Latest news with #Polestar2
Android Authority
a day ago
- Automotive
- Android Authority
Google Maps on Android Auto is getting smarter about using all your vehicle's screens
TL;DR Google Maps has recently started offering a navigation pop-up on select instrument cluster displays. So far this has been spotted on the Polestar 2. We previously saw Waze delivering a similar behind-the-wheel view. How many digital screens can you see right this second? From our phones, to computers, to TVs and smart home hubs, our lives our just jam-packed with displays vying for our attention. And while that can easily start to get pretty overwhelming, this kind of preponderance of screens can also work to our benefit — if and when apps and services are making smart decisions about what to show, where. Right now, Google's working on pushing out just such an improvement to Android Auto. Just like so many other places in our lives, cars have been doubling down on their interest in screens in recent years. Beyond just offering one main screen on which we could interact with the car's own OS or use something like Android Auto, it's increasingly common to find vehicles that have additional display beyond that, with one especially popular option being a virtual instrument cluster display that lives right behind your steering wheel. Earlier this year we saw Waze learning to expand its navigation guidance to those cluster screens, and now we're learning about some similar efforts from Google Maps. Running Android Auto version 14.3.651844 on a Galaxy S25, 9to5Google reports that the Polestar 2 is now able to display Google Maps navigation data as a pop-up on its behind-the-wheel screen. This is distinct from the range and ETA view previously available through the car's Android Automotive interface. While this kind of functionality still appears to be incredibly limited across vehicles supporting Android Auto, that's a situation we only expect to get better, and it's nice to hear that Google's working to keep up with these trends. Placing navigation info front-and-center like this feels like a smart way to ensure that it's always easily within a driver's sight lines, helping to minimize distraction. That said, all this does feel a bit like a work in progress, and 9to5Google notes that the current implementation risks obscuring map detail with this pop-up in a way that could theoretically impair navigation. Hopefully we'll see Google play around a little more with its layout as we see this kind of view expand to more vehicles. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Times
EV Q&A: Why does our car not work with some chargers?
Q: While in Mallorca this summer, my husband was eager to hire an electric car (apart from it being cheaper than petrol alternatives). At the airport, we were upgraded to a Polestar 2 and headed off. The next day, my husband went off to try out charging/paying at charging points. We couldn't get any points to charge the car! After two days, we had to drive back across the island to the airport before the battery ran flat. The car hire company took the car, and went off to charge it, which failed as well. Not only did it fail, but every charging point it connected to was put out of service. My question is: why are the charging points not more resilient? The car hire company told me that more than 30 per cent of the charging infrastructure was down at any one time in Mallorca. – K Woollett, Co Dublin A: That 30 per cent of chargers being out of action at any one time is, worryingly, not an unrealistic figure. While most charging providers will claim to have at least 90 per cent reliability, figures from the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK show that anywhere between a tenth and a quarter of all public charging points are out of order at any given time, and that 30 per cent outages are far from uncommon. However, that wasn't really your question, your question was to do with specific cars and specific chargers. It should be simple, charging. After all, it's plugging an electrical device into a power source – something we do at home many times per day and something we've all been doing since Thomas Edison nicked Nikola Tesla's good ideas ... While the odd blown fuse might be excusable, the sad – and deeply irritating – fact is that plugging in an electric car just isn't so simple. READ MORE For a start, EVs work off at least a 400-volt, and increasingly an 800-volt system. That's a voltage that would be instantly lethal to you should anything go wrong and you came into direct contact with the current. So there are layers and layers of safety locks that have to be satisfied before current can start to flow, all the more necessary if it's raining (which, in fairness, I assume it wasn't in Mallorca…). So there are plenty of opportunities for software issues to arise simply by taking the safety locks into account. Your issue did seem to be very strange, though, so we contacted Polestar to see if they could shed any light on it. However, they couldn't – partly that was simply due to not being able to have access to the car and therefore not really being in a position to comment, and partly because they were working on the assumption that any issue with charging will be down to the charger, not the car, as car makers work hard to ensure that all cars are compatible with all chargers. That makes sense, of course, but perhaps it doesn't always work. On the one hand, the Polestar 2 uses well-proven battery and electronic systems from Volvo, which shouldn't present any problems. [ EV home charging pilot fails to address critical issue Opens in new window ] On the other, coming from a car-hire firm, perhaps this particular car hadn't been properly set up before it was released out into the car-hire wilds, and maybe that's the source of the issue. Or, it could be a proper mystery. For instance, we've been in contact with an EV owner in the UK, who has a home charger provided by PodPoint. In the past, this charger has worked flawlessly with a first-generation Mini E, a BMW iX3, and a Porsche Taycan. However, when this person purchased a new-shape Mini Electric, brought it home, and plugged it in ... nada, nothing, a big fat nope on the charging front. Cue a flurry of phone calls between the owner, Mini, and PodPoint which resulted in, as this person told us: 'A lot of shrugging emojis ...' It did seem to be a broader, known problem though, of this new generation of electric Mini simply not recognising a PodPoint charger, or vice versa. And this is not an isolated problem – PodPoint is one of the biggest charging suppliers in the UK. [ China's CATL says it has overtaken BYD on 5-minute EV battery charging time Opens in new window ] Finally, a month into ownership, a reflash of the software controlling the PodPoint charger did the job, and the Mini is now charging properly. The problem? No one seems to know why, so it's not clear if the problem has been permanently fixed or if it might recur. It gets dafter. Coming soon will be a new EV that will be entirely and deliberately incompatible with huge swathes of the charging network. Mercedes is about to launch its new, ultra-long-range CLA electric saloon , with an almost 800km range. That's some range, but don't expect to be able to top it up easily when you're out and about. Mercedes has designed the new CLA around an ultra-fast 800-volt charging system, which makes it ridiculously quick to charge. That's nothing new, as Audi, Porsche, Kia, and Hyundai have had 800-volt charging systems in some of their models for some time now. However, those Audi, Porsche, Kia, and Hyundai systems are back-compatible – in other words, if you plug them into a public charging point that works on a 400-volt system, and that's nearly all of them, then those cars can happily use 400-volt charging, they just won't charge up quite as quickly. Not so the new Mercedes. The company is already warning potential buyers that the CLA simply won't work with 400-volt chargers, and can only be charged either at home on a slow wallbox charger, or on a high-powered 800-volt public charger. That means most of the public chargers we have right now are going to be off-limits for the CLA. Remember when Apple ditched the headphone socket and made you buy Bluetooth buds? Yeah, like that only now you're stranded at the side of the road (to be fair, with an 800km range, that's unlikely unless you're very careless). I feel as if we haven't really answered your question, and to be honest it's because we actually can't. Electricity should be simple, well-understood tech, and for the most part it is. But there is a faint whiff of mystery when it comes to the electronics that control the flow of that electricity, and it can be moody and capricious stuff. Until that's better understood, there will be moments when any of us will pull up at a charging station and it simply won't work for us. And there will be no easily explicable reason for that.
Perth Now
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
The EVs with the longest range in Australia
Driving range has long been a key consideration for new car buyers chasing their first (or next) electric vehicle (EV) – after all, nobody wants to suffer from 'range anxiety'. The good news is that modern EVs can cover more ground than ever before, and the local battery-electric vehicle market now includes several new models with range claims in excess of 600km from a single charge. That applies to both high-end and mainstream models, meaning that you don't have to be rich to enjoy the benefits of recent technical advancements. For example, the Tesla Model 3 sedan is still among the EVs with the longest range in Australia, as is its Swedish rival – the Polestar 2 fastback sedan. Hunrdeds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Hyundai Ioniq 6 Credit: CarExpert Polestar 3 Credit: CarExpert Porsche Taycan Credit: CarExpert Tesla Model 3 Credit: CarExpert But neither sits at the top of the tree. Read on to find out which EVs top the range rankings in 2025. Our range measurements are all based on the WLTP testing cycle, which is the most universal and realistic standard for EV range and allows for a direct comparison between each of the 10 cars listed below. We've omitted claimed energy consumption, as the specifications published by each brand are often based on varying test cycles like the less-accurate NEDC yardstick, or the more lenient CLTC standard. Click on a model in the table below to jump directly to its information on the page, or continue scrolling for the full article. The introduction of a more affordable, single-motor variant has seen the Polestar 3 large SUV jump to the top of the range rankings in Australia. Supplied Credit: CarExpert With 706km of claimed driving range, the Long Range Single Motor is well ahead of the chasing pack, and it's cheaper than most of the cars on this list at $118,420 before on-road costs. You can also fork out for either of two more powerful dual-motor versions, although both offer significantly less range. By contrast, the Long Range Single Motor boasts industry-leading endurance at the cost of grunt – it produces just 220kW of grunt and completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.8 seconds (claimed). When you do finally run out of juice, the base Polestar 3 accepts DC fast-charging at up to 250kW (if you can find it), which is claimed to give its battery a 10-80 per cent charge in around half an hour. Interested in buying a Polestar 3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Polestar 3 Back to top It's a one-two for Polestar, with the Swedish brand also boasting the EV with the second longest range in Australia. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor has a smaller battery than its bigger brother, but it still offers a claimed 659km of range – more than direct rivals including the Model 3. It's a lot cheaper than the Polestar 3 too, at $66,400 before on-road costs. Energy may be sourced from a downsized 82kWh battery, but the Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor is powered by the same single, rear-mounted electric motor producing up to 220kW and 490Nm. At just over two tonnes, the Polestar 2 is far lighter than the 3, contributing to a quicker claimed 0-100km/h sprint time (6.2 seconds) and superior energy efficiency (14.9-15.8kWh/100km). Interested in buying a Polestar 2? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Polestar 2 Back to top The first electric Mercedes-Maybach is the most expensive EV ever sold by Mercedes-Benz in Australia, and it comes with a claimed driving range of 635km. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Priced from $328,607 before on-road costs, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 is an ultra-premium SUV to rival the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Range Rover. However, you won't find an exotic combustion powertrain under the bonnet. Instead, the EQS 680 is powered by dual electric motors producing 484kW and 950Nm. At its maximum charging capacity, the EQS 680 is claimed to recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes, while AC charging is capped at 22kW. Standard equipment includes air suspension, leather upholstery, dual 11.6-inch rear passenger screens, a 15-speaker Burmeister sound system, and wireless headsets. Interested in buying a Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Mercedes-Maybach EQS Back to top There's more to the Porsche Taycan than blistering performance, as it can also cover a lot of ground between charges. Turbo Credit: CarExpert The mid-spec Taycan 4S is the pick of the lineup from a range standpoint, offering a claimed 635km. It goes pretty well too, with the ability to sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.7 seconds, courtesy of dual electric motors producing 340kW and 710Nm. You'll pay for the privilege – the Taycan 4S costs $216,300 before on-road costs – but few EVs blend performance and efficiency like Porsche's slick sports sedan. By upgrading from the entry variant, Taycan 4S buyers also gain access to heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up display, and a 14-speaker sound system, among other extra kit. All variants in the range are compatible with DC fast-charging up to 320kW, enabling a 10 to 80 per cent charge time of less than 20 minutes (claimed). Interested in buying a Porsche Taycan? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Porsche Taycan Back to top Tesla may have pioneered the mass-market EV, but rivals have caught up from a driving range standpoint. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The latest iteration of the Model 3 offers 629km of range in Long Range trim, less than the Polestar 2 it competes against. However, the Tesla is cheaper at $64,900 before on-roads, and the base grade starts at just $54,900 plus on-roads. The Long Range also packs more performance than its Swedish rival, with power sourced from dual electric motors that output 366kW, which is enough for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.4 seconds. DC charging speed is capped at 250kW, enough to replenish the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in a claimed 27 minutes. Interested in buying a Tesla Model 3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Tesla Model 3 Back to top They're a rare sight on Australian roads, but the BMW i7 luxury limousine remains one of the range champions in the EV space. Supplied Credit: CarExpert This big, bulky electric sedan is capable of travelling 624km between charges, courtesy of a 105.7kWh lithium-ion battery. The battery feeds a pair of motors producing a combined 400kW and 745Nm, propelling the base i7 from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds. BMW says the i7 xDrive60 can charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 34 minutes (claimed). Expect to part with at least $233,787 before on-road costs to put one on your driveway, extending up to $260,361 plus on-roads for the performance-focused i7 M70 xDrive. Interested in buying a BMW i7? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything BMW i7 Back to top The Polestar 4 has less endurance than its stablemates, but still comfortably qualifies for this top 10 list with 620km of driving range. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Priced from $78,500 plus on-road costs, the Polestar 4 is available in single-motor and more expensive dual-motor guises, the latter of which starts from $88,350 plus on-road costs. Polestar quotes outputs of 200kW and 343Nm for the Single Motor variant, which climbs to 400kW and 686Nm for the dual-motor. The former is claimed to accelerates from 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds, and can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes using a 200kW DC charger. The mid-size electric SUV's standout feature is its rear window, or rather lack thereof. Interested in buying a Polestar 4? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Polestar 4 Back to top Hyundai's Ioniq 6 sedan has been a regular fixture in Australia's EV landscape for several years, and it remains a leader in the range stakes. Supplied Credit: CarExpert You'll get a maximum of 614km between charges from the 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery, which is offered with a choice of 168kW/350Nm single-motor rear-wheel drive or 239kW/605Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains. Hyundai claims 614km of range with the former and 519km with the latter. The company hasn't detailed any mechanical changes for the upcoming facelift, although the range will be bolstered by a new high-performance N flagship and a sporty-looking N Line variant. Pricing has not yet been announced, but the single-motor model is currently available for $71,500 before on-road costs. All Ioniq 6 models use an 800V electrical architecture which, when connected to a public DC fast-charger, allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 18 minutes (claimed). Interested in buying a Hyundai Ioniq 6? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Hyundai Ioniq 6 Back to top The mid-spec Kia EV3 Air Long Range rounds out this list with a range of 604km. Earth Long Range Credit: CarExpert Priced from $53,315 before on-road costs, the Air features a 91kWh battery pack which feeds a 150kW/283Nm motor mounted on the front axle. The maximum DC charging speed is 127kW. It takes a claimed 31 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent using DC power for the Air LR, longer than many of its rivals. Designed to look like a shrunken EV9, the Kia EV3 rides on a variation of the Korean brand's E-GMP dedicated electric vehicle architecture, but like the EV5 moves to a front-wheel drive bias as opposed to the rear-biased setups of the EV6 and EV9. Interested in buying a Kia EV3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Kia EV3 Back to top Lotus isn't a brand you'd expect to see in a list of efficient vehicles, but the Eletre SUV bucks that trend with 600km of driving range. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The base Eletre and Eletre S offer the longest range, priced at $189,990 before on-road costs and $229,990 plus on-roads, respectively. Both are underpinned by an 800V electrical architecture which allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 20 minutes via a 350kW DC charger. The Eletre pairs efficiency with performance – the long-range variants produce 450kW and 710Nm, giving them the ability to hit 100km/h from a standstill in a claimed 4.5 seconds. All Lotus Eletre vehicles ride on multi-link front and rear suspension, featuring dual-chamber air springs and Continuous Damping Control. Interested in buying a Lotus Eletre? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Lotus Eletre Back to top
7NEWS
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
The EVs with the longest range in Australia
Driving range has long been a key consideration for new car buyers chasing their first (or next) electric vehicle (EV) – after all, nobody wants to suffer from 'range anxiety'. The good news is that modern EVs can cover more ground than ever before, and the local battery-electric vehicle market now includes several new models with range claims in excess of 600km from a single charge. That applies to both high-end and mainstream models, meaning that you don't have to be rich to enjoy the benefits of recent technical advancements. For example, the Tesla Model 3 sedan is still among the EVs with the longest range in Australia, as is its Swedish rival – the Polestar 2 fastback sedan. Hunrdeds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. But neither sits at the top of the tree. Read on to find out which EVs top the range rankings in 2025. Our range measurements are all based on the WLTP testing cycle, which is the most universal and realistic standard for EV range and allows for a direct comparison between each of the 10 cars listed below. We've omitted claimed energy consumption, as the specifications published by each brand are often based on varying test cycles like the less-accurate NEDC yardstick, or the more lenient CLTC standard. Click on a model in the table below to jump directly to its information on the page, or continue scrolling for the full article. Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor The introduction of a more affordable, single-motor variant has seen the Polestar 3 large SUV jump to the top of the range rankings in Australia. With 706km of claimed driving range, the Long Range Single Motor is well ahead of the chasing pack, and it's cheaper than most of the cars on this list at $118,420 before on-road costs. You can also fork out for either of two more powerful dual-motor versions, although both offer significantly less range. By contrast, the Long Range Single Motor boasts industry-leading endurance at the cost of grunt – it produces just 220kW of grunt and completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.8 seconds (claimed). When you do finally run out of juice, the base Polestar 3 accepts DC fast-charging at up to 250kW (if you can find it), which is claimed to give its battery a 10-80 per cent charge in around half an hour. Interested in buying a Polestar 3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Back to top Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor It's a one-two for Polestar, with the Swedish brand also boasting the EV with the second longest range in Australia. The Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor has a smaller battery than its bigger brother, but it still offers a claimed 659km of range – more than direct rivals including the Model 3. It's a lot cheaper than the Polestar 3 too, at $66,400 before on-road costs. Energy may be sourced from a downsized 82kWh battery, but the Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor is powered by the same single, rear-mounted electric motor producing up to 220kW and 490Nm. At just over two tonnes, the Polestar 2 is far lighter than the 3, contributing to a quicker claimed 0-100km/h sprint time (6.2 seconds) and superior energy efficiency (14.9-15.8kWh/100km). Interested in buying a Polestar 2? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Back to top Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 The first electric Mercedes-Maybach is the most expensive EV ever sold by Mercedes-Benz in Australia, and it comes with a claimed driving range of 635km. Priced from $328,607 before on-road costs, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 is an ultra-premium SUV to rival the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and Range Rover. However, you won't find an exotic combustion powertrain under the bonnet. Instead, the EQS 680 is powered by dual electric motors producing 484kW and 950Nm. At its maximum charging capacity, the EQS 680 is claimed to recharge from 10 to 80 per cent in 31 minutes, while AC charging is capped at 22kW. Standard equipment includes air suspension, leather upholstery, dual 11.6-inch rear passenger screens, a 15-speaker Burmeister sound system, and wireless headsets. Interested in buying a Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Back to top Porsche Taycan 4S There's more to the Porsche Taycan than blistering performance, as it can also cover a lot of ground between charges. The mid-spec Taycan 4S is the pick of the lineup from a range standpoint, offering a claimed 635km. It goes pretty well too, with the ability to sprint from 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.7 seconds, courtesy of dual electric motors producing 340kW and 710Nm. You'll pay for the privilege – the Taycan 4S costs $216,300 before on-road costs – but few EVs blend performance and efficiency like Porsche's slick sports sedan. By upgrading from the entry variant, Taycan 4S buyers also gain access to heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up display, and a 14-speaker sound system, among other extra kit. All variants in the range are compatible with DC fast-charging up to 320kW, enabling a 10 to 80 per cent charge time of less than 20 minutes (claimed). Interested in buying a Porsche Taycan? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Back to top Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD Tesla may have pioneered the mass-market EV, but rivals have caught up from a driving range standpoint. The latest iteration of the Model 3 offers 629km of range in Long Range trim, less than the Polestar 2 it competes against. However, the Tesla is cheaper at $64,900 before on-roads, and the base grade starts at just $54,900 plus on-roads. The Long Range also packs more performance than its Swedish rival, with power sourced from dual electric motors that output 366kW, which is enough for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.4 seconds. DC charging speed is capped at 250kW, enough to replenish the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in a claimed 27 minutes. Interested in buying a Tesla Model 3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Back to top BMW i7 xDrive60 They're a rare sight on Australian roads, but the BMW i7 luxury limousine remains one of the range champions in the EV space. This big, bulky electric sedan is capable of travelling 624km between charges, courtesy of a 105.7kWh lithium-ion battery. The battery feeds a pair of motors producing a combined 400kW and 745Nm, propelling the base i7 from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds. BMW says the i7 xDrive60 can charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 34 minutes (claimed). Expect to part with at least $233,787 before on-road costs to put one on your driveway, extending up to $260,361 plus on-roads for the performance-focused i7 M70 xDrive. Interested in buying a BMW i7? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Back to top Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor The Polestar 4 has less endurance than its stablemates, but still comfortably qualifies for this top 10 list with 620km of driving range. Priced from $78,500 plus on-road costs, the Polestar 4 is available in single-motor and more expensive dual-motor guises, the latter of which starts from $88,350 plus on-road costs. Polestar quotes outputs of 200kW and 343Nm for the Single Motor variant, which climbs to 400kW and 686Nm for the dual-motor. The former is claimed to accelerates from 0-100km/h in 7.1 seconds, and can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in 30 minutes using a 200kW DC charger. The mid-size electric SUV's standout feature is its rear window, or rather lack thereof. Interested in buying a Polestar 4? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here MORE: Everything Polestar 4 Back to top Hyundai Ioniq 6 Dynamiq Extended Range RWD Hyundai's Ioniq 6 sedan has been a regular fixture in Australia's EV landscape for several years, and it remains a leader in the range stakes. You'll get a maximum of 614km between charges from the 77.4kWh lithium-ion battery, which is offered with a choice of 168kW/350Nm single-motor rear-wheel drive or 239kW/605Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains. Hyundai claims 614km of range with the former and 519km with the latter. The company hasn't detailed any mechanical changes for the upcoming facelift, although the range will be bolstered by a new high-performance N flagship and a sporty-looking N Line variant. Pricing has not yet been announced, but the single-motor model is currently available for $71,500 before on-road costs. All Ioniq 6 models use an 800V electrical architecture which, when connected to a public DC fast-charger, allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 18 minutes (claimed). Interested in buying a Hyundai Ioniq 6? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Back to top Kia EV3 Air Long Range The mid-spec Kia EV3 Air Long Range rounds out this list with a range of 604km. Priced from $53,315 before on-road costs, the Air features a 91kWh battery pack which feeds a 150kW/283Nm motor mounted on the front axle. The maximum DC charging speed is 127kW. It takes a claimed 31 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 per cent using DC power for the Air LR, longer than many of its rivals. Designed to look like a shrunken EV9, the Kia EV3 rides on a variation of the Korean brand's E-GMP dedicated electric vehicle architecture, but like the EV5 moves to a front-wheel drive bias as opposed to the rear-biased setups of the EV6 and EV9. Interested in buying a Kia EV3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here Back to top Lotus Eletre Lotus isn't a brand you'd expect to see in a list of efficient vehicles, but the Eletre SUV bucks that trend with 600km of driving range. The base Eletre and Eletre S offer the longest range, priced at $189,990 before on-road costs and $229,990 plus on-roads, respectively. Both are underpinned by an 800V electrical architecture which allows for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 20 minutes via a 350kW DC charger. The Eletre pairs efficiency with performance – the long-range variants produce 450kW and 710Nm, giving them the ability to hit 100km/h from a standstill in a claimed 4.5 seconds. All Lotus Eletre vehicles ride on multi-link front and rear suspension, featuring dual-chamber air springs and Continuous Damping Control. Interested in buying a Lotus Eletre? Get in touch with one of CarExpert's trusted dealers here
Business Mayor
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Mayor
The rise of EV salary sacrifice: is it right for you?
Michael loves his new car. 'Driving an EV is a revelation,' he says. As his four-year-old Audi RS6 reached the end of its lease, the chartered accountant from Oxfordshire, who asked us not to use his surname, says he was increasingly unhappy with its fuel-hungry, noisy V8 engine — 'and my wife hated it'. He wanted a Porsche, but his wife vetoed it: 'She used to say she would divorce me if I bought a Porsche'. Then in April, he bit the bullet, leasing a Porsche Macan — its saving grace being that it is an electric vehicle. 'The only way I could make this acceptable,' he says. In just a few weeks, he's sold on the technology, but he says what really convinced him to make the switch was an extraordinary tax saving. His brand new Macan costs him just over £1,300 per month after tax to lease, leaving him £900 better off than when leasing his old Audi RS6. It 'made going EV worthwhile,' he says. And it meant a sizeable tax saving, since he got the car through salary sacrifice, which allow workers to reduce their taxable income in exchange for a perk. In recent years, generous government subsidies for EVs and frozen tax thresholds have dramatically increased the appeal of using salary sacrifice to drive electric. In the last tax year, around one in five of all EVs registered in the UK were leased via salary sacrifice, according to analysis shared with FT Money by the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association, a trade body. In years gone by, EV salary sacrifice was 'a bit of a niche product', says Tom McLennan, director of policy and public affairs at BVRLA. But in 2020, the government turbocharged the schemes by setting the tax rate for EVs purchased as company cars at 0 per cent — compared with rates as high as 37 per cent for petrol and diesel. (The 'benefit in kind', or BIK, rate for EVs is currently 3 per cent and will rise to 9 per cent in 2029-30.) In 2018-19, fewer than 2,500 EVs were registered as company cars — which include those hired via salary sacrifice — according to HMRC. By 2022-23, that figure had risen to 220,000. Given its rapid rise in popularity, FT Money asks: is EV salary sacrifice right for you? For FT reader Jon Wingfield, EV salary sacrifice was a 'no-brainer'. He took out his first car on the scheme in 2021 and hasn't looked back. Wingfield says he 'wanted a low-risk way to dip my toe in the EV market' and that EV salary sacrifice — in which vehicles are provided on lease — offered the perfect opportunity for that. He took out a Polestar 2 on a three-year scheme with Tusker, the provider his employer had paired with. 'It was the best car I ever [had],' he says. For just over £850 a month, he got the car, insurance, servicing and redundancy cover. Bonuses often took his yearly pay over £100,000 a year, so the tax relief afforded by the vehicle proved useful. Above that amount taxpayers see their personal allowance tapered away, meaning anyone earning between £100,000 and £125,140 faces a marginal tax rate of 60 per cent. For parents of young children, the situation is even worse. In England, if one parent's net adjusted pay tops £100,000, they lose valuable free childcare benefits. Earn more than this, and a parent of two children at a London nursery would need to earn £149,000 — a pay rise of nearly 50 per cent — to compensate for the loss, according to calculations by the Institute for Fiscal Studies. FT reader Alex Ross opted for EV salary sacrifice for this very reason. 'We have an almost two-year-old in nursery and would be heavily impacted by losing the free hours and tax-free childcare,' he says. To people in Ross's position, salary sacrifice offers an attractive proposition: forgo a portion of your income in lieu of a benefit, such as increased pension contributions or a company car — and reduce your taxable earnings below the £100,000 cliff edge (but be warned, this will not work in Wales, since the threshold is based on gross salary, rather than net adjusted pay). The opportunity is also alluring for employers, who can reduce their national insurance contributions, which rose in April. Companies increasingly recognise the importance of workplace perks in retaining employees and an industry has sprung up to service them. Wingfield says that when he moved jobs this year his new employer's EV salary sacrifice scheme was 'one of the driving factors' that sealed the deal. FT reader Alex Ross found leasing an electric vehicle reduced his taxable earnings, helping with his daughter's nursery costs © Charlie Bibby/FT When you lease a car on salary sacrifice, you're hiring it for an extended period. This means your costs tend to be lower than in a 'personal contract purchase' (PCP) agreement, in which the money you pay gives you the option to buy the car at the end of the contract. But the monthly payments you've made during the course of the scheme won't build you up any equity — and there may be a penalty to pay if the provider deems that you have damaged the car. EV salary sacrifice schemes are run by external leasing businesses, which pair up with employers to offer vehicles for staff to choose from. The Electric Car Scheme, Octopus Electric Vehicle and Tusker are among the providers that have set up shop as EV salary sacrifice providers. Octopus EV, which launched in 2021, currently offers 98 different vehicles on its website, ranging from the everyday Omoda E5 to the luxury Lotus Emeya sports car (for disclosure, Octopus EV is the provider for FT employees). The company estimates that if a 50-year-old, 40-per-cent taxpayer were to get a BMW iX1 electric car on a four-year personal contract hire scheme, it would cost some 16 per cent more than the equivalent petrol vehicle — the BMW X1. But buy the EV on salary sacrifice, and it works out roughly a fifth cheaper than the petrol car, completely reversing the calculus. The saving is in line with what you might expect, says Nick Bustin, employment tax director at chartered accountant HaysMac. Typically, EV salary sacrifice saves you between 20 to 50 per cent, he says. An important element of that saving comes from the reduced company car tax for the electric car. The government has massively reduced the BIK tax paid on EVs, compared to petrol or diesel-powered vehicles. Salary sacrifice also surmounts another barrier for those considering an EV: though they have much lower running costs and tend to require less maintenance, electric cars tend to be more expensive upfront than their petrol counterparts. By leasing the vehicle — though of course they never own it — motorists pay only for the value lost over three or so years, instead of the full cost of the car. 'It's particularly good for some of those cars higher earners are going for,' says car leasing expert Jim Starling, who runs the YouTube channel Definitely Not A Guru. He says that the pricier EVs favoured by higher earners tend to lose value faster. 'If you buy them, you have to soak up that depreciation, but on a lease, it's not so bad.' It's important to scrutinise the packages on offer carefully, Starling adds. 'It feels like the Wild West at the moment.' He gives the example of a viewer who contacted him last month to share that he had two quotes from the same provider, but with different employers. 'One was from his employer and one was his wife's. There was £100 between them [per month] and they were for literally the same thing.' Ultimately, you're restricted by the salary sacrifice provider your employer has chosen and the deals they offer. Schemes often include other benefits as part of the monthly leasing fee, such as insurance, maintenance and servicing, breakdown cover and tyre replacement. It's important to see which of these perks are included as part of your scheme, and which you will have to fork out for yourself, as they can make a big difference to affordability. There are other drawbacks too. EV salary sacrifice can affect your pension benefits, depending on how it's calculated. FT reader Hugh Parker, a teacher, 'seriously considered' using the scheme when his school introduced it. But he says that 'not long after launch', the school realised that members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme who signed up to EV salary sacrifice 'would get significantly smaller pension contributions'. The TPS is a defined benefit scheme, meaning that contributions and retirement payouts are calculated based on taxable income. 'People should be speaking to their employer and asking how it affects their pension contributions,' says Starling. It's also important to check what happens if you leave your job or are made redundant. FT reader Scott had to pay an early termination charge — equivalent to four months' worth of lease payments — when he resigned from his job at a Big Four accounting firm. He says that while he was aware of the charge before he entered into the scheme, 'details about how it would apply were not made clear'. While lease payments were taken before tax, the termination charge was applied post tax, leaving him to foot a higher bill. Scott adds that even during the scheme, he struggled to predict how salary sacrifice would impact his take-home pay. His pay hovered 'around the £100,000 to £125,000 range where income tax gets complicated,' he says. 'Adding the lease into the mix seemed to play havoc with my PAYE tax codes and my monthly take-home ended up quite unpredictable.' His experience led him to decide against leasing in future — he has now returned to a second-hand petrol vehicle that he's bought outright. 'The clarity of information provided before entering into the lease leaves a lot to be desired,' he said. By 2030, the government requires EVs to make up 80 per cent of most carmakers' annual sales, rising to 100 per cent by 2035. There remain a host of challenges in reaching that target, ranging from patchy charging point coverage, a lack of connector standardisation and concerns about EV range. And while some might be happy to wait with a coffee as their vehicle charges, others are quite reasonably wary at the prospect of standing around late at night in a refuelling station. Salary sacrifice has proved successful in addressing concerns about the upfront cost of electric cars, but its future beyond 2030 is uncertain. So what's next? Experts and industry figures say it is inevitable that BIK rates for EVs will have to rise as electric cars become more prevalent on the roads. 'Over the last 25 years, both [road tax] and BIK have always had an environmental element,' says James Court, director of public policy at Octopus EV. He says he is 'already starting conversations with government [about] what happens to that regime post-2035'. He expects further rises to BIK, but notes that there is a ceiling which, if exceeded, 'will kill off [EV salary sacrifice] and the broader company car fleet.' 'There's no doubt that EVs will have to fully pay their way, it's just about the right pace of that transition,' he says. Anna Krajinska, UK director of campaign group Transport & Environment, points to Germany as a case study of what not to do. Berlin ended its EV subsidy programme with no notice in December 2023, to help resolve a budget crisis. Government data released the following July showed that EV registrations had cratered, falling nearly 40 per cent year on year. The attractiveness of EV schemes also depends on where you live, and what kind of property you live in. Travel to parts of the West Midlands, Wales and the North East, and you might find yourself running on empty due to the lack of charging stations. And if you don't have a driveway at home, you could find that public chargers become a drain on your finances — this is an issue for FT reader Ross, who says his lack of a front drive makes charging the vehicle difficult and expensive. However, he still describes his experience as 'broadly positive'. Krajinska says these are not reasons to reduce subsidies for EVs themselves. 'For now, it's important that we keep the current schemes in place'. 'We need them because we need the EV market to take off to get the economies of scale in place, so that they become affordable and competitive.'
