Welcoming the Alpine brand (and the A290) to the Electric Car Lease website

Electric Car Lease welcome the Alpine brand (and the A290) to our website

Politics is very much alive this week (22 January 2025) with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the USA President. An influential figure, and leading businessman, Trump’s move into power has brought tongues wagging on how the US will approach the sale of EVs following the Biden administration.

We have not waited long, with Trump’s team already revoking the 2030 mandate that at least 50% of vehicles sold must be pure electric. As part of his “welcome to office” speech Trump was clear to make a firm decision on vehicle policy, in that Green New Deals would not be pursued nor would targets and limits be imposed on the manufacturers.

With support from automakers, USA are aiming to be a global superpower again, with automotive manufacture to feature as a key element. The feelings on this are not universal, with many environmental groups criticising the President’s callous and flamboyant approach to the EV mandate.

Not unlike the UK, there is divided opinion on how we are to balance the environment, air quality, vehicle affordability and automotive practicality.

We also need to remember that countries are very different financially, culturally and logistically. In more rural areas, with limited charging and longer travelling obligations, an EV is considered as unviable and impractical especially if this is more expensive than a combustion like-for-like.

But in more urban zones, where commutes are smaller and the dangers of air pollution are more prevalent, more considered thought needs to be applied. What influence the USA will have on the UK, especially with Elon Musk supporting the American premier, is an interesting conundrum for 2025 (and beyond).

But in the UK, and Europe, it is very much business as usual in terms of moving our retail and fleet transport across to battery technology.

Flying the flag for the movement is the French-based Renault group, who have been more than active in creating a litany of functional and aesthetically-pleasing product. However, their motorsport sidearm, Alpine, are now joining the industry.

Launching the A290 hatchback to begin with, this modified 5 e-tech is bringing something a little special to the UK leasing market. Akin to the Max Power and Fast Car generation, the masculine Alpine hatch could bring a new demographic to the zero-emission market.

Dispelling the myth that this type of transport is somehow boring or understated is important. What we don’t want to happen is that as the ZEV Mandate continues to increase and push a higher proportion of EVs through, customers feel let down by the quality of the product being offered. With a future A390 SUV on the horizon, the Alpine EV is no flash in the pan.

But how does the electric Alpine A290 perform?

Two electric motor configurations will feature including:

•  180HP - with a usable battery of 52 kWh which offers 130kW (174hp), top speeds of 99 mph and 0-62 times of 7.4 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined  160 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 220 miles (on a full charge) - 190 miles combined . The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 5 hour and 45 minutes with the 100 kW DC enabling 10-80% in 33 minutes. The A290 has Bidirectional charging – V2L via a 3.7kW AC Type 2 Adapter and V2H and V2G announced. It has a 148 mpg equivalent, 326L cargo volume and offers towing capacities of 500kg. The Heat Pump is standard; and

•  220HP - with a usable battery of 52 kWh which offers 160kW (215hp), top speeds of 106 mph and 0-62 times of 6.4 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 155 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 215 miles (on a full charge) - 185 miles combined . The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 5 hour and 45 minutes with the 100 kW DC enabling 10-80% in 33 minutes. The A290 has Bidirectional charging – V2L via a 3.7kW AC Type 2 Adapter and V2H and V2G announced. It has a 144 mpg equivalent, 326L cargo volume and offers towing capacities of 500kg.The Heat Pump is standard.

For more information on our personal or business contract hire solutions, just get in touch with our expert e-car lease team here. Or head to our designated Alpine section.

Browse our Alpine A290 Deals