Your Definitive Guide to the Cupra Born electric car lease

The Cupra Born electric car Lease - Your Definitive Guide

The range of an electric car is often the big conversation opener on making the transition into battery technology with your car (or van). Whether you are looking to lease a new or used EV option, this should always form part of your decision - making process as the 2 / 3 / 4 year contract will soon seem like a large undertaking if it transpires the vehicle is not suitable for your needs or requirements.

In a recent publication from The Telegraph  there were questions asked about the robustness of an electric vehicle for a high mileage driver; which for the driver concerned was some 3,000 in 3 months or 12,000 miles per annum.

As a starter, the journalist undertaking the deep-dive into the world of high-mileage and electric cars is clear that he does not have a charge point at home. Whether this was due to the inability to have one, or just as a means to appreciate the full extent of the conundrum, is not particularly clear.

Using a Ford Mach-e RWD, the quest reveals some of the nuances, challenges and “problems” of using an EV in the UK as at 2024. The underlying theme is that the WLTP quote performance on range / efficiency expectation did not match the realities of the real-world.

Further to that, experience with charge points in the public network is somewhat mixed with some not available, others not delivering the stated power and some inconvenient to access.

Charge points in the public network are another topic entirely and this has been adequately covered within many of our blogs, guides and reviews. Indeed, most of the apparent issues with the charging network can be somewhat overcome by the Zap Map app which helps you to understand where to charge, how quick the experience will be and how much it will cost.

On the latter element, because of the cost of installing charging  facilities and the application of VAT on the charging sessions, this is undeniably an expensive proposition. This is why the e-car team insist on our customers installing home charge points where this is possible.

The range aspect of the article, which is not overly critiqued, is another aspect which does need to be properly addressed. Even at 2024, many car manufacturers, dealerships and leasing organisations still use the WLTP combined analysis for range.

With the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), the test cycle for an electric vehicle is performed in laboratory conditions and involves exhausting the battery from 100% to 0% under specific guidelines. Since there are slightly different cycles, these are aggregated to create the combined figure which is the crux of the offering. This does lead to some customers raising issues with their EVs, which do not always adhere to the mileage advertised because their driving conditions, behaviours and styles do not properly accord to it. So are EVs purposively misleading?

There is no outward conspiracy or underlying need to overstate the ability of the product. There just hasn’t been an agreed process of what information should be offered to customers and in what format.

The Labour Government has suggested that battery certifications and selling standards does need to be addressed within the EV mandate but nothing has yet been agreed or confirmed. However, there are businesses (like ours) which have been doing something more practical with potential electric car, and van, customers before their commitment. On our website, and within our EVC™ certificate, we set out:

•  City Driving - in cold and mild weather;
•  Highway - in cold and mild weather; and
•  Combined - in cold and mild weather.

Weather, especially colder winter climates, will impact the efficiency of your battery. This is even more pertinent in cases where you don’t have a domestic charge point and not using this to pre-condition your battery on a cold morning. The speed of your vehicle will also influence the efficiency, with quicker / longer motorway journeys impacting the range far more than stop/start driving in urban and city. Electric cars / vans are far more efficient in these scenarios and without any tailpipe emissions, these are helping to improve the air quality.

Taking into consideration the real-world scenario will help you to appreciate the impact on your lifestyle. Not every EV will be suitable for your needs and requirements, which is why we insist on our customers taking all of this into account before moving ahead with our expert team.           
          

In terms of the car shown, the Cupra BORN ELECTRIC HATCHBACK 150kW V2 58kWh 5dr Auto (Pure Electric), this is based on the following specification:

•  Nevada White  Metallic Paint
•  SEAQUAL Yarn cloth - Black
•  19" Typhoon machined alloy wheels
•  Mode 3 / Type 2 Charging Cable (Public Charging & home wallbox charger - Fast charging)

This has a usable battery of 58 kWh which offers 150 kW (201hp), top speeds of 99 mph and 0-62 times of 7.3 seconds. Real-world ranges suggest a combined 180 miles in colder weather with warmer temperatures to allow for 250 miles (on a full charge).

The 11kW AC allows for 0-100% charging times of 6 hour and 15 minutes with the 124kW DC enabling 10-80% in 31 minutes. The hot hatch has no Bidirectional charging. It has a 150 mpg equivalent, 385L cargo volume and offers no towing capacities. There is no heat pump on this EV.

Need more help and advice on your new Born? Just get in touch with our team on 01942 910 001 or by emailing us at [email protected]

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