Charging my new Tesla lease car

Charging my new Tesla lease car - how does it work?

The move towards electric vehicles (EVs) has continued to grow. We are in a situation where we have to say to customers - why are you not driving an EV? For many customers, this represents a cost-efficient, green and practical experience. Also add to that the fact that many electric cars are simply better to drive than the combustion alternatives. In a recent BVRLA survey  it was shown that the average CO2 emissions for new car registrations fell below 100g/km, with many fleets now having at least 5% of their fleet as a pure electric option.

The BVRLA estimate some 400,000 electric cars and vans will be supplied by the BVRLA members by 2025. With the impending 2030 deadline for combustion engines, this is no surprise and the broker/fleet community may well supply more! But with the growth in volume, we will need to ensure that training, education, process and infrastructure is in place to ensure the transition is handled properly. The BVRLA is now working with the Government to help feedback knowledge and experience of charging across the UK.

Can I charge my Tesla at home? How long does it take to charge my EV at home?

Every business handles electric car leasing processes differently. However, as one of the leading electric car leasing experts in the UK, the e-car lease team have devised some key measures to ensure that a customer has a positive experience. In conjunction with a quotation, we will send key information on a number of pertinent points, including the notion of charging (at home and while out in public). To bolster this effort, we will send a “key facts” document at the point of order asking a customer to confirm a charge point solution has been put in place.

We have heard about customers receiving pure electric vehicles with no charge point infrastructure in place and having conducted no research into how or when they will charge their vehicle. Of course, this will only lead to significant problems and poor user experience throughout the contract. For a customer getting a Tesla, they can arrange for a domestic charge point to be installed before delivery. However, this will be subject to a survey, as the customer’s housing arrangement and infrastructure will need to be sufficient. For example, do you have off-road parking? Do you have modern electric infrastructure?

For a Tesla driver, they may go directly to the manufacturer for their own charge point solutions.  As you will see, for Tesla customers there are some great offers for a charge point. From £500 (plus installation) you can arrange for a wall connector to be installed at your home. This will arrive with both a 2.5 and 7.5m tethered cable. In terms of charging speeds, most domestic homes will allow a charge rate of 7.4kW (or 19-27 miles) per hour. However, the wall connector can actually offer up to 22kW of charge for your EV. As a real example, please see the charging times for your new Tesla below:

Tesla guide to home charging
 

But is charging my Tesla cheaper than petrol/diesel/gas?

For most EV-drivers, the Zap-Map App clearly highlights via Google Maps an array of electric charge points -  some 23,234 devices in 14,842 locations!

For our more educated customers, they will research some of the leading energy deals via Uswitch or they will speak to the leading EV-energy company, Octopus Energy. If you find a competitive deal, you will often see enhanced rates from as little as 5p KWH for overnight charging. In comparison to fuelling a combustion vehicle, this represents a significant saving. A full tank of electric could cost under £5!

If you don’t want to commit to a Tesla charge point, you can get in contact with a number of manufacturers including Andersen,  PodPoint  or ChargePoint. Customers, personal or business, are welcome to get in touch with these companies directly. They are able to speak to you about the cost and practical implications of charge point installation at your residence or place of work; there are a range of charge point installations available for businesses running a fleet of Tesla vehicles and these elements need proper consideration. As a credit and leasing broker, we cannot recommend that you use any particular manufacturer, we can only provide you with the right information so that you get a solution which meets your needs and requirements.

What happens if my Tesla runs out of charge?

The obvious point is that an EV needs to be charged appropriately to operate. In effect, the vehicle will fail to operate in the same way that if your combustion engine ran out of petrol/diesel/gas. The term “range anxiety” is used to describe this concern of an electric vehicle running out of charge. The chance of running out of charge is actually very slim and it happens very infrequently.

Tesla MODEL 3 SALOON Long Range AWD 4door Auto

In terms of the car shown, the Tesla MODEL 3 SALOON Long Range AWD 4door Auto (Pure Electric Vehicle), this is based on the following configuration:

• Red Additional Multicoat Paint
• Premium material - Black PUR seat
• Premium heated seating and cabin materials throughout, including open pore wood décor and two rear USBs
• 19" Silver sports wheels

As standard, the car includes 18” alloys, base autopilot, emergency braking and collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control, front parking sensor, park assist camera, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic camera.

Reverse parking aid, power boot lid, BLIS, navigation, 15” touchscreen, DAB radio, premium audio, LED headlights and daytime running lights, climate control, tinted glass roof, ambient interior lighting.

12-way power adjustable heated front and rear seats, 60/40 split folding seats, keyless entry and alarm/immobiliser. In terms of additional options, consider adding - 19” alloys or the enhanced autopilot.

On the technical side, company car and business users can note the P11d at £50,535.00 and CO2 at 0g/km. The useable battery of 70kWh offers a real range of around 285 miles (taking into account winter and summer) and a  standard 7.4kW home charging unit will offer full charge in around 11 hours (0-100%).

A rapid charging unit of 150kW (which many Tesla Superchargers are) will get 10-80% charge in 36 minutes. With 0-62 times of 4.4 seconds on the Tesla LR and top speeds of 145mph, this is anything other than a boring car to use.

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