plans for the motor industry with a suggested total ban of both petrol and diesel cars by 2040; for many commuters this will mean the only alternative is an EV. And for a high proportion of these – particularly those in urban areas – electric car hire London can easily work side by side with the use of public transport systems.

And There Is the Cost

Put simply, it makes far more financial sense to hire rather than buy. Electric vehicles, on average, cost around a rather hefty £10,000 more than an equivalently sized petrol or diesel car. It is also worth factoring in that when you hire you can simply hand the vehicle back into the hire company, whereas if you decide to buy one then when it comes to selling it you will notice a huge depreciation in its cost. The BMW i3, for example, loses a whopping half of its list price when you put it on the market.

Better for the Environment

As we become more concerned with our environmental footprint, we begin to make more informed choices. It is becoming less and less admired to be driving round in a huge car with an oversized engine. The zero emissions emitted by an EV will be a highly attractive quality. Hiring one for occasional use won’t clog up our roads.

Time Is Money

Unfortunately, there is no getting away from the fact that charging an EV takes much longer than filling up with petrol – a job that takes moments and requires little planning. By hiring one, however, this (slight) headache will simply not occur, as you can rely on the hire company to charge it for you before you get behind the wheel. Do remember, though, that if you are going on a long journey, it is worth locating a charging place at some point along your route. If you are hiring an EV for a few days or more, it is more economical to charge it up overnight, as you will be paying a lower rate for electricity. Research shows that it costs a tiny £1.50 to charge an EV to full capacity. This cost can of course vary – just like choosing different petrol stations in different places in the country – but it’s safe to say that you will likely pay much less than you would when buying either diesel or petrol.