Review: DS 3 ELECTRIC CROSSBACK HATCHBACK 100kW E-TENSE La Premiere 50kWh 5dr Auto

A new electric car arriving in the UK for 2020

Another great electric car on display at a recent Go Electric! Event in Manchester – the brand-new DS 3 SUV shown below!

The new DS3 Electric Crossback due for 2020

What electric cars can I actually lease in the UK?

The growth of EVs is such that many of the key questions surrounding these types of cars are now being answered. This time last year (2018) it would have been truly difficult to answer some of these key questions simply because there wasn’t as much product available nor were manufacturers committing to say when we would see their next cars and at what price they would be.

Over the last 12 months we have seen considerably improvements in product and information for the public. The statistics cannot hide the changes across the UK; in November circa 150,000 vehicle were registered and within this we saw nearly 5,000 pure electric vehicles and nearly 5,000 PHEV vehicles being registered. This is over double what we saw for the same period last year! In an era where diesel is experiencing a sharp decline and petrol remaining stagnant, we can see a big shift in customer attitudes toward alternative fuels. The future is very much now.

Rear aspect of the new DS3 electric SUV

As we have previously shown, there is a great list of EVs which you can currently lease or buy. Where we have had the opportunity to review the car we have supplied a link to some “actual” photos of the product rather than the glossy images online. Within our electric car guide we have detailed some of the key features of these vehicles.

• Audi E-Tron
• BMW i3
• DS3 E-Tense
• Hyundai Kona
• Hyundai Ioniq Electric
• Jaguar I Pace
• Kia E-Niro
• Mercedes EQC
• MG ZS Electric
• Mini Electric
• Nissan Leaf
• Nissan e-nv200 combi
• Peugeot 208e
• Porsche Taycan
• Renault Zoe
• Smart FourFour
• Tesla Model 3
• Tesla Model S
• Tesla Model X
• Vauxhall Corsa E
• VW e-golf
• VW e-UP

So are any electric vehicles cheap to lease?

The reality is that the cost price/list price of the pure EVs are more expensive than their petrol or diesel alternatives. The main reason for this is economies of scale; EVs are still in the minority and while manufacturers are starting to produce these vehicles, as you will see from the recent statistics in the UK, represent only 1 or 2% of the actual new car market.

As time progresses, the cost of batteries should reduce and you will see more equilibrium between the different vehicles. However, there are some credibly cost-effective options in the form of the Hyundai Ioniq, VW ID.3 and Nissan Leaf which you should consider.

Add to that the running costs (or whole life costs) of the vehicles when you are doing your calculations. It isn’t just the lease/finance cost you have to consider when you are working out the cheapest car to lease – you need to take into account the maintenance costs (EVs are cheaper to service/maintain), fuel costs (an EV is cheaper to “fuel”) and insurance costs. Before you rush to a conclusion on “cheap”, make sure you consider the full picture.

Can I lease/contract hire an electric car?

Contract hire (a fixed-term usership contract) is available on any new car or van which is manufactured in the UK regardless of fuel type. Whether it is petrol, diesel, hybrid, PHEV or EV the e-car lease team are able to provide you with a monthly rental for your vehicle. Indeed, leasing is being utilised quite prominently for electric cars as this is the foremost way for a company to offer a company car to an employee.

Due to the company car tax changes in April 2020, many company car drivers are now speaking to their fleet manages and directors about changing into this alternative fuel form. However, we are also seeing personal lease customers enquiring about leasing too. Part of this is that as a non-ownership form of finance, this offers a less risky solution for customers; you use the vehicle for 2/3/4 years and simply return it at contract cessation.

With technology being new, charging infrastructure being developed and new (and more exciting) cars on route, it is likely you will see many customers looking at 2-3 year lease contracts on an electric car -why get tied into a long-term contract? The used-car market for EVs is still  growing and while there are some electric car companies, it is not enough to ins til confidence in many potential drivers. This is why the contact hire route is being used, as the finance company are left with the obligation to mange the vehicle at contact end.

As ever, review the finance methods available to you, or the business ,and make a decision based on your actual needs and requirements. There is no “right answer”; it is about achieving a right answer for you.

Interior shots of the new DS3 Electric

Tell me about the DS3 electric!

In terms of the prototype shown, the DS 3 ELECTRIC CROSSBACK HATCHBACK 100kW E-TENSE La Premiere 50kWh 5dr Auto, this is based on the following configuration:

• Pearl crystal metallic paint
• DS Inspiration OPERA La Premiere - Watchstrap Nappa leather - Art Rubis
• 18" Kyoto diamond cut alloy wheels

As standard automatic wipers, dark tinted rear windows, heated rear windscreen, ABS, hill assist control, front and rear carpet mats, Bluetooth, front parking sensors, rear parking sensors, 10” touch screen, connect nav, head up display, mirror link with apply carplay/android auto, electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors with LED spot light, eletrochrome door mirrors, monogram on dashboard, 8 speaker sound system,. DAB radio, body coloured externals, LED rear lights, matrix LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, front and rear LED interior lights, advanced technology pack, city pack, E-Tense exterior pack, premium safety pack, 60/40 split rear folding seats, keyless entry and start, 18” alloys and anti-theft alarm. There are no additional manufacturer options to add to the DS.

On the technical side, company car and business users can note P11d at £40,185.00 and CO2 at 0g/km. The 100kW lithium-ion battery offers an NEDC range of circa 250 miles, with real world driving will be more like 190-210 miles of a full charge. The car offers 136ps and 0-62 times of 8.7 seconds. In terms of charge times, the DS3 will take 7-8 hours on a 7KW home charging unit to achieve 80% charge, 3 hours on a fast 22kW charger and 30-45 minutes on rapid DC charger.

So would the DS3 electric SUV be your select car leasing option?

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