Lease an Outlander PHEV in the UK with electricity included

[TrevorLarkum]

I have had a Renault ZOE for more than a year (and blogged about it at MyRenaultZoe.com) and become a dyed-in-the-wool plug-in evangelist (or 'plug-in bore' to my family) but I'd like to do more. Since about Christmas I've been thinking about how I could get more involved in 'spreading the faith'. In particular I've been working on a business idea for a UK company specialising in leasing electric cars to the public (PHEVs and BEVs). Although I'm a huge fan of the ZOE, numbers wise I suspect most customers will be interested in the LEAF, i3 and Mitsubishi Outlander.

The 'unique selling point' would be that electricity would be included in the monthly cost, just like you get so many minutes in your mobile phone contract. With matching the right car to the customer, this means that commuting becomes free - I think this will be a big selling point.

I have found a company that can put together a suitable website, and am going ahead with the idea. I also think there's simply a gap for a UK website that gives comparative information on the various plugins that are currently on the market or are coming soon.

Longer term the business will diversify to offer solar panels, home battery storage, etc. to its drivers. For example, a solar panel installation could be done for about £150 per month added to the car lease cost.

Anyway, I would be interested in any feedback and comments from existing PHEV owners, particularly those who have leased and whether having electricity included in the monthly cost would have been attractive. Basically, is the idea a goer?

Fuel Included Website

[Note to moderators: if you think this discussion is too commercial, or in the wrong place, just say the word]

 

[terry]

hi I am new but the idea of solar panels is good as I used them for years to charge my caravan battery's up

 

[TrevorLarkum]

Thanks. I think people are missing out - most home owners in the UK could be running at least half their house and car energy usage from solar panels, at least with the help of solar storage. The costs of storage are going down currently, just like the cost of solar panels did in the past.

 

[TrevorLarkum]

Latest lease prices are now available - note these are 'fuel (electricity) included' so anyone who commutes less than 23-30 miles gets their motoring for free:

Fuel Included Deals

Cheapest option is, of course, the GX3h - it's currently about £310pm for 10000 miles per year.

 

[Andy123]

Great concept - had a read of the website and couldn't see anything about how the electricity tariff works? Is fuelincluded an electricity supplier?

 

[TrevorLarkum]

No, although we encourage the customer to change to a renewable supplier like Ecotricity or GoodEnergy, they can use whoever they want. When we get the charge point installed we pay a bit extra to get a small meter included with it, then whatever electricity is used by the charge point we refund back to the customer (by bank transfer).

This has two purposes:

1. There is no net cost to the customer for electricity, i.e. their motoring is free, up to the agreed mileage (say 10000 miles pa).
2. The motoring cost to the customer is fixed, regardless of whether electricity costs actually rise over the lease period.

 

[Andy123]

Great, thanks - love the concept.