How Global conflict is driving more electric car lease customers to the new Kia EV2

The new KIA EV2 - How Global conflict is driving more electric car lease customers

You would have to live under a rock to miss the current conflicts in the Middle East, as Israel, Iran and the US (amongst others) experience significant clashes. With key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz now closed, along with strikes on energy hubs in the Middle East, the price for petrol and diesel drivers in the UK is now being impacted.

As reported in GB news  the price of oil has now begun to rise. With the RAC Drive now monitoring the ongoing fuel price situation, there are thoughts that the current prices - 146.32 pence on Unleaded Petrol and 169.81 pence on Diesel - are now likely to rise further. There are suggestions that the current rises will get to at least 150p for petrol and 180p on diesel over the next few weeks.

While combustion drivers can use the Government Fuel Finder services to get best value, there is evidence that the increasing costs are making drivers reconsider their vehicle choices. With the Strait of Hormuz preventing key distribution to Asia and Europe, there are some significant obstacles ahead.

Running costs, or the Whole of life costs, are key analytics which help both personal and business leasing customers understand the price of their vehicles. While the monthly finance figure in any purchase or lease is often the key point of consideration, this is not all you should be considering as any discerning customer. When we provide a quotation to a customer we will include a number of considerations including:

• Monthly finance cost
•  Monthly maintenance cost for any servicing, maintenance and tyres
•  Insurance details
•  Fuel costs for electric charging
•  Home or business charger costs

There are pros and cons to each type of fuel, in terms of the underlying costs and infrastructure investment. However, what we are looking at here is the underlying cost of the fuel, although this also needs to be considered in-keeping with the vehicle’s economy.

For an EV you will see this as the miles per kWh, for example 3.6 mi/kWh. In essence, this is similar to mpg on a combustion vehicle. Using the numeric value of 3.6mi / kWh, this would be equivalent to 147mpg on a combustion option. The great advantage for an electric car is that you can utilise a dedicated home charging tariff which will provide a much cheaper underlying cost of charge compared to a petrol or diesel option. So if a small Kia EV had a usable battery of around 55kWh this could cost you:

•  £44 on a rapid charger at a motorway service station;
•  £14 on a normal tariff at home (using standard domestic tariff); or
•  £5 on a supported overnight tariff.

As you can quickly ascertain, having an EV provides the driver with much more choice and flexibility when it comes to fuel especially where you have a dedicated home or business charging solution.

With a combustion vehicle, you are simply stuck to the pumps and the vagaries of the world political and economic influences! And because an EV is now able to offer much better range for UK drivers, with the improvements in battery engineering and chemistry, along with facets like heat pumps now being made available as standard on many cars, the contention that EVs are not great value due to range is no longer a viable argument.

Taking the new Kia EV2, which is a small city-car, this can still achieve over 200 miles combined (real world range). With many UK drivers travelling well below 25 miles per day, the necessity for more than this is reduced.  

Bad news for some is good news for others. For the Kia engineers behind the new EV2, the recognition that the cost of electricity is now far better than the cost of petrol / diesel is a heartening development. With energy independence now happening across the UK as more domestic and business premises turn towards solar and heat pumps, removing a reliability on oil resources presents a more balanced situation.

So why not consider the new Kia EV2 as your next lease

The 2026 EV2 will launch in 3 key specifications including:

•  EV2 Air - this includes 16” alloys, LED headlamps, 6-speaker audio system, roof rails and dual temperature control;

•  EV2 Earth  - this adds 18” alloys, privacy glass, ambient lighting, Harmon Kardon premium sound and the Highway Driving Assist 2.0;
•  EV2 GT-Line  - this adds 19” alloys, 3-spoke GT Line steering wheel, metal pedals, memory driver seat, ventilated front seats and the digital key.

How does the Kia EV2 EV perform?

Choose between the battery options including:

• 42.2 kWh - this FWD hatch will have a 41 kWh usable battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 8.5 seconds, 100 mph top speeds and 108kW (or 145hp). Expect a combined winter range of 125 miles with warmer weather allowing for 170 miles – a 150 mile combined. On charging, the 11 kW AC max will allow 4 hour and 30 min 0 – 100% charging times with the 115 kW DC maximum allowing 30 minute 10 – 80% times. A cargo volume of 326L is available with this car. It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 148 mpg. You can tow with this EV – 750kg (Unbraked) and 750kg (Braked). It does have Bidirectional capabilities with the V2L functionality via the 3.6kW AC exterior and interior outlet. The Heat Pump is available as a cost option; and 

•  61 kWh - this FWD hatch will have a 58 kWh usable battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 9.5 seconds, 100 mph top speeds and 100kW (or 134hp). Expect a combined winter range of 180 miles with warmer weather allowing for 245 miles – a 210 mile combined. On charging, the 11 kW AC max will allow 6 hour and 15 min 0 – 100% charging times with the 115 kW DC maximum allowing 30 minute 10 – 80% times. A cargo volume of 326L is available with this car. It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 146 mpg. You can tow with this EV – 750kg (Unbraked) and 750kg (Braked). It does have Bidirectional capabilities with the V2L functionality via the 3.6kW AC exterior and interior outlet. The Heat Pump is available as a cost option.

For more help or advice, don’t forget to call our expert term at e-car lease on 01942 910 001 or email at [email protected].