As interest in green transport continues to soar, Select Car Leasing has announced an expansion of its electric vehicle division.
While the company launched a dedicated ‘Select Electric’ web presence in 2019, the expansion sees the team newly revamped, with the number of specialist staff with a primary focus on battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) doubling.
Select Car Leasing has also expanded its ‘Electric Vehicles & Energy’ division, to ensure that all company departments, together with leasing consultants, are fully conversant with EVs, charging, electricity tariffs, home and workplace energy generation such as solar panels, and how all of these items work together to save customers money and reduce their carbon footprint.
The changes mean that around 40% of all leasing consultants at Select Car Leasing are specialists in EV solutions for both personal and business clients, according to David Lewis, Head of Electric Vehicles & Energy.
“We now have two dedicated EV teams at Select, with major expansion in the past few weeks and with further growth anticipated at the beginning of next year,” said Lewis.
“For us, we know the direction of travel for the entire leasing industry – and that’s towards electrified vehicles.”
Overall, Select’s pure-electric new car sales now account for around a quarter (25%) of all vehicle sales at the company. The reported sales are 75% ahead of the broader new car market, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ September data, with registrations for pure BEVs up 14.5% until September 2022.
“EVs and energy are inextricably linked, and leasing consultants are now able to talk about the intricacies of off-peak energy tariffs and home charging in the same way they they’re able to talk about the ‘miles per kWh’ efficiency figures of battery electric vehicles,” Lewis continued.
“Going forward, this ensures we will be at the forefront of the electric revolution, and in a position to offer our customers the best advice and guidance possible.”
In October, Select Car Leasing joined forces with Zap-Map, aiming to make driving an electric vehicle even more enjoyable.
Every customer that leases an electric vehicle with Select Car Leasing will automatically receive three months free access to Zap-Map’s enhanced Premium service, which displays the Zap-Map app in the in-car dashboard via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and unlocks unlimited filters, route plans and EV models.
Select Car Leasing EV customers now receive three months free access to Zap-Map Premium.
“It’s clear that leasing and electric vehicles go hand-in-hand,” Lewis added. “It’s far more risk-free to lease compared to purchasing a brand new car. You are able to drive the latest electric technology and you can take a lease for a two, three or four year period, meaning there’s so much less chance of you being stuck with the wrong electric vehicle.
“Furthermore, with fixed monthly fees you can inflation-proof your vehicle costs for the duration of the lease. Plus, there are significant fuel savings to be had if you charge from home. Leasing and electric cars are a win-win for both the individual and the environment.
“Whichever way you look at it, the benefits of leasing an EV are obvious. And because it’s an issue that will affect millions of people, we want to lead from the front.”