Have you ever considered hiring an electric vehicle for your daily work commutes? If you hire a BMW i3 or any other EV on the market, it could in fact save you a lot of money in the long run. View our most frequently asked questions by London commuters below.
Q. I WORK IN LONDON AND COMMUTE DAILY BY CAR, BUT IT IS SO EXPENSIVE. IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE MY JOURNEY CHEAPER WITHOUT USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT?
A. As many drivers know, the London Congestion Charge (LCC) and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) are both unwanted costs to bear, yet very necessary for reducing carbon emissions in the capital.
During the first Covid-19 lockdown, these charges were suspended to help critical workers get to their place of employment and for essential deliveries to take place. This meant that those travelling in the congestion zones saved over £20 a day. This does not sound like a huge burden to bear, however over the course of a week, that is a significant amount of money.
With Covid-19 vaccinations increasing and the UK returning to normality, more drivers are on the roads, meaning more vehicles are burning diminishing fossil fuels. Therefore the dreaded LCC and ULEZ charges are back. In addition, as of June 22, 2020, the LCC fee has increased from £11.50 to £15 per day, and now operates seven days a week, between the hours of 7am and 10pm, rather than 7am until 6pm.
Q. SHOULD YOU CONSIDER PUBLIC TRANSPORT?
A. Public transport take up is on the rise, however still down considerably compared to pre-lockdown levels. The general public is still cautious with regards to their travel and understandably so. Public transport can be a breeding ground for germs with multiple touchpoint surfaces and difficulties in terms of being able to social distance. This is one reason why city workers are still reluctant to return to their London based offices. Put this together with public transport delays and the average yearly train cost of a commute into London coming to £5,114 (i.e. 18% of the average annual London net salary post-tax), it is no wonder why London workers are looking at other transport options.
Q. So, what is the answer between balancing cheaper journey costs and burning diminishing fossil fuels?
A. One answer is to drive an electric vehicle. EV adoption is on the rise with electric vehicle registrations continuing to grow in numbers. In May 2021, there were 22,975 new registrations (13,120 BEVs and 9,855 PHEVs).
Until 2025, all purely electric cars, vans and other electric vehicles are currently Congestion Charge-exempt, because they have zero tailpipe emissions. This means if you purchase a fully electric vehicle and register it with Transport for London (TfL) you won’t have to pay the London Congestion Charge. In addition, electric vehicles are exempt from paying the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charge.
The average list price of an electric vehicle is currently set at around £35,000 which is double that of a brand new conventional vehicle. Whilst some may feel however that buying an EV is a little steep, there are other options available, such as renting an EV. For example, renting a BMW i3 from EVision Electric Vehicles, will cost £5040 including VAT per year, based on a 3 year rental period. That is £74 less per year than paying for public transport, all with the added benefits of keeping safe by literally being in your own bubble.
Hire a BMW i3 from EVision
Renting a BMW i3 from EVision comes with other advantages too, including a free charging cable and free EV charging point which can be installed at your home address or place of work. It also includes a 20,000 annual mileage allowance. As well as maintenance and service costs included.
To find out more about EVision Electric Vehicles and to discover the wide range of EV rental options available, visit www.evisionevs.co.uk or call EVision Headquarters on 01634 914063.
