In May Glass’s released the first value comparison between an EV with battery included, an EV with a leased battery and a range-extender EV.
Its research showed that a vehicle that includes the battery in the purchase cost would retain 35% of its value after three years/36,000 miles but that a similar EV with a leased battery should retain 54% of its original value over the same period.
A range-extender EV, which drives on electric power but gets additional electric power from a petrol engine, is likely to retain 43% of its value.
Glass’s says an equivalent diesel vehicle would retain 44% of its value over three years/36,000 miles.
Glass’s boss Andy Carroll said: “The use of whole life costs is the only way to assess the new powertrain technologies and differing business models. Our analysis shows that the new wave of vehicles is economically viable even before taking allowance of local incentives. The battery leasing option is attractive for the buyer as it not only means the initial purchase price is closer to a conventional vehicle, but also removes the uncertainty of battery durability and replacement cost.”
Glass’s found that the cost per mile over three years also works out cheapest for the EV with a leased battery.
In the van sector Renault is to sell its ZE Kangoo from September for £17,000 with the battery leased for £59 per month while Ford is to sell its Azure Transit Connect from this summer for an all inclusive price of £39,995.
Vauxhall revealed its Vivaro e-Concept, an electric van with an extended range of up to 250 miles at the Hanover show in September 2010.
