Car choice: How to go electric

Alan Sutcliffe is interested in running an electric car and wants to know about purchase costs and which one is best for value and build

The Leaf’s electric motor, fed by 48 lithium-ion cells, gives it measly running costs of just 2p per mile (Nissan)

A Car for the Head

The Nissan Leaf is the best known fully electric car, and it enjoys a deserved reputation for being reliable and well made. Indeed, the Leaf is made in Britain, so we should be proud of that. The simple option might be to buy a used one. Prices start at £6,000 for a 2014 example; however, you will need to lease the battery at around £70 a month, often coming with a lifetime guarantee. It is possible to buy a new Leaf at £199 over 25 months, with a £1,000 deposit contribution from Nissan and free insurance and servicing.

The Zoe interior is taken straight from the Renault Clio so it’s modern and comes with plenty of technology (Renault)

A Car for the Heart

The Renault Zoe is the cheeky, well-styled and fun-to-drive take on electric. Used ones start at £5,500 plus the monthly battery lease cost. A new Zoe is available from £18,443 after Government Plug-in Car Grant, plus battery hire from £25 per month. A “Full Purchase” means a choice between full ownership of the vehicle and the battery, or buy-the-car/hire-the-battery schemes. There’s also good news for those who prefer the peace of mind and lower purchase cost of battery hire, with a special offer of lower monthly rates for the Zoe. So there are plenty of buying options in this new arena.