Why an electric company car is perfect for long journeys

When it comes to choosing a tax-friendly company car^[1] for long-distance driving, the first question that comes to most fleet drivers’ minds when considering going pure-electric is: “What about the range?” 

As with so many misnomers, the concept of ‘range anxiety’ has embedded itself in our minds, but today’s electric cars – like the 100% electric Nissan LEAF or the soon-to-be-revealed Nissan ARIYA SUV – actually have far more range than you’d think, with plenty of other reasons that make them perfect for long-distance driving.

To find out more about why an electric car like the Nissan LEAF is perfect for fleet or company car drivers, head to nissan.co.uk/fleet

Go the distance

Let’s tackle the easy question first: range. Standard 40kWh Nissan LEAF models boast 168 miles of range, which is enough to get you from Birmingham to Exeter on one charge. Range-topping 62kWh Nissan LEAF e+ models boast an even more impressive 239 miles of range, which could get you all from Birmingham to Dumfries on the Scottish borders^[2].

Journeys like this are at the extreme range of what any fleet driver will do, though. Even taking into account the ‘old’ extremes for fleet drivers of 20,000 miles a year, that’s only 77 miles each working day – which means you could actually do a full three days of driving on one charge of the 62kWh Nissan LEAF e+^[2].  

Equally, if you were driving at an average 60mph, a 239-mile range delivers up to nearly four hours on the road^[2]: a distance no-one is likely to do without stopping for at least a coffee or, more likely, an hour-long lunch or dinner – the perfect amount of time for plugging in to a 50kW+ rapid charger and gaining a healthy battery boost^[3]. 

Ease your charging pain

Next comes another long-distance range worry: infrastructure anxiety. Electric car critics aren’t just obsessed with large-capacity batteries offering ‘mega-miles’ – they also worry about where you’ll charge them, how fast it takes, and how much it costs.

While most electric cars will be charged overnight at home or at the office, making the most of low overnight rates for charging costs around 4p per mile^[4], there are plenty of flexible ways to fit public charging around your journeys.

First an ever-increasing number of hotels (especially those near motorways or main A-roads) offer on-site fast 7kW to 22kW charging, which lets you top up your car slowly and more cost-effectively overnight. If you’re heading into the heart of the city, it’s easy to find public car parks with fast chargers, letting you top up your range whether you’re having a morning meeting, a midday meal or are staying overnight.

Go further, no catch

Sometimes, you’ll want something a bit faster. This is where 50kW+ rapid chargers come in. These can charge from 20% to 80% range in as little as 60 minutes for 40kWh LEAF models or 90 minutes for 62kWh LEAF e+ models^[3], which is perfect for giving your car a healthy battery boost while you pick up lunch or catch up on calls and emails. Equally, there are more rapid chargers than you might think. 

Of the UK’s 35,500 charging points at 12,900 locations, 8970 of them at 2500 locations are 22kW to 100kW rapid chargers^[5]. Even more importantly, rapid chargers tend to be based where they work best, on motorways and major A-roads, with 97% of the UK’s service stations boasting rapid charging^[6].

Plus, rapid chargers aren’t that expensive to use. The average cost for a 100-mile top-up on a rapid charger is just £7.20 – considerably cheaper than petrol or diesel^[7].

Welcome to driving heaven

Nissan LEAF models also come equipped with Intelligent Mobility features designed to make long journeys and motorway driving easier, safer and more stress-free. 

First, there’s NissanConnect^[8] – a suite of digital apps that sync smartphone and car. You can prep your car remotely with NissanConnect, programming the most cost-effective times for a full overnight charge the evening before, or pre-warming or pre-cooling your car’s air-conditioning the next morning while it’s still plugged in to provide the optimum driving conditions, without losing any range.

On the road, the gentle refined hum of the Nissan LEAF’s quiet 100% electric drive is more relaxing than the constant whine of a petrol or diesel car over long distances, while the impressive 217PS and 340Nm of instantly available electric torque on LEAF e+ models means you’re never short of confidence-inspiring responsive power when you’re joining motorways or overtaking other cars when appropriate.

Regenerative braking through the e-Pedal throttle gives you enhanced control of your speed using just the throttle, while Intelligent Cruise Control, allied to Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Recognition, Blind Spot Warning and Intelligent Lane Intervention help keep you on the straight and narrow^[9].

Then, at your destination, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, an overhead Intelligent Around View Monitor^[9], and optional automated ProPILOT Park help remove the stress of urban car parks and reduce the likelihood of bumps and scrapes^[10].

So, whether it’s impressive range, flexible fast and rapid charging, or technology that makes every journey – short and long – easier and safer, it’s easy to see why going electric is an absolute dream for long-distance fleet drivers. 

To find out more about why an electric car like the Nissan LEAF is perfect for fleet or company car drivers, head to nissan.co.uk/fleet

[1] Nissan Motor (GB) Limited does not offer tax advice and recommends that all Company Car Drivers consult their own accountant with regard to their particular tax situation.

[2] Laminated lithium-ion 40kWh battery with 168 miles range and e+ 62kWh battery with 239 miles range. WLTP figures shown are for comparability purposes. Actual real-world driving results may vary depending on factors such as the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted after registration, weather conditions, driving style and vehicle load.

[3] Time dependent on charging conditions, including charger type and condition, battery temperature as well as ambient temperature at point of use. Indicated rapid charging time requires use of a CHAdeMO rapid charger. The Nissan LEAF is designed to support the majority of journeys in daily life and is equipped with charging safeguards to protect the battery during repeated rapid charging sessions in a short period of time. The time taken for successive rapid charging can take longer if the battery temperature activates the battery safeguarding technology.

[4] Cost to charge 40kWh Nissan LEAF battery to up to 168-mile range based on average daytime electric rates of 16.5p per kWh (Drive Zero, August 2020) = £6.60 (3.9p per mile). Cost to charge 62kWh Nissan LEAF e+ battery to up to 239-mile range based on average daytime electric rates of 16.5p per kWh (Drive Zero, August 2020) = £10.23 (4.2p per mile)

[5] For substantiation, visit: https://www.zap-map.com/statistics/ 

[6] For substantiation, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-vision-for-the-rapid-chargepoint-network-in-england/government-vision-for-the-rapid-chargepoint-network-in-england

[7] Based on Nissan LEAF 40kWH model with rapid charging cost of 30p per kWh (ecotricity.co.uk) and fast recharging cost of 12p per kWh (polar-network.com). 20-80% charge of 100.8 miles (60% of 40kWh) = 24kWh x £0.30 = £7.20.

[8] NissanConnect should only be used when it is safe to do so in accordance with the Highway Code. Visit Nissan.co.uk to find out more. To use NissanConnect services you need a smartphone with compatible iOS or Android operating system. Services subject to mobile network coverage. NissanConnect Services available for an additional charge on subscription after the 3rd year. For further information, please visit www.nissan.co.uk or contact your local Nissan Dealer.

[9] Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Recognition, Blind Spot Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention and Rear Cross Traffic Alert standard on LEAF Acenta grade and above. Intelligent Around View Monitor standard on LEAF N-Connecta grade and above. It is your responsibility to stay alert, drive safely and be in control of the vehicle at all times. Driver assist features have speed and other limitations and should not be relied on. For more information, visit www.nissan.co.uk

[10] ProPILOT Park optional on Tekna & e+ Tekna grades. ProPILOT is an Advanced Driver Assist technology but cannot prevent collisions. ProPILOT is intended for “Eyes on/Hands On” for highways only (road separated by barriers). It is the driver’s responsibility to stay alert, drive safely and be able to take control of the vehicle at any time.