The British government is continuing to work toward ambitious sustainability targets, and as a result, there are various grants and incentives available which form one of the most attractive electric car benefits for businesses. 

The exact details of UK government incentives for electric cars vary. However, there are several relating to electric commercial vehicles. For electric cars, businesses are able to obtain up to a 35% (or £2,500, whichever is the lower) discount from the purchase price of these vehicles; whether used as part of a business fleet or as a company car option for employees.

One real, tangible benefit of an electric fleet of vehicles for any business is their ongoing running costs. These costs are significantly lower than those incurred by petrol and diesel vehicles. According to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, the cost of running an electric vehicle is somewhere between two to four pence per mile: dependent on how and when it is charged. 

More traditional vehicles cost between ten to fourteen pence per mile, with payable UK mileage rates for expenses at around forty-five pence a mile. This impressive saving can equate to between 80–90% of ongoing fuel costs for a business – a saving unrivalled by most sustainable transportation options.

Comprehensive CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and thorough sustainability planning are no longer a ‘nice to have’ in corporate circles, but rather a business ‘must have’. Moving a fleet over to electric commercial vehicles or beginning to offer such choices as company cars to employees, demonstrates a business’ commitment to environmental issues and creates not just a positive PR story but also the opportunity to give back to the world in which it operates.

Innovative technological developments in electric transport mean that there are zero tailpipe emissions from these vehicles and between 15–40% less CO2 emissions made over the vehicle’s lifetime (compared to a similar-sized petrol car; this will be more for a diesel car).