Fed up with volatile fuel prices and the increasing number of cities that are imposing or considering low-emission zones? Fancy going electric instead? Now that EVs have been around for a while there are a fair few kicking around as 2nd hand cars, but there are other ways to get into an EV without spending vast amounts.
On the face of it, electric cars look a lot more expensive – the new tech and the increased cost of making them in the first place mean that they are often thousands more expensive if you look at the purchase price alone.
On that basis, many buyers would be put off at the first stage of their buying process, so car makers have found other ways to entice you into the newest vehicles. Buying a car on finance makes a lot of sense for many reasons.
There are two main ways to pay for a car on a monthly basis – leasing (often referred to as PCH) and PCP, or Personal Contract Plans.
Leasing is arguably the simplest. You put down a deposit and then pay a monthly fee. When the term is up you hand the car back and that’s it.
PCP is a little more complicated – you pay a deposit and a monthly rental but you have more options when you get to the end of the term. You can hand it back, or you can pay off the remainder of what is owed and keep the car.
At £300 you get a choice of some of the best EVs out there. We’ve picked the three best, either on lease or PCP deals
MG 4
A long range, enjoyable to drive and sharp styling
The modern MG brand has come a long way in the last few years, with the new 4 hatchback offering a fantastic alternative to more established and arguably bigger names like the Volkswagen ID.3.
It comes with a modern interior, some funky exterior looks and some colours that set it apart from the usual range of greys and blacks that are such a common sight on our roads.
It does the fundamental EV things really well, too, with electric ranges from 200 to 281 miles, depending on which version you go for.
Sure, there are bigger and more spacious options out there, but it does a lot of things fantastically and for less than lots of its rivals. Go for a leasing deal and it slots into our £300 budget.
Renault Zoe
Spacious despite its town-friendly dimensions, good performance and decent range
The city is the electric car’s natural environment, and the Renault Zoe is perfectly sized for urban streets. It’s relatively small, but still has a decent amount of space inside, and has a good amount of equipment packed in.
There are often some decent 0% deals kicking around on PCP, too, which means that you can get into a Zoe for less than £300 a month, although it might require a decent deposit to get that deal.
MG 5
The MG 5 is a bit of a rarity – it’s an all-electric estate car
Another MG? There’s good reason for us including a second model from the brand in this list, though – the MG 5 is the only electric estate car you can get. So if you want a bit more practicality from your electric car but aren’t taken by the idea of an SUV, then the 5 is one of the only real options. A PCP deal will get you on the road for just under £300 too.
However, you don’t have to go for the MG 5 purely on account of its rarity, it’s also a great electric car and offers brilliant value. It’s cheaper than smaller cars like the Peugeot e208 and Nissan Leaf even though it is bigger than both those two.
Add in the standard 250-mile range and you get a lot of electric car for your money.
