The fuel crisis: Will the UK turn towards electric cars?

UK fuel crisis: Do we all need electric vehicles?

There’s not enough petrol or diesel remaining - buying or leasing an electric car is the only solution surely? If you were to believe the media reports currently circulating the UK at present, you may be led to believe that operating a fossil fuel vehicle is becoming more risky. Only today, 28 September, the BBC reported that the Army may be called in to help distribute the fuel and regulate how customers are buying it.

The current situation is somewhat unsightly and the reaction from a minority of the public has created an issue of panic buying and anxiety which had no need to arise. As the BBC further added in their reports the volumes of fuel people are looking to procure is increasing massively and retailers are doubling and trebling their normal outputs, which is creating the closures of pumps.

What is compounding these current events is the sheer volume of social media and general media posts pertaining to a lack of fuel. As a society we are now almost too connected and quite quickly we can be flooded with images, opinions and statistics which do nothing more than add unnecessary stress. Long traffic queues, lack of fuel and frustrations at fuel pumps do not help the UK move forward in light of the recent COVID issues.

So is there a fuel crisis? According to major oil and gas companies we have nothing to worry about and this is simply a logistic issue that has hit a specific market. It has already been well publicised that the HGV industry is experiencing significant demands and the industry lacks the necessary resources to accommodate this. Is this due to Brexit and European drivers leaving the UK? Is this a result of the IR35 reform which is affecting the financial benefits of contractors? Or is the demand for goods/services online impacting the way in which the UK society operates?

There’s not enough petrol or diesel remaining - buying or leasing an electric car is the only solution surely?

The truth is probably a mix of many factors but what it does highlight is a need to carefully disseminate information and for the UK society to recognise that we need to act far more carefully and respectfully with each other. We have existed in an era of panic and anxiety for far too long.

How easy is it for you or the business to get an electric car?

So should we be going for an electric car now? The events of last week have almost certainly increased enquires for the e-car lease team. As reported in the Guardian the notion of moving to electric is very much on the agenda for most personal and business leasing customers.

While we do not advocate rushing into a purchasing or leasing decision based on a short-term issue, the events have certainly unsettled many combustion engine drivers, as this demonstrates that petrol and diesel cannot always be relied on. For existing EV drivers, there was a smug sense of satisfaction in that making the transition to an EV was a new one. But, as we will always state, moving to EVs should be done on a measured basis, having considered the full picture.

As highlighted by the EVA in the Guardian article, there are other reasons to move into an electric car without taking into account these fuel shortages, such as the ongoing climate challenges, cost of fuel, and the driving experience you get from an EV. Will we see more customers moving to EV following these events? Will more customers invest into solar technology and a battery storage facility to make them more self-sufficient? There are some big questions being asked and the UK may be on the cusp of making some serious lifestyle changes.

But is an electric car for every personal and business customer? While we want to encourage all of our customers to enjoy the best electric car leasing deals on our industry-leading website, we do stress that every leasing decision must be based on an informed choice. This includes, but is by no means limited to, a customer’s understanding of the contract hire/leasing products, maintenance costs, range of the car, battery size, charging speeds, charging infrastructure and the EV lifestyle.

As you will see from our amazing new website from the Lythium team the information we supply to customers goes well beyond that of many other leasing brokers and car dealerships. Quite frankly, many of our competitors have not fully integrated into the EV sector and do not possess the knowledge that is needed to help that transition to EVs. However, there are also some great schemes being run by public bodies, Governmental organisations, and EV enthusiasts to help better prepare businesses to make that transition and go through an education.

As you will see from the attachment , the Energy Saving Trust have put together an initiative to help customers investigate the benefits of electric vehicles.

Available on the Energy Savings Trust website, or by following the information on the information below, the project is allowing businesses to understand FOR FREE just what the implications are for utilising EVs. This will include topics like total cost of ownership (whole of life costs), public charging, renewable energy initiatives and procurement.

A big thank you to our existing fleet customer, Eco2Solar for photos of their latest EV - the UK’s bestselling electric car, which is the Tesla Model 3. As one of the UK’s leading experts in electrical tech like solar photovoltaic, energy storage and EVs in the new build and commercial markets, it is only apt that they are making a transition to electric cars.

Going back to our original point regarding “fuel shortages”, Eco2Solar are creating ways in which domestic households and businesses can not only minimise the risk of energy disruption via shortages or price increases but how we can prepare the UK for the next generation of energy independence and climate preservation. Click here for more information on how solar can assist you or your business in your EV transition.

Tesla Model 3 Saloon Long Range AWD 4dr Auto (Pure Electric Vehicle)

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

Tesla Model 3 Saloon Long Range AWD 4dr Auto Electric Car Leasing Salary Sacrifice

Enhanced autopilot - Pearlescent multi coat
Premium material - Black and white with dash trims
Premium open pore wood décor
Enhanced autopilot - this includes navigation on autopilot, auto lane change, autopark, summon and smart summon

As standard the Tesla Long Range includes 12-way power adjustable seats with lumbar support, 15” touchscreen, 60/40 split folding seats, adaptive cruise control, adaptive steering, alarm, ambient interior lighting, auto dimming rear view mirror, automated high beam assist.

Automatic emergency braking and collision avoidance, BLIS, DAB radio, front and rear parking sensors, heated front and rear seats, immobiliser, keyless driving, keyless entry, LED headlights and running lights, navigation, lane departure warning, premium audio with 14 speakers, reversing camera, speed limit recognition, tinted glass sunroof and traffic sign recognition. Consider the additional options like the 19” alloy wheels.

On the technical side, company car and salary sacrifice customers can note the P11d at £48,435.00 and CO2 at 0g/km. The 70kWh usable lithium-ion battery delivers a range of around 235 miles in winter and 325 miles in summer - an overall real range of 280 miles.

Do bear in mind that your driving style and behaviours are influential on the range. In terms of the performance, the car offers 0-62 times of 4.4 seconds, 434ps and top speeds of 145mph. In terms of charging rate, the Tesla Model 3 has a maximum charging speed of 11kW AC (which offers 0-100% in around 7 hours) and a 210kW DC rapid charge rate (which offers 10-80% in 30 mins). Service intervals are every 24 months on the Tesla Model 3.

For a full AC charging time analysis on the Tesla Model 3 Long Range, please see below: