UK businesses will now be able to lease fully electric vehicles, including the provision of home charging units, for the first time, thanks to a new deal agreed between British Gas and Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.

The deal means that British Gas will supply and install electric vehicle (EV) charge points in homes across the country as standard when EVs are chosen by customers from Hitachi Capital’s fleet offering, which includes all EV makes and models. Hitachi Capital has recently added the Nissan LEAF and Citroen C-Zero to its own fleet.

Car Charging

Customers will also benefit from three years of free British Gas Home Electrical Care[2] which gives the customer unlimited call outs for all home electrical repairs, including parts and labour.

The cost of the charging point, including installation, will be included in Hitachi Capital’s customer lease contracts [3], with maintenance provided by British Gas Home Electrical Care[2]. Charging points are more convenient and safer than plugging the vehicles directly into the home electricity system and will cut the charging time by around a third.

The deal builds on British Gas’s agreement with Nissan and Renault to be the preferred supplier of charge points to its electric vehicles in the UK[4]. Market analysis suggests that British Gas will be the preferred supplier of charge points for 70% of the electric vehicle market in the UK in 2012[5].

Charge Master

The announcement is a further indication of the growing electric vehicle market in the UK. Experts predict that by 2020, electric vehicles could account for approximately 10% of all vehicles sold in the UK[5]. This equates to 260,000 vehicles being sold in 2020 alone, meaning 1.2m would have appeared on the road over the course of the decade[6].

The leasing market will play a major part in this growth strategy, with 973,000 fleet cars registered in 2010 compared to 958,000 private car registrations[1]. Up to 50% of electric vehicles are expected to be leased through companies such as Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions between now and 2020.

Fiona McDonagh, Innovation Manager at British Gas

"The market for electric vehicles in Britain is growing fast, and the fact that Hitachi Capital has decided to add EVs to its fleet offering really confirms this. With our national network of electrical engineers, our electricity supply business, our solar panel business and our roll out of smart meters, British Gas is well placed to be at the forefront of that market. We can help electric car owners power their car for less money and from renewable sources."

Chris Shore, Pricing Manager, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions

Many drivers concerns around electric vehicles lie in ‘range anxiety’ – worries about how far they can travel on one battery charge. The ability to provide a safe and convenient charging point in a driver’s own home or place of business is therefore crucial to alleviating concerns and making them feel more comfortable about choosing an electric vehicle."

 

Simon Oliphant, CEO at Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, commented

"Our customers are increasingly asking us about using electric vehicles for their business, and we always want to provide the best range of vehicles, combined with the latest technology.

"The electric vehicles included in our fleet offering allow us to help customers to keep overheads low, while having the opportunity to trial the latest technology. Partnering with British Gas, Britain’s largest supplier of electricity to homes, means we can provide our customers with the best quality charging technology and solutions, with peace of mind that they’re experiencing a prompt and professional service.

"We selected British Gas for the strength of its service network, and the quality and competitiveness of its charging solution offering."

Find out more about what we are doing with electrical vehicles

You may also be interested in

Our Energy tariffs

View all our energy tariffs from variable, fixed or pre-paid, and find the right tariff for you.
View our tariffs

Home insulation

See how much money you could save by insulating your home.
Find out more

[1] Frost and Sullivan.report commissioned by British Gas – November 2010

[2] For Home Electrical Care terms and conditions apply

[3] Customers are able to opt out of a charge point supply and installation

[4] Renault and Nissan are Alliance partners

[5] Frost and Sullivan. Report commissioned by British Gas - November 2010

[6] Frost and Sullivan. Report commissioned by British Gas - November 2010