Why cheaper charging rules are helping UK salary sacrifice customers enjoy a more affordable charging experience on their Used Polestar EV lease!

UK salary sacrifice customers are enjoying a more affordable charging experience on their Used Polestar EV lease - Helped by cheaper charging rules

The backbone of residual values and driver confidence is dictated to us by the used car market in the UK.

For BEVs, this is perhaps something we didn’t quite realise or think about in detail during 2020 when the mass-adoption transition began. The reality is that many ex-lease cars, at 2, 3 and 4 years old, had to go to an end user somewhere. This is where an obvious skills and infrastructure gap was found.

However, as we push through 2026, there has been a truly heartening approach to used electric cars, as more individuals, businesses and salary sacrifice schemes adopt them. As these users enjoy the likewise benefits of electrification which new options offer, the ability to have a well-specified stock vehicle at a healthy discount is a good motivator to make the move into the used electric market.

In a recent announcement (21 October 2026) the UK Government confirmed some more great news for electric car drivers, with the removal of planning permission for cross-pavement chargers. As published on .Gov those without a driveway will no longer have to manage the regulations and cross-pavement rules which have been making charging at home difficult and expensive.

With the process costing some homeowners up to £300, this is being recognised as a great cost-saving measure by the Government to allow the next tranche of the UK’s EV car customers access the growing phenomenon. The reality is that for those without a driveway, the cost of organising and installing a home charge point is expensive and complicated.

But if they do not go ahead with this, the ability to access dedicated home charge tariffs, which allows overnight charging at around 7 – 10 pence per kWh, is removed. Bear in mind, the rationale about an EV is the cost-savings and sage financial decisions.

Our partners over at the EVA have been instrumental in this, with their CEO Vicky Edmonds commenting – “This might look like a small planning change, but for someone without a driveway, it could make the difference between being able to afford an electric car and ruling one out altogether. Removing the need for planning permission for cross-pavement charging is a really welcome and meaningful step towards a fairer transition.
Our research found that 60% of petrol and diesel drivers without off-street parking would never consider an EV. Being able to connect a car parked on the street to cheaper home electricity could help change that. It’s now up to local authorities and landlords to make these solutions easier to access in practice.”

This is all about doing the right thing for the British public and allowing those who are in more desperate need of the charging solution to be supported in their endeavour. With rising fuel costs and pressures on households, access to pure electric vehicle could be the welcome assistance.

The small business and salary sacrifice market are very much enjoying the  used electric programme  we are running with the mix of high-end Audi, Jaguar and Porsche product being underpinned by excellent value options from Kia, Renault and Cupra.

As many businesses are now using the cost agnostic salary sacrifice scheme, this allows UK drivers to enjoy the tax savings through EV leasing. Rather than using your net income (after tax and deductions) a salary sacrifice scheme allows an employer to support the employee by utilising their gross income before income tax and National Insurance.

This is why you see salary sacrifice adverts suggesting savings of 20 – 40%, because you are not utilising your hard-earned (and tax paid) income.

Salary sacrifice schemes will be different between providers and finance companies, but the whole ethos of the scheme is relatively similar. The employee will engage with a finance company, or group of companies via a leasing broker, and will enable an employee to use their gross income to pay for the vehicle, the maintenance / servicing / tyres / breakdown recovery, motor insurance (in some cases) and early termination protection or assurance (in some cases).

There has to be a set understanding between the employee and employer relating to the various risks and obligations of the vehicle, as the lease will be in the employer’s name. In cases of issue, or default, the employer must understand what their risk is to the finance company and what recourse they might have with the employee.

The contract of employment should always be reviewed and updated where necessary. The big advantage being a salary sacrifice scheme is that you will boost employee morale and retention, grow the company’s sustainability score and help a new swathe of drivers utilise a better motoring solution. For the employer there are some notable tax savings; it is not all one-way traffic.

For the e-car team, we have experienced an array of small to medium businesses enjoying the used programme, including this Northern Ireland based driver who visited our premises to collect their Polestar 2. The e-car team are proud to offer Northern Irish businesses with a used electric car lease solution, as this has been an area of confusion for some time. While you can use our website to access the great deals, the logistics of the arrangement need to be clear:

•  BCA (the logistics agent) can deliver to the UK port, so that the Northern Irish customer can meet them there and sign / confirm the vehicle;
•  Arrange delivery directly to the registered address in Northern Ireland. The additional cost of moving the vehicle from the UK to NI must be paid for by the company; or 
•  Arrange the vehicle to be delivered to the e-car premises and collect the vehicle from our expert team.

In terms of the car shown, the Polestar 2 FASTBACK 170kW 69kWh Standard Range SM [Plus] 5dr Auto (Pure Electric Vehicle), this is based on the following configuration:

•  Space Black Special Metallic Paint
•  Weave Tech cloth - Plus pack - Charcoal with black ash deco
•  19" 5-Double spoke black diamond cut alloy wheels
•  Mode 3/ Type 2 Charging Cable (Public Charging & home wallbox charger - Fast Charging) 

How does the Polestar 2 perform?

As a new car this would offer (subject to degradation and performance):

•  Standard Range Single Motor –  the usable battery of 67 kWh offers 170 kW of power (or 228hp), 0 – 62 times of 7.4 seconds and top speeds of 99mph. In terms of range, expect a combined range in colder temperatures of 200 miles and 275 miles combined in warmer temperature (on a full charge). On charging times / speeds, the 11 kW AC max allows a 0 – 100% charge in just over 7 hours and the rapid charging max of 130 kW DC allowing 10 – 80% in just over 30 mins. This is an improvement on the previous 61 kWh option;

Need more help and advice on your used EV for 2026 / 2027?

Head to the Polestar brand website to build your perfect option or just get in touch with our expert team on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected]