Simon’s Top 10 Electric Company Cars 2021
Written by Simon Blaaser
When people think of company car drivers, most imagine salespeople driving up and down motorways in a Mondeo or 3 Series BMW – but truth be told many people use company cars for many different reasons.
Along with the sales staff, there are engineers and technicians covering large distances on a daily basis. But also we have people using vehicles to cover a local area or region, such as healthcare or mobile security professionals. With this in mind, we have collated a list of company cars that covers all requirements.
By the end of 2021 we will have over half a million fully electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicles on the road. This number has almost doubled in the past 18 months, and the rise has been helped by company car drivers making the switch to more sustainable vehicles.
Not all the drivers are making the switch for Environmental Social Governance (ESG) commitments – government tax incentives combined with a host of better vehicles being offered by manufacturers have made the switch a bit of a no-brainer.
See the example company car tax calculations below:
Skoda Enyaq iV
Range – Up to 327 Miles
Price – Starting at £31,995 (Inclusive of OZEV Plug In Vehicle Grant)
Expected in summer 2021, the new Skoda fully electric SUV will boast a range of up to 310 miles. Expected to launch with 3 battery sizes and 5 power variants, the Enyaq will offer an entry-level version aimed at families, alongside a 82 kWh battery variant offering longer distances. A four-wheel drive VRS version is also expected to cater for those looking for a bit more performance.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Range – Up to 290 Miles
Price – Starting at £35,000 (Estimated)
Hyundai’s first purpose-built electric vehicle is expected to hit our roads towards the end of the summer, and the first model to reach our shores will be the eagerly awaited “Project 45 First Edition” priced at £45,000. Don’t rush out to the dealer just yet though as this limited edition Project 45 launch model has already sold out all 3000 units before launch. Hyundai are expected to announce more models and pricing later in summer 2021, with two battery options (58kWH and 72.6kWh). The big selling point for company car drivers with the Ioniq 5, however, will be its charging speed. With its 350kW charging capability akin to a Porsche Taycan, the Hyundai will charge from 10% to 80% in around 18 minutes. And it’s packed full of next-generation technology including a three-pin socket between the back seats, capable of delivering 3.6kW, ideal for charging your laptop or electric scooter for that last mile of your commute.
Volkswagen ID.3
Range – Up to 336 Miles
Price – Starting at £32,470 (Inclusive of OZEV Plug In Vehicle Grant)
The ID.3 is Volkswagen’s people’s car for the electric generation, clearly designed as an electric successor to the VW’s stalwart, the Golf. This is even referenced in the ID.3’s name, with the 3 representing the fact that this is the manufacturer’s third major launch in its history, following the Beetle and the Golf. The ID.3 will come in a range of specifications and battery sizes to suit every need, and yes they are planning a fast one akin to the current “R” models. In terms of batteries, you can choose between 45 kWh, 58 kWh or 77 kWh, all with 100kW charging capabilities. The ID.3 is the first car to use VW’s new MEB platform, which will be the base for over 70 electric models in the coming years. This vehicle will be a game changer – despite its lack of clever tech and gizmos, it will bring EV to masses in the same way that its ICE (internal combustion engine) predecessors did.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Range – Up to 379 Miles
Price – Starting at £40,000 (Estimated)
The Mach-E is Ford’s first purpose-built fully electric vehicle, with a range of up to 379 miles and AWD. The performance is expected to match its Mustang moniker with a 0-60 mph time of 5.1 secs. Launching with two battery options (76kWh or 99kWh), it will also boast up to 150kW rapid charging capability to ensure your charging time while on the road is minimised, allowing up to 73 miles for every 10 minutes charging. Inside the Mach-E it will comfortably seat 5, with its hatchback boot and 100-litre “Frunk” (Frunk = front boot to us Brits, it’s basically extra storage space where we used to keep the internal combustion engine). Can the Mach-E pick up where the Mondeo left off, or has it priced itself out of that sector, instead aiming its sights at the Model 3 or Polestar 2 market? Time will tell.
Volvo C40 Recharge
Range – Up to 260 Miles
Price – Starting at £50,000 (Estimated) or available on Volvo’s new subscription service
Volvo have made similar commitments to Jaguar and Ford stating they will be an all-electric brand by 2030. With this in mind this is Volvo’s first vehicle that has been designed to be electric only, although it does share its underpinnings with the Polestar 2 and XC40 Recharge which also use the Geely CMA platform (Geely is the Chinese parent company of both Volvo and Polestar). The C40 Recharge will be exclusively sold through the companies’ online platform, allowing customers to configure, finalise and finance their vehicles before having them delivered to their home. The C40 will also be the first vehicle Volvo offer on their new car subscription service at a fixed monthly fee which will include insurance, servicing, and roadside assistance as well as the cost of installing a wall-box charger at your home. This could change the way people finance their vehicles. Having a service similar to a smartphone contract, it also might help customers overcome the C40’s estimated £50k price tag.
Tesla Model 3
Range – Up to 360 Miles
Price – Starting at £40,990
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the best electric vehicles on the market, boasting great performance, market-leading range and some of the finest on-board tech to ever feature in an automobile. The Model 3 Performance model is capable of 352 miles, 162 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 3.1 seconds, that is a tenth of a second quicker than a 2020 Ferrari Portofino. Even the entry level Model 3 is capable of a 0-60 of 5.1 seconds, which is still very quick for 4-door family hatchback. But it’s not just a pocket rocket, the entry level Tesla is also autonomous ready, meaning once legal it will be capable of driving itself to that business meeting at the other end of the M1, so you arrived refreshed and ready as the car has taken the strain out of that long drive and standard rush-hour traffic. When you have driven a Model 3 it comes as no surprise they sold over 800,000 of these cars in around 3 years.
Vauxhall Corsa-e
Range – Up to 209 Miles
Price – Starting at £21,485 (Inclusive of OZEV Plug In Vehicle Grant)
Vauxhall have committed to having a fully electric version of each of its models by 2024, and they have started their new fully electric journey with one of their most popular models in their line up – the Corsa. Boasting an impressive 209 mile range, it puts other vehicles in its price range (Mini Electric and MG ZS EV) firmly in its shadows, it also boasts 100kW charging, meaning it can go from 10% battery to 80% battery in around 27 minutes. Tailored to those with a more local requirement (healthcare professionals and mobile security, for example) the Corsa-e is a great vehicle for those who don’t log the big motorway miles on a daily basis, although with its class-leading specs, it’s more than capable.
BMW i4
Range – Up to 363 Miles
Price – Starting at £50,000 (Estimated)
No company car list would be complete without a 4-door BMW saloon, and the i4 will not disappoint. BMW were early adopters of electric technology with the i8 and i3 launching back in 2014, and the i4 carries those famous bright blue accents to the new fully electric 4 series. Boasting 530 hp and a 0-60 of less than 4 seconds, this will even give the new M3 a run for its money. But it’s not just another super quick EV, it’s designed to compete with the Model 3 and Polestar 2 for space in the executive market. With an 80kWh battery and 150kW DC charging capability, the i4 will charge from 10% to 80% in around 29 minutes. Like any BMW, it’s been designed with user comfort and driver experience in mind, so expect smooth driving with great handling and performance, perfect for long-distance drives or your everyday commute.
Polestar 2
Range – Up to 292 Miles
Price – Starting at £39,845
Who are Polestar? And why does it look like a Volvo?. Well, Polestar originated as a standalone race team in the European Touring Car Championships racing Volvos, they were heavily supported by Volvo and in 2015 Geely, Volvo’s parent company acquired them.
In 2017, it was announced that Polestar would become a stand-alone brand that would build high performance electric vehicles and develop technology for its sister brands – Volvo and Lynk and Co. The Polestar 2 has its sights are aimed firmly at the Tesla Model 3, Ford Mustang Mach-E and BMW i4. With all-wheel drive and 408hp on the long range dual motor model it’s certainly no slouch, the 0-60 time of 4.7 seconds also beats the entry level Tesla Model 3. The Polestar 2 also has 150kW charging capability, meaning you can go from 10% to 80% battery in under 30 minutes, and the 78kWh battery is good for 292 miles. It’s also got a 5-star NCAP rating, the Polestar 2 is at the forefront of vehicle safety, much like its Volvo sister brand.
Polestar has just announced two new versions, both single-motor: standard range (230 Miles) and long range (320 Miles). The standard range will use a slightly smaller 64kWh battery and the long range will utilise the same 78kWh battery found in the dual-motor model. The new standard range has bought the starting price down by over £10,000.
Hyundai Kona Electric
Range – Up to 300 Miles
Price – Starting at £27,950 (Inclusive of OZEV Plug In Vehicle Grant)
The Hyundai Kona Electric is already in its second guise, and it feels the new model has been designed with the electric platform in mind rather than the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) platform. This is clear with the sleeker, more aerodynamic updated design and like many of its competitors it comes with two battery options, a 39kWh and 64kWh. The latter is the one which will appeal more to the company car driver, as it will offer up to 300 miles in range. It will also feature 150kW charging capability, meaning it can go from 10% battery to 80% in around 40 minutes. Hyundai have their eyes firmly set on mass adoption rather than outright performance, and with the Kona that’s clear. Don’t be mistaken though, it’s no tortoise. It still offers 201 bhp and a 0-60 of 7.6 seconds, but when compared with its counterparts It’s distinctively slower. It is, however, a lot cheaper, with the entry level 39kWh battery version coming in under £30,000 with the Plug-in Grant.