- Brand new Dacia Spring available from £112/month via The Electric Car Scheme*
- TfL Zone 1-2 monthly travelcard costs £171.70
- Lower than many entertainment and gym subscriptions in London
Electric vehicles are now within reach of more drivers than ever before, with The Electric Car Scheme revealing that monthly lease costs can be lower than everyday commuting and lifestyle expenses.
The all-electric Dacia Spring, offering a driving range of approximately 140 miles, can be leased via salary sacrifice for just £112 a month. This rate—based on a four-year lease and 5,000 miles of annual driving—includes MOT, servicing, maintenance and tyres. It comes in well under the current cost of a monthly TfL travelcard for Zones 1-2, priced at £171.70.
In addition to undercutting commuting costs, the Dacia Spring lease is also more affordable than several popular discretionary spends. A Sky TV package loaded with extras can exceed £125 per month, while luxury gyms like Virgin Active Bromley charge £119.99 a month.
Despite the growing popularity of EVs, affordability continues to be the number one concern for drivers. A survey by The Electric Car Scheme found 54% of people named it as the biggest barrier to switching, far ahead of worries around range or reliability.
Used EV Options from Under £200/Month
Alongside new models, second-hand EVs have surged in popularity and now make up roughly half of all EV leases through The Electric Car Scheme. Drivers can get behind the wheel of a used FIAT 500E from £193 a month, or a MINI ELECTRIC for £198.
CEO and Co-Founder Thom Groot said:
“Electric Vehicles are getting more affordable and therefore accessible every day and this effect is only set to gather pace as more people make the leap to an EV and as more models become available on the second-hand market. We expect March to be a record month for EV uptake, potentially topping 35% of all new car sales for the very first time, and at prices such as this it is hardly a surprise, especially considering the upcoming increases in Road Tax for petrol and diesel models.
We know that the main concern for drivers is, affordability, which was the biggest barrier for 54% of Brits, way out in front of any concerns around range, reliability or resale value. This is why we started The Electric Car Scheme, to make EVs more affordable and help increase uptake ahead of the coming phase-out of traditional cars.”
