Top 5 Long-Range EVs to Salary Sacrifice in 2024
Electric cars have come a long way in the past ten years. To see this progress, you only need to remember that in 2011 the original Nissan LEAF could only travel 109 miles before needing a recharge - you couldn't drive from London to Birmingham! Nowadays, the best electric cars can cross entire countries without running out of battery.
Many people don't need a car with a 400 or 300-mile range if they have a short daily commute or can charge the car at home. For some potential electric car buyers, the fear of running out of power on longer journeys is a concern. An EV with a longer range means you can travel further without stopping to charge, or it can simply mean you won't have to charge your car as often.
Having a long range can be a nice feature of the latest high-end electric cars with big batteries. But it's important to think carefully about how much range you really need, rather than just getting as much as your budget allows. Generally, a larger range means a bigger, heavier, and more expensive battery, which can impact the car's weight and therefore, the charging cost. If a shorter range suits your needs, you can save money and gain some efficiency because of the lighter weight.
The range is very important when considering what car to buy, so we’ve compiled a list of the electric cars with the longest range currently available in the UK. The numbers you'll see below come from the official WLTP efficiency test, which is designed to provide a more realistic estimate of the range you can expect in everyday driving, unlike the older NEDC test.
All of these cars will be available to salary sacrifice through a Government Car Scheme, like The Electric Car Scheme. This means you can save between 30-60% on any EV of your choice, by sacrificing part of your salary before tax. You can save significantly on Income Tax and National Insurance every month! We have included examples of how much you could save on long-range EVs included in this blog.
Here's a look at the UK's longest-range EVs:
Mercedes EQS
The Mercedes-Benz EQS marks Mercedes' debut in the realm of luxurious sports cars.
Measuring over 5.2 metres in length, this car isn't ideally suited for urban or city driving due to its size. It compensates with various features aimed at enhancing manoeuvrability. For example, it’s equipped with rear-wheel steering, the rear wheels can pivot up to 4.5 degrees in either direction, a capability that further augments at higher speeds if specified, reaching up to 10 degrees.
The reason this car is on the list is because the EQS 450+ variant offers a remarkable potential range of up to 453 miles, which is very impressive, especially as it can also accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds. However, its weightiness, tipping the scales at 2,400kg, is evident by the way it drives.
With a price range spanning from £105,610 to £119,610, the EQS embodies luxury and innovation, representing Mercedes' commitment to redefining the boundaries of electric vehicle excellence. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a car to take you up and down the motorway, but you definitely pay for the range!
If you decide to lease a Mercedes EQS through The Electric Car Scheme, you can save on Income Tax and National Insurance contributions by paying for this employee benefit from your pre-tax salary. Without a green car scheme like this, you would expect to pay £1,898. Instead, with The Electric Car Scheme, you will save £725 on Income Tax savings and £48 on National Insurance savings, meaning the cost of the EQS will be £1,246 per month.
Tesla Model Y Long Range
Initially, the Model Y was introduced in the UK with two versions: the Long Range and the Performance. The Long Range model lives up to its name by offering an impressive claimed range of 331 miles on a single charge.
It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, which is very quick. On the other hand, the Performance model boasts sports car-like acceleration, going from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 3.5 seconds. However, this extra speed comes at a cost, reducing the range slightly to 319 miles. Both of these models are equipped with four-wheel drive. But there's also a third, more affordable rear-wheel-drive version simply named the Model Y. It's a bit slower, taking 6.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, and has a shorter range of 283 miles.
When it comes to handling, the Model Y does a good job of emulating the Model 3. It maintains stability in turns and has responsive steering that makes it feel surprisingly nimble for its size, though it may not be as entertaining as the Model 3. The ride quality is firm, especially if you opt for the optional 20-inch wheels, which can occasionally feel a bit rough.
One of the Model Y's advantages is access to Tesla's extensive and reliable Supercharger charging network. The latest 250kW Superchargers can add 75 miles of range to the Model Y in just five minutes, and a 15-minute charge will give you an extra 158 miles of range. If you’re looking for a car with a decent range, the Tesla is definitely a very attractive option!
The Tesla Model Y is available to lease through an electric car salary sacrifice scheme. With The Electric Car Scheme, you will save £300 on Income Tax and £15 on National Insurance contributions. You will have to pay a small amount of Benefit-in-Kind tax, of £51 per month, this is otherwise known as the "company car tax." You can learn more about BiK here.
Volkswagen ID.7
The Volkswagen ID.7, the latest addition to Volkswagen's electric car lineup, takes the form of a family saloon with a distinctively sporty design, highlighted by its curved roof. The ID.7 has a WTLP range of 386 miles (300 miles should be a reasonable expectation).
Measuring just under 5 metres from bumper to bumper, the car boasts a modern appearance. Inside, the spacious cabin provides ample legroom and headroom for a comfortable experience. The boot offers a generous capacity of 532 litres, which can expand to 1,586 litres by lowering the rear seats. Notably, the ID.7 features a full-length glass roof equipped with smart glass technology. This allows the sunroof's layers of glass to be electronically switched from opaque to clear using either a slider in the roof or voice control.
As previously mentioned, the VW ID.7 boasts an impressive 386 miles of range on a full charge, thanks to its 77kWh battery, making it a highly competitive offering in its class. The real-world range is estimated to be around 300 miles. Notably, an optional heat pump, enhancing the efficiency of the heating system, is available at an additional cost. It's crucial to consider this option, without it, the range in cold weather conditions is likely to decrease more rapidly!
The Volkswagen ID.7 is available to lease from The Electric Car Scheme for £427 per month due to the tax savings incurred by sacrificing your pre-tax salary. You can save £254 in Income Tax and £13 on National Insurance. You can get a personalised quote using our quote tool, all you need to do is input your salary and desired lease terms (such as mileage, estimated range per annum, and salary sacrifice structure). It's easy to use and will give you a good idea of how much you can expect to pay per month.
BMW i7
The BMW i7 is an electric saloon, serving as an electric alternative to the 7 series.
There are three different BMW i7s available, these include the i7 eDrive50 Excellence, i7 eDrive50 M Sport and the i7 M70 xDrive. The eDrive50 Excellence has a starting price of £101,765 when brand new and this increases depending on the model you choose. Each of these is then available in three different engine specifications - for example, the eDrive50 Excellence is also available in the xDrive60 Excellence and the xDrive60 Excellence Pro. The main difference between the three models, apart from price, is The battery size and speed of the M70 xDrive.
Depending on the model you choose, the BMW i7 can achieve between 334 and 387 miles on a single charge, which is ideal if you frequent longer journeys!
Lease a BMW i7 and significantly save through EV salary sacrifice - the most affordable way to get into an electric car at the moment. Without salary sacrifice, you may expect to pay £1,151 per month to lease an i7, but with The Electric Car Scheme, you would only need to pay £783 per month! If you're interested in learning more about the difference between leasing and salary sacrifice, read our blog on the topic!
Audi Q6 e-tron
The Audi Q6 was released on sale in the UK on the 30th April 2024. The Q6 was designed, unsurprisingly is designed to sit between the Q4 and Q8. Audi will offer two versions of the Q6 e-tron at launch, both with the same battery pack. The first is the Quattro, which offers 382 miles of range and then the more powerful SQ6.
The Audi Q6 e-tron has a range of 339–381 miles on a full charge, depending on the trim level:
Entry-level Sport: Has a range of up to 381 miles
S line and Edition 1: Have larger wheels and different equipment specs, which reduces the range to closer to 350 miles
SQ6 e-tron: Has a range of up to 358 miles, with its additional performance slightly reducing the range.
This is a great option if you’re an Audi fan already and are looking for a reliable car with a good estimated WTLP range!
By salary sacrificing an Audi Q6, you can save £300 on Income Tax and National Insurance savings. You will have to pay a small amount per month in BiK tax. These aren't the only savings you will make! By driving an electric car, you can expect to save on running costs - at The Electric Car Scheme, we dubbed the 15th of July as 'Electric Car Day' because this is the crossover day when a petrol driver spends more on fuel than an electric driver will all year!
You can quickly get a price estimate for any electric car with a long driving range through The Electric Car Scheme.
All the cars discussed in this blog post are accessible through The Electric Car Scheme. We have access to every electric car on the market, so whether it's a recently released model or one you've taken a liking to, you can find more information about it on our EV salary sacrifice calculator here.
Every company can offer electric car salary sacrifice as an employee benefit and it comes at no added cost to the company. An EV salary sacrifice scheme will also help drive employee happiness and build a healthier, more sustainable company - it truly is a win-win!
Last updated: 27/08/24
