Thank you to our local business leasing customer from Leigh (Greater Manchester), for collecting their brand-new fleet vehicle from the CarLease/Car-E-Lease UK team – the Kia Niro Hybrid.
Working with local businesses, particularly when they are your IT provider, is always a pleasure. Express IT are a managed IT provider who can offer services on your computer framework, server infrastructure and email systems together with bolt-on cloud and social media services.
For any Wigan/Leigh/Warrington businesses looking for timely and affordable computer services, get in touch with their team.
In addition, their Managing Director, Adam Vause, is incredibly active in the local community with involvement in the Rotary Club of Astley and key part of the Wigan Deal. On more personal note, Adam is a keen enthusiast when it comes to “alternative fuels” and has been recently exploring hybrid, PHEV and electric vehicles as part of his own fleet analysis. For many Greater Manchester businesses, the new approach to Clean Air Zones is creating more consideration on how to efficiently develop their fleet.
Even personal customers who regularly commute to the city centre of Manchester will have to start making some changes. This is not something which MAY happen; these changes ARE happening. Rather than avoid this subject, spend some time looking at the upcoming changes or attend some of the Go Electic! Expos which are happening across the region.
So is this one of those plug-in self-changing hybrid thingys?
Knowing exactly what fuel type you are looking at is crucial. To help our customer decide on which fuel choice is best for them. We have created a step by step guide to reaching a definitive conclusion at – https://www.carlease.uk.com/car-e/
What we are trying to avoid across the UK are the mistakes from the dieselgate and emission scandals which are only just eeking their way out.
Effectively, there was a push to go to diesel and low emission vehicles as part of reducing company car tax and achieve maximum MPG. However, this led to two issues: 1) customers with inappropriate driving styles taking diesel cars; and 2) manufacturers competing (illegally) to reduce CO2 and MPG statistics across their products. T
he new WLTP and RDE2 testing standard have helped improve confidence in the standards manufacturers have to attain.
That being said, customers do still need to understand exactly what car they are receiving and, in particular, how the fuel/energy systems work in order to maximise their experience.
A Hybrid (which can, rightly or wrongly, be called self-charging or mild) is effectively a conventional petrol (or diesel) combustion engine (also referred to as an ICE) coupled with a small electric motor. The electric element will work in conjunction with the engine or, for a very small period of time, on its own.
This is not a new technological development.
Many Lexus and Toyota vehicles have been “hybrid” for a number of years. What customers need to aware of is that notwithstanding the term “self-charging” there is no actual external charging which needs to take place. You don’t need to buy a home charge point or connect your vehicle to a supercharger! The way in which the battery charges is dictated by the vehicle moving or braking (propulsion and regeneration braking). The hybrid vehicle is comfortable introduction to an alternative form of fuel, as there are no changes required from the driver. Where they operate effectively is on smaller start stop journeys, particularly for any of our low-mileage customers. The mix of petrol and electric helps customers maximise their driving experience and achieve more efficient fuel usage.
For the company car driver there is the obvious benefit of lower CO2 per km and a lower company car tax bill. However, do note that these vehicles are less efficient over longer motorway style journeys and are not as suitable for our higher mileage drivers.
Additionally, the electric-only component is limited to a couple of miles unlike a PHEV or pure electric vehicle.
The main confusion arises between the hybrid and the PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle). The PHEV is a next level development on the hybrid, as this adds a much larger lithium-ion battery which is capable of delivering between 25-40 mils on a pure electric charge. Therefore some low to mid mileage customers can achieve the electric only driving they are looking for. Add to that is a much better CO2 per km statistics for the company car drivers. With April 2020 seeing huge changes to automotive tax infrastructure, the PHEV which can cover 40 miles or move will see a nominal 6% BiK banding. This is why you have seen all manufacturers rushing to create effective PHEV options which can accommodate a growing trend for business vehicle users to go alternative. Some are now adding diesel options to supplement the petrol ones. The crucial difference between a PHEV and hybrid is that the PHEV does need external charging. Therefore a driver will have to arrange a charge point at their home address or ensure they have access to a charge point at work or at a service station. Modern home charge points can offer 7kw (32Amp) charge solutions which can fully-charge the vehicle in under 4 hours. Charging a car is not a massive obligation and our charge point partners, Raw Charging, can demonstrate and explain how simply this can be achieved.
Go to their website for more information – https://www.rawcharging.com/
For any customer trying to compare hybrid v PHEV, just contact our Car-E lease team or use our helpful fuel choice selector. Remember that the price per month, or company car tax saving, are not the only considerations. To meet our customers needs and requirements, we will consider Whole Life Costs.
In terms of the car shown here, the Kia Niro Estate 1.6 GDi Hybrid 2 5dr DCT [Petrol] [Auto] [Hybrid], this is based on the following configuration:
White Pearl Metallic Paint
Part leather – Black
High gloss black centre fascia
16″ alloy wheels
As standard the car includes privacy glass, rain sensing wipers, solar glass, ESC, part leather upholstery, emergency stop signalling., hill start assist, Apple carplay/android auto, forward collision avoidance, lane following assist, lane keep assist, rear parking sensors, reversing camera, 8” touch screen, Kia connect services, auto dimming rear view mirror, electrically adjustable/heated/folding door mirrors, high gloss black mirrors, 4.2” colour TFT screen, DAB radio, rear spoiler, LED daytime lights, LED tail lights, air conditioning, gearshift paddles, leather trimmed steering wheel, towing pack, autonomous emergency braking, 60/40 split folding seats, 16” alloys, immobilizer and anti-theft alarm. Your cannot upgrade the car with any specification, you need to go to the “3” or “4” model to get additional specification.
On the technical-side company car and business users can note the P11d at £25,020 and CO2 at 86g/km. The 1580CC 6 speed auto petrol/battery engine delivers 76.3 combined MPG (EC), 58.9 (WLTP), 139ps and 0-62 times of 11.5 seconds. The service intervals are every 12 months or 10,000 miles on a hybrid Kia.
So would you select this Kia Niro as your next car leasing option? Or would the Hybrid Hyundai Ioniq, Toyota CHR or Lexus UX be your preferred car?
