Our Used-Electric Car Lease Deals Go Live - but will UK customers really trust this over a new EV like the Polestar 4?

Will UK customers trust a new EV like the Polestar4 over a used electric car lease - our used electric deals go live

The rapid growth of new electric cars, since around 2020, has posed a number of very important questions. We have heard debates about vehicle ranges, charging speeds, charging capabilities and the continued analysis of price / value for battery options vs the petrol and diesel ones.

However, a new debate is emerging in the used-car sector, with the emergence of all-electric cars, and vans, causing a raft of contention and even distortion to the UK market.

But is this really surprising? Where the UK probably did not properly prepare for was the plethora of ex-fleet and salary sacrifice vehicles coming through after their 2/3/4 year lease, further to the mass-adoption during the COVID period. In the new car sector we were already aware of some of the stresses and potential hurdles for a personal or business customer making the transition but for car supermarkets, dealerships and small used-car or van centres, there did not seem to be an acute awareness of our future.

Even in 2025 we are still facing similar challenges, with articles like this one from This Is Money suggesting that “an electric Hyundai takes FOUR MONTHS to shift”. The impression to a prospective customer could be that used-EVs are problematic or not a desirable facet.

However, when you dive deeper in the article, which is using data from the Auto Trader, you see that within the 10 fastest-selling cars in 2024, 2 vehicles are pure electric and 1 is a PHEV. The article’s title actually referred to the Ioniq 6, which has actually proved as difficult to sell as a new car as it does as a used proposition (an average of 125 days to find a buyer for a used one).

However, times, and attitudes, towards the older electric car are definitely changing. Thankfully, there are positive media articles outlining some of the pros for a battery car, such as the recent NewScientist coverage on lifespan of the vehicle.

One of the purported issues with the battery aspect of these new cars and vans, was their longevity and sustainability. Indeed, manufacturers have needed to provide robust assurances as to the quality and underlying warranty on their batteries.

Recent research is now highlighting that an EV will have an average lifespan of just over 18 years, surpassing the 16.8 years of the diesel and nearly matching the 18.7 years of the petrol. According to the article, the average EV will cover around 200,000km in its lifetime (125,000 miles). For business and consumers looking for that underlying confidence to try an older EV, research like this is crucial for helping to dispel some of the myths and rumours.

We are pleased to announce that we can now supply used electric car lease deals

Further to the success of the new-EV aspect of the e-car business, we have also made the move towards pre-owned and ex-fleet lease vehicles with one of our finance company’s - Lex Autolease.

Further to some of the great news about the lack of battery degradation and the long-term health of this fuel choice, working with older vehicles is not something which troubles our team. Contract hire, which is what we refer to as a “lease”, really does lend itself to this segment.

As a non-ownership product, the customer can simply use the vehicle for a pre-determined term and, at contract end, simply return it. The fear which many UK customers have is that if they buy, hire purchase or contract purchase an older BEV, if the residual values change or if the vehicle encounters mechanical or technological faults, this risk lies solely with them. This is not an undertaking many will readily want, so to have a more risk-averse product available does make sense.

But how will used-EV leasing work?

While you can head to dedicated used  electric car lease offers  section we thought it may be useful to summarise some of the key points:

•  Contract Term - select from 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 months;
•  Mileage - choose from 5, 8, 10, 12, 15 and 20,000 miles per annum;
•  Maintenance - every EV will include a full package to cover routine servicing, maintenance, MOTs, replacement tyres and 24/7 breakdown assistance;     
•  No Deposit - as at January 2025 all of the options shown on our website are on a no-initial rental basis. This means that there is no initial capital outlay or commitment to you or the business;
•  Vehicle Options - all of the EVs are under 4 years old and under 50k mileage, so these are some of the low-mileage examples which Lex have utilised; and
•  Vehicle Quality -  vehicles are refurbed and mechanically checked prior to re-lease and are checked for any previous complaints/poor maintenance history. Anything not refurbed is imaged and imperfections are shown on our website.

The process to leasing your used-EV is straightforward. Just select your preferred car on our website and our team can reserve this for 2 hours while you conduct a credit application. Not unlike a new car, there is still a formal credit process where the finance company will underwrite you, or the business, to ensure that this is an affordable proposition. While the proposal is being reviewed, the vehicle will be allocated to you. After the approval, our team will create an order for you. In particular, we have to draw your attention to the key statement below:

This order is confirmed and accepted and is for the purposes of the master contract hire agreement between the parties a Schedule as such term is defined therein.

If any issues or defects or otherwise arise following the safety check of the vehicle, Lex reserves the right to cancel and/or substitute the vehicle.

Once you accept the above, we can order the vehicle with the Lex team directly. Delivery will be around 5 working days from our e-car team placing the order although this is subject to the 14-day cooling off period for regulated customers. Delivery can only happen on Monday-Friday and between 8.30-5.50. Once you receive the vehicle, any further adjustments or queries can be handled by the app - Manage My Vehicle.

One of the amazing EVs we hope to have on the re-lease scheme is the Polestar 4. This luxury SUV is on a great deal currently (with Lex) which means that it should appear on the stock list at some point in the near future. Two derivatives of this model are available with the:

•  Long Range Single Motor - from £58,490 (as at Jan 2025); and
•  Long Range Dual Motor - from £65,490 (as at Jan 2025).

As standard, the vehicle includes heated and folding electric door mirrors, LED headlights, approach puddle light, rain sensing wipers, flush e-latch door handles, UV and noise-reducing glass, 8-way adjustable seats, heated front seats, climate control, pre-conditioning, CleanZone air filtering, wireless charging, 10” driver display, 15” centre display, high-performance audio, digital key, front/rear sensors with 360 degree camera, adaptive cruise control, advanced driver assistance system, collision avoidance, lane keeping aid, blind spot information, post-impact braking and alarm.

In terms of additional options, consider the Pilot Pack (for Pilot Assist and Lane Change Assist), Pro Pack (21” Pro Wheels and Swedish gold striped seats) or the Performance Pack (for 22” alloys, Engineered chassis tuning, Brembo brakes and Swedish gold accents). A fully-electrically retractable towbar is available for £1,460.

In terms of the car shown, the Polestar 4 ESTATE 400kW 100kWh LR DM Plus [Pilot/Pro] 5dr Auto Pure Electric Vehicle, this is based on the following specification:

• Electron - Metallic paint
•  Tailored knit cloth - Mist with Zinc deco
•  21" Pro alloy wheels
•  Privacy glass (rear side windows only)
•  Mode 3 / Type 2 Charging Cable (Public Charging & home wallbox charger – Fast charging)

And how does the Polestar 4 Estate 400kW LR perform?

• Long Range Dual Motor - the AWD SUV option will have a 94 kWh usable battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 3.8 seconds, 124 mph top speeds and 400 kW (or 536 hp). Expect a combined winter range of 245 miles with warmer weather allowing for 325 miles. On charging, the 22 kW AC max will allow 5 hours and 15 min 0 – 100% charging times with the 200 kW DC maximum allowing 31 minute 10 – 80% times. A cargo volume of 526L is available with this car. It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 123 mpg. This option can tow 750kg (unbraked) and 1500kg (braked). There will be Bidirectional charging with the V2L announced for this option. A Heat Pump is standard.

Just click for our latest used-EV leasing deals for our new Polestar 4 deals .

Need more information just get in touch with our team on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected]